NC State Edges James Madison In Season Opener

The team that is located in the state capital of North Carolina in Raleigh got their season off on the right foot on Saturday at Carter Finley Stadium against James Madison University.

 Holding a 17-13 lead late in the fourth quarter, NC State took the ball 84 yards and took 5:50 off the clock to get an insurance touchdown, which led to a 24-13 win over visiting James Madison to open the 2018 season. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
The game's scoring started with a JMU Ben DiNucci to Riley Stapleton 5-yard pass late in the first quarter. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
The Wolfpack responded with 17 unanswered points to take a 17-7 lead into the half. PK Christopher Dunn converted a 25-yard field goal, then Ryan Finley hit back-to-back TD passes to Thayer Thomas (16 yards) and C. J. Riley (14 yards). "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
A JMU 19-yard field goal was the lone score in the third quarter, making it 17-10. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
The Dukes, back-to-back FCS title game participants, tacked on a second field goal and got within 17-13 with just over six minutes left. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
With the four-point lead and six minutes to go, NC State added an insurance TD and picked up its 11th straight home, non-conference win dating back to 2013. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
5 plays, 38 yards in 1:29 – Finley to Thomas 16-yd TD "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
NC State scored its first TD of the season and got its first lead of the game with 9:39 left in the contest, as Ryan Finley found Thomas Thayer for a 16-yard TD. After Thomas returned a punt 40 yards to the JMU 38-yard line, the Pack went five plays for the score. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
11 plays, 84 yards in 5:50 – Gallaspy 6-yard TD run "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
JMU closed the gap to 17-13 with just over six minutes left in the game. NC State proceeded to burn 5:50 off the clock, going 84 yards in 11 plays, capped by a Reggie Gallaspy Jr.  six-yard touchdown run. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
STAT LEADERS
• QB Ryan Finley
29-of-43 for 309 yards and 2 TDs
 
• WR Jakobi Meyers
14 catches for 161 yards
 
• RB Reggie Gallaspy Jr. 
17 rushes for 68 yards and 1 TD
 
• LB Germaine Pratt
12 tackles, 6 solo

"according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
NOTABLES
• There were nine NC State players that made their first career start today, six of whom were playing in their first career game at NC State. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
On offense: Damien Darden (1st game) Emecka Emezie
On defense: Eurndraus Bryant Larrell Murchison (1st game), James Smith -Williams , Isaiah Williams (1st game), Tanner Ingle (1st game), Kishawn Miller (1st game)
On special teams: Christopher Dunn (1st game) "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
• NC State's first field goal and the first touchdown of the season came on a pair of first touches. PK Christopher Dunn's first career field goal was from 25 yards out to start the scoring, and WR Thomas Thayer's first career catch went for a 16-yard touchdown. Thomas did return a punt for 40 yards prior to his TD, but that was his first offensive touch. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
• WR Jakobi Meyers set new career-highs with 14 catches and 161 yards receiving. The 161 yards receiving are the most ever for a Wolfpack player in a season opening contest. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
• WR C.J. Riley's second quarter touchdown was the first of his career. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
• QB Ryan Finley finished with over 300 yards (309) for the 11th time in his career, and the second straight season opener. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"We're excited to be 1-0, and thanks to our fans, students, band and everyone that endured the heat. It was a hot one out there. A lot of our players are getting IVs right now and I'm hoping a bunch of fans come out of here without any heat issues. Thank you for doing that, to those that stayed all four quarters that's unbelievable and we appreciate it." "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx
 
"As far as the game goes, James Madison is a good football team. We knew they would be. Our red zone defense was exceptional. They found a way to stop them. I thought our stamina in the fourth quarter with the drive we put together at the end on offense was critical. Jacobi Meyers had an incredible game and Ryan (Finley) had a 300-yard passing game. I thought Reggie (Gallaspy) ran hard but I didn't think our run game was as good as it will be in time. We're missing some parts right now, particularly at tight end." - NC State head coach Dave Doeren. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx

With the win, NC State improves to 1-0 on the season "according to https://gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=football while James Madison drops to 0-1 to start the season. "according to https://jmusports.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
 
UP NEXT
NC State will return to home action next weekend, as the Wolfpack hosts Georgia State on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. "according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/9/1/football-wolfpack-grinds-out-24-13-season-opening-win.aspx