Final: NC State 49, Furman 16
Wolfpack gets easy win (3:22 p.m.)
The Pack improves to 2-1 overall after a 49-16 home win over Furman on Saturday. NC State plays at Florida State with a noon kickoff in the ACC opener for both teams next Saturday.
Furman adds field goal (2:51 p.m.)
The Paladins used a 41-yard pass completion from senior P.J. Blazejowski to sophomore wideout Thomas Gordon to reach the NC State 24. The combination of junior Darian Roseboro and redshirt sophomore James Smith-Williams sacked Blazejowski on the next play at the 32 to stall Furman's momentum.
Freshman Grayson Atkins connected on a 46-yard field goal, his third of the game, to cut NC State's lead to 49-16 with 13:36 left in the game.
Stats through three quarters (2:47 p.m.)
Pack forces turnover and converts into touchdown (2:40 p.m.)
Senior defensive end Kentavius Street forced and recovered a fumble on quarterback by Furman senior P.J. Blazejowski at the Furman 23. It took fifth-year senior running back Dakwa Nichols two carries to cover those yards to put NC State up 49-13 with 1:58 to go in the third quarter.
Pick six adds to NC State's lead (2:33 p.m.)
Senior Shawn Boone, whose family in West Palm Beach has been dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, has a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown with 3:52 to go in the third quarter to put NC State up 42-13.
Blocked punt helps set up Wolfpack touchdown (2:24 p.m.)
Redshirt sophomore safety Jarius Morehead got a piece of senior Jon Croft Hollingsworth's punt to set up field position at the Furman 49, and four plays later junior running back Nyheim Hines sprinted for a 28-yard touchdown, giving NC State a 35-13 lead with 7:10 left in the third quarter.
Halftime stats (1:45 p.m.)
Another two-minute offense TD before half for NC State (1:42 p.m.)
For the third straight week to start the season, NC State marched down the field in its two-minute offense for a touchdown just before the half. A 76-yard drive that started with 2:35 on the clock ended with a one-yard rush from senior H-back Jaylen Samuels with 18 seconds left to put NCSU up 28-13.
Samuels' third touchdown of the game gives him 36 for his career, tying him with former running back T.A. McLendon with fourth most in school history.
Big play goes for Furman TD (1:32 p.m.)
NC State's first punt of the day landed at the Furman 7, but the Paladins still scored after a 71-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback P.J. Blazejowski to senior tight end Andy Schumpert on a busted coverage by NC State.
NC State leads 21-13 with 2:35 to go in the half.
Nyheim Hines' big kickoff return sets up a touchdown (1:14 p.m.)
Junior running back Nyheim Hines, who has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, nearly had his third, but he was tackled after his 50-yard runback at the Furman 42. Six plays later, senior H-back Jaylen Samuels scored his second touchdown of the game to give NC State a 21-6 lead with 9:34 to go in the half.
Furman big play leads to field goal (1:05 p.m.)
Furman junior tailback Triston Luke rumbled for 45 yards on third and nine to reach the NC State 19. The Pack held from there to force a 34-yard field goal from freshman kicker Grayson Atkins.
NC State leads 14-6 with 12:24 to go before halftime.
First quarter stats (1:01 p.m.)
JuMichael Ramos' first catch since return from injury is a TD (12:53 p.m.)
After holding Furman to a three-and-out, NC State struck again, this time when redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley found fifth-year senior JuMichael Ramos for a 30-yard touchdown to put NC State up 14-3 with 42 seconds left in the quarter.
Ramos caught 34 passes for 457 yards and three touchdowns as a junior, but he missed last season with a serious knee injury that left his role on this year's team in question.
Wolfpack Gets Easy Drive For Touchdown (12:40 p.m.)
With a nice blend of run and pass, NC State went 75 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-3 lead over Furman with 4:46 to go in the first quarter. Senior H-Back Jaylen Samuels carried it in from two yards out for the score, and Samuels moved into sole possession of fifth all-time at NC State with his 34th career score.
The Pack had six runs and six passes on the drive. Junior Nyheim Hines ran four times for 30 yards, and redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley was 5-of-6 passing for 33 yards.
Furman scores first (12:30 p.m.)
Thanks to a roughing the passer penalty on senior defensive end Bradley Chubb, Furman avoided a three-and-out and methodically drove to the NC State 28 before kicking a 46-yard field goal by Grayson Atkins to put the Paladins up 3-0 with 9:53 to go in the first quarter.
NCSU is set to have its opening possession of the game.
Mike Stevens is in uniform (12:13 p.m.)
NC State senior corner Mike Stevens, who missed the first two games with an injury, is in uniform during pregame warmups.
Also set to return is redshirt junior right tackle Will Richardson, who returns to his starting spot after missing the first two games with a suspension.
Recruits spotted before the game (12:13 p.m.)
Head to the premium message board to get a list of players spotted before the game.
Pack set to host Furman at 12:20 p.m. (11:13 p.m.)
NC State will try to get a winning record when they face winless Furman Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in what is shaping up as a warm, sunny afternoon in Raleigh. Kickoff is at 12:20 p.m.
Today's dress roster is pictured below.
Fans can talk about the game here:
Official game thread on the premium Wolves' Den message board.
——
• Talk about it inside The Wolves' Den
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolfpacker
• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolfpacker
• Like us on Facebook