Final: NC State 35, Pittsburgh 17
Darian Roseboro finishes game strong
A week after his father Johnny Roseboro passed away, junior defensive end Darian Roseboro gets a sack and then later forces a fumble by Pitt sophomore quarterback Ben DiNucci that the Pack's redshirt junior linebacker Germaine Pratt recovers.
NC State ends the game in victory formation and improves to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the ACC headed into the bye week.
Wolfpack puts the game away (3:10 p.m.)
After turning Pitt over on downs with 3:27 left, senior H-back Jaylen Samuels made sure there would be no doubt by running for a 40-yard touchdown with 2:01 left in the game, putting the Pack up 35-17.
Pitt tacks on a field goal (2:47 p.m.)
Despite trailing 28-14 with less than eight minutes left, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi decided to kick a 43-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Alex Kessman rather than go for it on fourth and eight at the NC State 26.
The Panthers have been using true freshman quarterback Kenny Pickett on the last two drives.
Pack adds insurance touchdown (2:37 p.m.)
Senior H-back Jaylen Samuels scored on a one-yard touchdown with 11:55 left in the game to put NC State up 28-14 over Pitt. The big play on the nine plays, 73-yard drive was redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley finding sophomore receiver Kelvin Harmon on a 36-yard jump ball pass to the Pitt 11. Harmon out-dueled the Pitt DB for the catch.
Harmon has gone over 100-yards receiving with three receptions for 113 yards.
Third quarter stats (2:30 p.m.)
NC State regains the lead late in third quarter (2:21 p.m.)
After both teams struggled to move the ball for much of the third quarter, NC State scores a touchdown after a 3-yard pass from redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley to redshirt sophomore receiver Jakobi Meyers to take a 21-14 lead with 2:32 left in the third quarter.
Earlier on the drive, Finley connected with sophomore receiver Kelvin Harmon on a 43-yard pass.
On the Pitt possession prior to State's score, star senior defensive end Bradley Chubb left the game with an apparent dislocated finger.
Halftime stats (1:31 p.m.)
Penalty wipes away State touchdown (1:29 p.m.)
NC State was celebrating a 4-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior Ryan Finley to redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers late in the first half, but it was a brief moment of joy. A late flag called sophomore Kelvin Harmon for offensive pass interference, a 15-yard penalty that set NC State back to the 19 for third and 17.
It was the first penalty of the game on either team.
Finley was forced to scramble for a pair of yards to the 17, and redshirt junior Carson Wise's 34-yard field goal, after a couple of Pitt timeouts, was well wide left.
Pitt will get the ball to start the second half, which is scheduled to beging around 1:49.
Pitt runs down the field for game-tying TD (1:13 p.m.)
Pitt junior left tackle Brian O'Neill nearly had a touchdown run on a trick play when sophomore quarterback Ben DiNucci rolled to his right and then threw a lateral back to O'Neill. He was initially ruled to have crossed the goal line for a TD, but replays confirmed he was down at the 1.
Junior Darrin Hall then ran it in from one-yard out to tie the game at 14-14 with 2:38 left in the first half.
NC State's passing attack on offense has been anemic due to a combination of dropped passes and unusual inaccuracy from redshirt junior Ryan Finley, who is just 2 of 9 for 13 yards.
First quarter stats (12:43 p.m.)
Have yourself a day, Nyheim Hines (12:36 p.m.)
Junior running back Nyheim Hines returns the punt 92 yards for a touchdown, the second longest punt runback for a score, to give NC State a 14-7 lead with 55 seconds in the first quarter.
Earlier in the game, Hines had a 83-yard touchdown run.
Nyheim Hines goes the distance on long run for score (12:28 p.m.)
On the second play of the drive, facing second and 10 at its own 17, junior running back Nyheim Hines managed to keep his balance while running through a wide lane and then outraced the Pitt defense for an 83-yard touchdown.
The score is tied 7-7 with 4:37 left in the first half.
Pitt strikes first with touchdown pass (12:23 p.m.)
NC State's offense drove to the Pitt 34 on its opening possession but failed to convert on fourth and three.
After forcing a Pitt punt, the Pack went three and out on its second possession, and junior A.J. Cole out-kicked his coverage, setting up a lengthy return from junior receiver Quadree Henderson for Pitt to the NC State 42.
Five plays later, NC State ran a corner blitz with senior Mike Stevens, and his receiver, senior Jester Weah, beat sophomore safety Tim Kidd-Glass on a double-move for a 33-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Ben DiNucci.
Pitt leads 7-0 with 5:05 left in the first quarter.
Pack set to face Pittsburgh (11:15 a.m.)
Kickoff is at noon for No. 20 NC State at Pittsburgh. A win would put the Pack in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division following No. 2 Clemson's stunning 27-24 loss to Syracuse Friday night.
Below is today's travel squad. Fans can talk about the game on the premium Wolves' Den message board here.
