NC State Football
Pack Holds Off Orange, 33-25
September 30, 2017
1,474
RALEIGH, N.C. -- It was a slog in the second half but it was not a letdown.
NC State cruised early and then held off a resilient Syracuse team, 33-25, Saturday in front of 56,197 fans on Military Appreciation Day at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Wolfpack improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC while the Orange drops to 2-3 on the season in its ACC opener.
The win marks the first time since 2006 that NC State has opened with two straight wins in league play. The victory was the Wolfpack’s 200th overall at Carter-Finley Stadium, which opened on October 8th, 1966.
In the first half it appeared NC State would win comfortably.
After a pair of Carson Wise field goals handed the Wolfpack the lead, Ryan Finley found Stephen Louis for a 20-yard touchdown to hand NC State a 13-0 lead with 1:04 remaining in the opening quarter.
Finley completed 20-of-33 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown.
The Orange answered with a 7-yard touchdown run from Eric Dungey. The Wolfpack quickly put two more scores, touchdown runs from Reggie Gallaspy II and Jaylen Samuels to open up a 26-7 advantage
Syracuse outscored NC State 10-0 in the third quarter, with Dungey scoring another rushing touchdown, to cut the Wolfpack’s lead to a nine heading into the final period.
With less than 10 minutes remaining the Wolfpack opened up a double-digit lead once again. Nyheim Hines scored from a yard out to extend NC State’s advantage to 33-17.
Hines finished with a career-high 115 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Syracuse enter the game with the 23rd-ranked run defense in the nation. NC State finished with 256 yards on the ground.
With less than eight minutes left, Syracuse drove to the NC State 15-yard line. On 4th and 10, Dungey fired incomplete, and the Wolfpack took over on downs.
NC State could not moved the ball and a 30-yard punt return by Sean Riley gave the Orange the ball in Wolfpack territory. Syracuse scored in slightly more than a minute and Dungey’s two-point conversion made it a one-possession game with 4:39 to play.
The Wolfpack recovered the ensuing onside kick. With 2:53 remaining and Syracuse out of time-outs Ryan Finley snuck forward for a first down on fourth and inches. Two plays later Samuels carried for another first down to seal the win.
There will be a quick turnaround for NC State as the Wolfpack will host Louisville Thursday evening. The Wolfpack has not opened league play 3-0 since 2002.
NC State cruised early and then held off a resilient Syracuse team, 33-25, Saturday in front of 56,197 fans on Military Appreciation Day at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Wolfpack improves to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC while the Orange drops to 2-3 on the season in its ACC opener.
The win marks the first time since 2006 that NC State has opened with two straight wins in league play. The victory was the Wolfpack’s 200th overall at Carter-Finley Stadium, which opened on October 8th, 1966.
In the first half it appeared NC State would win comfortably.
After a pair of Carson Wise field goals handed the Wolfpack the lead, Ryan Finley found Stephen Louis for a 20-yard touchdown to hand NC State a 13-0 lead with 1:04 remaining in the opening quarter.
Finley completed 20-of-33 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown.
The Orange answered with a 7-yard touchdown run from Eric Dungey. The Wolfpack quickly put two more scores, touchdown runs from Reggie Gallaspy II and Jaylen Samuels to open up a 26-7 advantage
Syracuse outscored NC State 10-0 in the third quarter, with Dungey scoring another rushing touchdown, to cut the Wolfpack’s lead to a nine heading into the final period.
With less than 10 minutes remaining the Wolfpack opened up a double-digit lead once again. Nyheim Hines scored from a yard out to extend NC State’s advantage to 33-17.
Hines finished with a career-high 115 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Syracuse enter the game with the 23rd-ranked run defense in the nation. NC State finished with 256 yards on the ground.
With less than eight minutes left, Syracuse drove to the NC State 15-yard line. On 4th and 10, Dungey fired incomplete, and the Wolfpack took over on downs.
NC State could not moved the ball and a 30-yard punt return by Sean Riley gave the Orange the ball in Wolfpack territory. Syracuse scored in slightly more than a minute and Dungey’s two-point conversion made it a one-possession game with 4:39 to play.
The Wolfpack recovered the ensuing onside kick. With 2:53 remaining and Syracuse out of time-outs Ryan Finley snuck forward for a first down on fourth and inches. Two plays later Samuels carried for another first down to seal the win.
There will be a quick turnaround for NC State as the Wolfpack will host Louisville Thursday evening. The Wolfpack has not opened league play 3-0 since 2002.
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