In the first meeting against Georgia Tech since 2006 in Carter-Finley Stadium, N.C. State looked to keep the chains moving and hoped to slow down No. 21-ranked Yellow Jackets, despite the on-coming list of injuries for the Pack.

“If we can get some other guys back and healthy, then we have a chance to play defense the way we want to,” head coach Tom O’Brien said.  

Defending against the leading offense in the nation did not look too promising for the State players, many of whom are currently out recovering from injuries. Missing during Saturday’s game were defensive tackle Brian Slay with an ankle injury, defensive tackle A.J. Ferguson and linebacker Terrell Manning with knee injuries, and defensive end Jeff Rieskamp with a shoulder injury.

It was questionable going into the contest if senior defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy would make an appearance, but the captain, who suffered a foot injury in preseason, made two tackles and one sack as a defensive end, out of normal position as tackle.

As if the list could not get long enough for the Wolfpack, starting fullback and leading special teams tackler Taylor Gentry suffered an injured ankle and did not return to the field in the second half. Darryl Cato-Bishop, who is also a starter as defensive tackler, left in the third quarter with a hand injury.

During pregame warmups, starting punter Wil Baumann underwent a groin strain and was unable to punt on Saturday but saw action as the holder on placekicks. O’Brien was perplexed by the situation surrounding Baumann’s addition to the injured list for the game.

“He pulled a muscle in pre-game; that’s all I know,” O’Brien said. “Never [have I seen that happen before.] It’s never ending.”

O’Brien is therefore unable to evaluate the way State’s defense is playing with certain players capable of playing and others questionable from game to game.

“I don’t think there’s any way you can judge where we are on defense right now,” O’Brien said. “Other than, you play at defense, you get lined up and you try to make some big plays. We made some big plays of our own, drives.”

Taking a 21-7 loss at the half, the second half saw more action and touchdowns with Glennon’s pass to Jay Smith to start the half. Glennon saw 163 yards in the air Saturday evening, but Jackets’ Orwin Smith answered back with three touchdowns, including two in the first quarter.

The Wolfpack hopes to rebound next Sat., Oct. 8 hosting Central Michigan at 3:30 p.m.

O’Brien wants his team to keep their heads up, and eventually, the Pack will get back up to a competitive level. But first, it is imperative that the injured heal.

“I think our kids fought hard, somewhere it’s going to turn. We’re going to keep grinding away. We’re going to make this thing work,” O’Brien said. “Right now, we’re swimming uphill a lot with personnel issues, but if we can get guys back healthy and going, then with what they showed today and with the fight they had, there are going to be some things that we haven’t done to this point this year on the football