TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — It all comes down to the game in Winston-Salem.
A lot can happen the rest of the season, sure, but with a 28-14 win over Florida State on Saturday night, N.C. State (7-2, 4-1) will take on Wake Forest (8-1, 5-0) for the keys to the Atlantic Division car.
The Wolfpack came into the game controlling its own destiny, and knew there was little room for error. After another four-touchdown performance from Devin Leary, N.C. State still holds the pen to write their own story.
Despite a sleeper of a third quarter, the Wolfpack dominated it’s win over Florida State, never trailing the Noles all day. When they needed a stop and a score, N.C. State got it. Late in the fourth quarter, the Pack defense stopped the Seminoles on a fourth-and-4, then forced a punt on the next FSU drive.
With a 21-14 lead, facing third-and-10, Leary found Ricky Person, Jr. out of the backfield. Person, the junior running back, did the rest, tipping the sideline and taking it 43-yards to the house. Now N.C. State has a chance to keep writing what could be a historic story.
Wake Forest fell at UNC on Saturday, but that doesn’t count as a conference game. The Demon Deacons are still perfect in ACC play. The Wolfpack have one loss in the ACC, but it was to Miami out of the Coastal. N.C. State will play for the lead in the Atlantic next weekend.
If Leary continues to be hot, the Pack has as good a chance as any. Leary threw for four touchdowns for the third time this season and second straight game and finished with 314 yards passing. The Wolfpack defense held the Noles to 32 yards rushing, the second lowest total of the season. They held Mississippi State to 22 in week two.
Florida State had negative-five rushing yards in the first half, but it felt like N.C. State left some points on the board, despite being up two scores at the break.
The third quarter was all Seminoles. Head coach Mike Norvell came out aggressive, calling an onside kick that Florida State recovered.
Trailing 14-0, the Noles got the ball at the 50-yard line. Seven plays later, McKenzie Milton found Keyshawn Helton in the back of the endzone for an 8-yard touchdown. N.C. State countered when Leary hit Trent Pennix for a 45-yard score, but the Noles answered right back, scoring on a three-yard run by Jashaun Corbin. It was just the second rushing touchdown the N.C. State defense has allowed all season.
The Wolfpack jumped out to a 14-0 lead when Leary hit C.J. Riley for a 62-yard strike in the first quarter and Chris Toudle for a 8-yard TD in the second.
N.C. State’s defense in the first half forced six punts by FSU. The one time the Noles didn’t punt was an interception by Joshua Pierre-Louis in the first quarter. N.C. State didn’t convert the turnover into any points, but in return kept FSU out of the end zone for its third first half shutout.
Here’s what we learned:
The other guys
Wide receivers Emeka Emezie, Thayer Thomas and Devin Carter came into the game the top three pass catches for N.C. State. In the first half N.C. State had 179 receiving yards and not one of the big three had a catch. Devin Leary found some new targets in C.J. Riley, Porter Rooks and Chris Toudle, who combined for 12 catches and 178 yards.
Rooks came into the game with just eight catches but had five versus the Noles.
Trent Pennix is a weapon
After the breakout fourth quarter a week ago, tight end/H-Back Trent Pennix continues to prove he’s a valuable part of the offense. Pennix, who had three catches and a touchdown, all in the fourth versus Louisville, had a 36-yard grab in the first half and a 45-yard catch and run touchdown in the third quarter. Pennix led all receivers with 97 yards.
Still losing guys
N.C. State came into the game already down four starters on defense. That number was pushed to six by the second quarter. Nickel back Tyler Baker-Williams was ruled out with an injury before the game started. After the first quarter, defensive end Savion Jackson was on the sidelines in street clothes with a brace on his knee.
Take it away
N.C. State came into the game undefeated when they forced at least one turnover. That still stands after an interception by Joshua Pierre-Louis in the first quarter.
Protection issues
After a relatively clean game last week protecting Leary, the N.C. State front struggled to keep their starting signal caller upright.
When it became apparent the Pack was going to let Leary win it with his arm, Florida State was able to pin back their ears and get after the quarterback. Leary was sacked three times.
Communication up front
The N.C. State offensive line was called for multiple false starts versus the Seminoles. This was the second straight week veteran center Grant Gibson was called for moving the ball before the rest of the offense was ready.
