It was the kind of injury that silences a stadium.
N,C. State’s Dakwa Nichols was running toward the sideline late in the first quarter Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Syracuse linebacker Parris Bennett was in pursuit, reaching out, grabbing Nichols’ facemask, yanking him down.
Nichols’ right leg appeared to buckle as he fell awkwardly, and NCSU medical personnel quickly were on the field. The game was stopped for several minutes as the players somberly took a knee, many with their heads down.
Nichols is a graduate student from Rockingham, listed as the third running back on the Pack depth chart behind Nyheim Hines and Reggie Gallaspy II.