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BC |
NCST |
No. 23 NC State holds off Boston College 28-23 to reach 5-0
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina State went from dominating Boston College on both sides of the ball to frittering just about everything away - first momentum, then nearly all of a big second-half lead - in a suddenly close finish.
And yet, the 23rd-ranked Wolfpack stayed unbeaten.
Reggie Gallaspy ran for a career-best 104 yards and two touchdowns to help N.C. State beat Boston College 28-23, securing its best start in 16 years.
There were plenty of problems, from four turnovers to having two kicks blocked. And the Wolfpack abruptly went from cruising with a 28-3 lead to needing Ryan Finley to connect on a late third-down passing play to hang onto the ball and run out the clock.
''Really proud of the resiliency of our guys, the toughness and the fortitude they had to finish,'' coach Dave Doeren said. ''It was sloppy, but it was awesome to find a way to win against a really good team.''
Finley threw for two touchdowns for the Wolfpack (5-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), including his scoring strike to Kelvin Harmon for the 28-3 lead with 2:57 left in the third. Yet the Eagles - playing without injured running back AJ Dillion, their top player - responded with 20 straight points, the last being a blocked punt return with 3:33 left.
But the Wolfpack recovered an onside kick, then Finley hit Stephen Louis near the sideline for 21 yards with 1:08 left to send the Wolfpack into kneel-down mode.
''I think we definitely showed that we can handle all the punches,'' Wolfpack receiver Jakobi Meyers said.
Ben Glines had a rushing and receiving touchdown for the Eagles (4-2, 1-1). BC had bumbled its way to 109 yards and four first downs in falling behind big, but its offense put up 209 yards in those final 17-plus minutes.
''I thought we adjusted our game without AJ, and I thought we hit a little rhythm,'' Eagles coach Steve Addazio said. ''I would put that squarely on me because I would say we needed to find that adjustment sooner.''
THE TAKEAWAY
BC: The Eagles showed two things. First, they're a very different team without Dillon, the nation's fifth-leading rusher, who didn't travel after injuring an ankle last week. They also had enough moxie to rally after three dreadful three quarters.
''I thought we were a team that battled until the end and put ourselves in a position to have a chance to win the game at the end after coming off of an atrocious first half,'' Addazio said.
N.C. State: This is the program's best start since the 2002 team reached 9-0 and made it to No. 10 in the AP Top 25 behind quarterback Philip Rivers, now in his 15th year with the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
N.C. State seems likely to climb a few spots in the AP Top 25 after beating a team that was ranked earlier this season to stay unbeaten.
QUESTIONABLE CALL
BC's rally nearly ended amid a fumble call in which Glines was stripped by Germaine Pratt inside the Wolfpack 5-yard line with 6:09 left. Glines was running amid a standup pile, the kind of play that typically draws a whistle to signal the end of forward progress. But that whistle never came, and the call had Addazio standing on the field while yelling and pointing at the officials.
Ultimately, BC quickly got it back when Travis Levy recovered Mike Palmer's blocked punt in the end zone.
MOVING THE CHAINS
N.C. State came in ranked third in FBS in third-down conversion rate, then went 10 of 15 against the Eagles. BC converted just 1 of 10.
WOLFPACK'S TURNOVERS
N.C. State entered with three turnovers before tallying four Saturday: two on Finley interceptions, one a fumbled punt return by redshirt freshman Thayer Thomas and the other a fumbled fourth-quarter carry by freshman Ricky Person.
Finley's first pick - a pressured second-quarter dump-off near the goal line - drew an immediate critique.
''He should never have done that,'' Doeren said of his quarterback widely regarded as a top NFL prospect. ''He should've thrown that ball away. That was a poor choice.''
UP NEXT
BC: The Eagles host Louisville next Saturday.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack's open week is followed by an Oct. 20 trip to No. 4 Clemson.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 12 | 34 |
Rushing | 6 | 14 |
Passing | 6 | 17 |
Penalty | 0 | 3 |
3rd Down Conv | 1-10 | 10-15 |
4th Down Conv | 1-2 | 1-1 |
Total Net Yards | 307 | 533 |
Total Plays | 50 | 87 |
Avg Gain | 6.1 | 6.1 |
Net Yards Rushing | 120 | 225 |
Rush Attempts | 25 | 53 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.8 | 4.2 |
Yards Passing | 198 | 308 |
Comp. - Att. | 14-25 | 25-34 |
Yards Per Pass | 7.5 | 9.1 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-37 | 1-5 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 4 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Other | 1 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-1 | 2-2 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 2 |
Punts - Avg | 5-44.4 | 1-49.0 |
Return Yards | 129 | 33 |
Punts - Returns | 1-22 | 2-14 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 4-95 | 1-19 |
Int. - Returns | 2-12 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. BrownÂ
13 QB
|
A. Brown | 14/25 | 198 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
B. GlinesÂ
19 WR
|
B. Glines | 16 | 90 | 1 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. BrownÂ
13 QB
|
A. Brown | 6 | 21 | 0 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. LevyÂ
23 RB
|
T. Levy | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. SmithÂ
6 WR
|
J. Smith | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. WalkerÂ
3 WR
|
M. Walker | 0 | 3 | 72 | 0 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. WhiteÂ
9 WR
|
K. White | 0 | 4 | 46 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. SmithÂ
6 WR
|
J. Smith | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. GlinesÂ
19 WR
|
B. Glines | 0 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. SweeneyÂ
89 TE
|
T. Sweeney | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. GarrisonÂ
81 TE
|
C. Garrison | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. LevyÂ
23 RB
|
T. Levy | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. IdriziÂ
85 TE
|
K. Idrizi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. LamotÂ
28 LB
|
J. Lamot | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. AllenÂ
2 DE
|
Z. Allen | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. BletzerÂ
49 LB
|
K. Bletzer | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. LichtenbergÂ
99 K
|
C. Lichtenberg | 1/1 | 33 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
G. CarlsonÂ
95 P
|
G. Carlson | 5 | 44.4 | 1 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. WalkerÂ
3 WR
|
M. Walker | 4 | 23.8 | 33 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
R. FinleyÂ
15 QB
|
R. Finley | 25/34 | 308 | 2 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
R. GallaspyÂ
25 RB
|
R. Gallaspy | 25 | 104 | 2 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. PersonÂ
20 RB
|
R. Person | 17 | 92 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. FinleyÂ
15 QB
|
R. Finley | 3 | 19 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. BodineÂ
33 RB
|
B. Bodine | 3 | 14 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. ThomasÂ
87 WR
|
T. Thomas | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. LouisÂ
1 WR
|
S. Louis | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
K. HarmonÂ
3 WR
|
K. Harmon | 0 | 9 | 128 | 1 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. MeyersÂ
11 WR
|
J. Meyers | 0 | 10 | 99 | 1 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. LouisÂ
1 WR
|
S. Louis | 0 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. AngelineÂ
6 TE
|
C. Angeline | 0 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. ThomasÂ
87 WR
|
T. Thomas | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. PersonÂ
20 RB
|
R. Person | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. EmezieÂ
86 WR
|
E. Emezie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. RileyÂ
19 WR
|
C. Riley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. GallaspyÂ
25 RB
|
R. Gallaspy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
G. PrattÂ
3 LB
|
G. Pratt | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. MurchisonÂ
92 DT
|
L. Murchison | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. BryantÂ
91 DT
|
E. Bryant | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Smith-WilliamsÂ
39 DE
|
J. Smith-Williams | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. HoldenÂ
55 DE
|
D. Holden | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. DunnÂ
32 K
|
C. Dunn | 0/1 | 0 | 4/4 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
A. Cole IIIÂ
90 P
|
A. Cole III | 1 | 49.0 | 1 | 49 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. TrowellÂ
8 CB
|
M. Trowell | 1 | 19.0 | 19 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Thomas 87 WR
|
T. Thomas | 2 | 7.0 | 19 | 0 |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) 92-K.Bambard kicks 65 yards from NCST 35. 3-M.Walker to BC 26 for 26 yards. |
+10 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 26 (15:00 - 1st) 13-A.Brown complete to 9-K.White. 9-K.White to BC 36 for 10 yards. |
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 36 (14:56 - 1st) 13-A.Brown pushed ob at BC 41 for 5 yards. |
+23 YD | 2 & 5 - BC 41 (14:42 - 1st) 19-B.Glines pushed ob at NCST 36 for 23 yards. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - NCST 36 (14:19 - 1st) 6-J.Smith pushed ob at NCST 34 for 2 yards. |
No Gain | 2 & 8 - NCST 34 (13:54 - 1st) 13-A.Brown incomplete. Intended for 6-J.Smith. |
Sack | 3 & 8 - NCST 34 (13:30 - 1st) 13-A.Brown sacked at NCST 35 for -1 yard (91-E.Bryant92-L.Murchison). |
+5 YD | 4 & 9 - BC 35 (13:25 - 1st) 13-A.Brown complete to 23-T.Levy. 23-T.Levy pushed ob at NCST 30 for 5 yards. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
+1 YD | 1 & 10 - NCST 30 (12:45 - 1st) 25-R.Gallaspy to NCST 31 for 1 yard. |
+7 YD | 2 & 9 - NCST 31 (12:39 - 1st) 15-R.Finley complete to 11-J.Meyers. 11-J.Meyers to NCST 38 for 7 yards. |
+3 YD | 3 & 2 - NCST 38 (12:07 - 1st) 15-R.Finley complete to 11-J.Meyers. 11-J.Meyers pushed ob at NCST 41 for 3 yards. |
+6 YD | 1 & 10 - NCST 41 (11:38 - 1st) 1-S.Louis to NCST 47 for 6 yards. |
+20 YD | 2 & 4 - NCST 47 (11:17 - 1st) 15-R.Finley complete to 3-K.Harmon. 3-K.Harmon to BC 33 for 20 yards. |
+13 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 33 (10:42 - 1st) 20-R.Person to BC 20 for 13 yards. |
+13 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 20 (10:06 - 1st) 15-R.Finley complete to 1-S.Louis. 1-S.Louis to BC 7 for 13 yards. |
Penalty | 1 & 7 - NCST 7 (9:34 - 1st) Penalty on BC 96-R.Smith Offside 4 yards enforced at BC 7. No Play. |
No Gain | 1 & 3 - BC 3 (8:58 - 1st) 20-R.Person to BC 3 for no gain. |
No Gain | 2 & 3 - BC 3 (8:39 - 1st) 15-R.Finley incomplete. Intended for 25-R.Gallaspy. |
+3 YD | 3 & 3 - BC 3 (8:03 - 1st) 25-R.Gallaspy runs 3 yards for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (7:59 - 1st) 32-C.Dunn extra point is good. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (7:52 - 1st) 92-K.Bambard kicks 63 yards from NCST 35. 3-M.Walker to BC 22 for 20 yards. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 22 (7:52 - 1st) 19-B.Glines to BC 24 for 2 yards. |
+8 YD | 2 & 8 - BC 24 (7:47 - 1st) 19-B.Glines pushed ob at BC 32 for 8 yards. |
+1 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 32 (7:27 - 1st) 13-A.Brown complete to 23-T.Levy. 23-T.Levy to BC 33 for 1 yard. |
+2 YD | 2 & 9 - BC 33 (7:06 - 1st) 23-T.Levy to BC 35 for 2 yards. |
No Gain | 3 & 7 - BC 35 (6:46 - 1st) 13-A.Brown incomplete. Intended for 6-J.Smith. |
Punt | 4 & 7 - BC 35 (6:16 - 1st) 95-G.Carlson punts 40 yards from BC 35. 87-T.Thomas to NCST 25 FUMBLES (25-M.El Attrach). 25-M.El Attrach to NCST 20 for no gain. |
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - NCST 20 (6:12 - 1st) 19-B.Glines to NCST 15 for 5 yards. |
-1 YD | 2 & 5 - NCST 15 (6:00 - 1st) 19-B.Glines to NCST 16 for -1 yard. |
No Gain | 3 & 6 - NCST 16 (5:38 - 1st) 13-A.Brown incomplete. Intended for 89-T.Sweeney. |
Field Goal | 4 & 6 - NCST 16 (5:02 - 1st) 99-C.Lichtenberg 33 yards Field Goal is Good. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (4:57 - 1st) 37-D.Longman kicks 65 yards from BC 35 to NCST End Zone. touchback. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - NCST 25 (4:53 - 1st) 15-R.Finley incomplete. Intended for 86-E.Emezie. |
+17 YD | 2 & 10 - NCST 25 (4:53 - 1st) 20-R.Person pushed ob at NCST 42 for 17 yards. |
+8 YD | 1 & 10 - NCST 42 (4:48 - 1st) 15-R.Finley scrambles to NCST 50 for 8 yards. |
+1 YD | 2 & 2 - NCST 50 (4:08 - 1st) 20-R.Person to BC 49 for 1 yard. |
+2 YD | 3 & 1 - BC 49 (3:33 - 1st) 15-R.Finley to BC 47 for 2 yards. |
+9 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 47 (2:52 - 1st) 15-R.Finley complete to 11-J.Meyers. 11-J.Meyers to BC 38 for 9 yards. |
-15 YD | 2 & 1 - BC 38 (2:18 - 1st) to NCST 47 for -15 yards. |
+21 YD | 3 & 16 - NCST 47 (1:42 - 1st) 15-R.Finley complete to 11-J.Meyers. 11-J.Meyers to BC 32 for 21 yards. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 32 (1:11 - 1st) 25-R.Gallaspy to BC 28 for 4 yards. |
+23 YD | 2 & 6 - BC 28 (0:30 - 1st) 15-R.Finley complete to 11-J.Meyers. 11-J.Meyers to BC 5 for 23 yards. |
-2 YD | 1 & 5 - BC 5 (15:00 - 2nd) 15-R.Finley complete to 11-J.Meyers. 11-J.Meyers to BC 7 for -2 yards. |
+3 YD | 2 & 7 - BC 7 (14:20 - 2nd) 25-R.Gallaspy to BC 4 for 3 yards. |
Int | 3 & 4 - BC 4 (13:42 - 2nd) 15-R.Finley incomplete. Intended for 20-R.Person INTERCEPTED by 2-Z.Allen at BC 1. 2-Z.Allen to BC 7 for 6 yards. |
Result | Play |
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-2 YD | 1 & 10 - BC 7 (12:54 - 2nd) 19-B.Glines to BC 5 for -2 yards. |
No Gain | 2 & 12 - BC 5 (12:44 - 2nd) 13-A.Brown incomplete. Intended for 85-K.Idrizi. |
+5 YD | 3 & 12 - BC 5 (12:21 - 2nd) 13-A.Brown complete to 3-M.Walker. 3-M.Walker to BC 10 for 5 yards. |
Punt | 4 & 7 - BC 10 (12:17 - 2nd) 95-G.Carlson punts 54 yards from BC 10. 87-T.Thomas to BC 45 for 19 yards. |