NC State Becomes Bowl Eligible With Their Win Over Pittsburgh
Am I the only one who is impressed by what Dave Doeren has done with NC State this season?
Not only did NC State record their sixth win of the season on the road at Pittsburgh Saturday but they became bowl eligible too!
A stout third quarter defense and back-to-back touchdown drives in the third and fourth quarters, led #20 NC State to its sixth straight win, 35-17 at Pittsburgh. The Wolfpack (6-1, 4-0 ACC) starts 4-0 in conference action for the first time since the 2002 season, and also reaches bowl eligibility in the fewest games since that same season. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
NC State broke a 14-14 tie with 14 unanswered points spanning the third and fourth quarters. First Jakobi Meyers caught a three-yard Ryan Finley TD pass and Jaylen Samualsrushed in from a yard out on the next possession to build the Pack's lead to 28-14 early in the fourth. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
In the third quarter, NC State limited Pitt to just 47 yards of offense (5 rushing, 41 passing), and caused three three-and-outs on the Panthers' four drives. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
After a Pitt field goal, NC State iced the game with a 40-yard Samuels TD rush with 2:01 left. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
Pitt opened the scoring with a 33-yard TD pass with five minutes to go inhttp://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx the first quarter, the first time NC State faced a deficit in ACC play this year. "according to
But the Wolfpack answered with back-to-back explosive plays from RB Nyheim HinesFirst it was a 93-yard TD run to even the score, then on his next touch he returned a punt 92-yards for his second TD and the Pack's first lead 14-7 with less then a minute to go in the opening quarter. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
The two teams went into halftime tied 14-14 as the Panthers tallied the lone points in the second quarter. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
2 plays, 83 yards in 0:28 Nyheim Hines83-yard TD run "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
After Pitt went up 7-0, NC State quickly answered to tie the game in the first quarter. After an incompletion, RB Nyehim Hines went up the gut, broke a tackle about 10 yards downfield, and scored an 83-yard TD run. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
5 plays, 66 yards in 2:00 –Ryan Finleyto Jakobi Myers3-yard TD pass "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
With the score deadlocked 14-14 late in the third, NC State went ahead for good with a Ryan Finleyto Jakobi Myers3-yard TD pass. The Pack covered 66 yards in five plays, highlighted by a Finley to Kelvin Harmon 43-yard pass on the first play. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
STAT LEADERS
• QB Ryan Finley
14-of-25 for 198 yards, 1 TD
• RB Nyheim Hines
249 yards of total offense (135 rushing, 5 receiving, 94 PR, 15 KOR), 2 TDs
• WR Kelvin Harmon
3 catches for 113 yards
• H-Back Jaylen Samuals
6 rushes for 62 yards, 2 TDs
4 catches for 28 yards
• LB Germaine Pratt
9 tackles, 1 TFL
• DE Darian Roseboro
5 tackles, 3 TFLs
"according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
NOTABLES
•Nyheim Hines83-yard TD run was the seventh-longest in school history and the longest play from scrimmage of the season for NC State. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
• Hines' 92-yard runt return for a TD was the second-longest in school history, and the longest since 1926 (NC State Hall of Famer Jack McDowall). "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
• For the third straight game, Hines went over 100 rushing yards. Today he finished with a career-best 135 yards. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
• In the first quarter alone, Hines posted 200 yards of total offense (93 rush, 92 PR, 15 KOR). "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
• WR Kelvin Harmon went over 100 yards receiving for the fourth time this season (113 yards). He now has the most games with at least 100 yards in a season since Jerricho Cotchery had seven in 2003. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
• With a pair of fourth quarter rushing scores, Jaylen Samuals moves into third place in school history with 41 careers TDs (23 rushing, 18 receiving). "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
- . QBRyan Finley extends in INT-free streak to 313 attempts, dating back to last year's Miami game. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
- Pitt got on the scoreboard first with a first quarter 33-yard TD pass. The Wolfpack had not trailed at any point in its first three ACC games this season, and today was the first time NC State had trailed since the first drive of the Furman game, a span of 15 quarters. "according tohttp://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
- In his first start of the season, CB Mike recorded his third career interception, first of the season. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
- The win at Pitt was the first for NC State at Pitt in five all-time attempts, the try was in 1987. The win was also the first matchup as ACC foes between the two teams. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/10/14/football-explosive-plays-early-strong-third-quarter-lead-pack-to-35-17-win-at-pitt.aspx
NC State will now have their bye week to prepare for their next game asthey willtravel to South Bend to play Notre Dame on Saturday October 28th who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sportexcept on the grid iron they're independent.
Kick-off is set for 3:30pm. The game will be televised on NBC. "according to http://gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=football