NCSU is 5-0 for the first time since 2002.
Posted 45 minutes ago Updated 28 minutes ago
By Marilyn Payne, WRAL Multimedia Sports Journalist
Raleigh, N. C. — NC State denied Boston College a second ACC win, downing the Eagles 28-23 and giving up just two touchdowns as the Wolfpack (5-0,2- ACC) defense limited damage despite two interceptions and two fumbles giving Steve Addazio’s team four free possessions, plus a late-game blocked punt for Eagles touchdown.
NCSU is 5-0 for the first time since 2002.
Dave Doeren’s ground game covered a season-high 225 yards as Reggie Gallaspy II rushed 25 times for 104 yards on carries with two touchdowns and Ricky Person added 92 yards on 17 carries.
Ryan Finley finished 25-of-34 with 308 passing yards and two touchdowns (one to each Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers).
NC State got on the board when Gallasy ended the team’s first drive with a forceful three-yard rush. A 20-yard connection between Finley & Meyers, a 13-yard rush by Person and a 13-yard reception by Steph Louis highlighted the scoring drive.
Thayer Thomas fumbled BC’s first punt of the day and the Eagles recovered at NCState’s 20-yard line. The Pack D showed up and although Dexter Wright bobbled an interception in the endzone, but the pass break up caused the Eagles to elect to kick a field goal. The 33-yarder put the visitors on the board, 7-3.
The Wolfpack defense refused to allow points off Finley’s interceptions on back-to-back drives, then Finley connected with Cary Angeline for the first time of the game, picking up 24 yards on the pass on the drive after the turnovers. Gallaspy ran 22 yards on the next snap, then bulldozed across the goal line once more to give NC State the 14-3 lead.
The Pack orchestrated a 1:44 scoring drive, capping it with a four-yard pass to Meyers for a 21-3 halftime advantage.
A nine-minute third-quarter-opening drive ended in a blocked 19-yard field goal as the Eagles batted down Christopher Dunn’s attempt, but NCSU put together its second sub-two minute scoring drive on its next possession. Harmon’s 34-yard catch made it 28-3.
Ben Glines scored Boston College’s first TD of the day, a 21-yard rushing score, answering NC State’s scoring drive to make it 28-10.
Glines added another score after Person fumbled. BC attempted the two-point conversion after Glines’ 11-yard touchdown, but failed to make it 28-16.
NC State punted for the first time of the game, then the Eagles drove into the redzone. Glines fumbled two yards from the goal line and Germaine Pratt recovered the ball.
The Wolfpack punted after Pratt’s fumble recovery, Mike Palmer blockeded it and Travis Levy grabs the ball in the endzone after it bounced back that way to pull the Eagles within five points, 28-23 with three and a half minutes to play.
