Well-rested Wolfpack prepares for home game against Buckeyes

RALEIGH, N.C. - A week off did wonders for the health of rover Andre Maddox and tailback T.A. McLendon. North Carolina State coach Chuck Amato can only hope it did the same for the rest of the team.<br> <br> The Wolfpack likely will have Maddox and McLendon available for Saturday&#39;s game against Ohio State, a rematch of the Buckeyes&#39; dramatic 44-38 victory a year ago in triple overtime. The two players missed the opener with strained hamstrings, and they probably wouldn&#39;t have been able to play last week.<br> <br> But a well-timed bye allowed them to get healthy, and even though both still are listed as questionable on the injury report, they should be available.<br> <br> ``I&#39;ll be able to play,&#39;&#39; Maddox said Monday.<br> <br> The extra week of practice also gave Amato and his staff more time to work with their young players on fundamentals. N.C. State has a new starter at quarterback, where Jay Davis took over for Philip Rivers, and McLendon&#39;s primary backups are freshmen.<br> <br> On defense, the depth chart lists three sophomore starters on the line.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m definitely glad it&#39;s this way,&#39;&#39; Amato said. ``Jay has played one half of a football game, and then you look at the defensive line.<br> <br> ``All the work we can get, the better off we will be.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Davis was impressive in the opener against Division I-AA Richmond, finishing 16-of-22 for 168 yards and throwing two touchdown passes. He nearly matched his passing total from the previous two seasons (177).<br> <br> The team Davis and the Wolfpack face Saturday has changed greatly from a year ago. Ohio State returned just nine starters after a record 14 players were drafted by the NFL.<br> <br> Those losses left gaping holes up front, in the secondary and at most of the skill positions. Despite opening with two victories, the Buckeyes have been far from impressive, needing a last-second field goal to beat Marshall and struggling against Cincinnati. Ohio State has yet to force a turnover.<br> <br> Predictably, Amato still had nothing but praise for this week&#39;s opponent.<br> <br> ``Only the names and numbers have changed,&#39;&#39; he said. ``They had 14 youngsters drafted into the NFL, and nine of their replacements were two-year letter winners. Every year, Ohio State is in the top 10 in recruiting.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> One thing that does appear to be the same about the Buckeyes is their success in close games. In the past two-plus seasons, they have won 13 of their past 14 games decided by a touchdown or less, including that victory over the Wolfpack in 2003.<br> <br> This ability didn&#39;t go unnoticed by Maddox, but he had his own take on it.<br> <br> ``What can I say? It&#39;s luck,&#39;&#39; Maddox said, then tried to clarify his opinion. ``I mean, I&#39;m not going to say it&#39;s all luck. They do play a lot of games at home. They have that 12th man with them.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Buckeyes certainly don&#39;t travel on the road for many non-conference games. This is their first away from home since 2002, and it is their first visit to the state for a football game.<br> <br> At No. 9, they&#39;re the highest-ranked non-conference opponent to come to Carter-Finley Stadium since Alabama in 1996. The eighth-ranked Crimson Tide beat the Wolfpack 24-19 that year.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s big for us, there&#39;s no question about it,&#39;&#39; N.C. State wide receiver Tramain Hall said. ``We need to go out there and perform like we know how.&#39;&#39;