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ACCDN Video: NC State RB Nyheim Hines Back-To-Back Explosive Touchdowns |
PITTSBURGH, PA. (gopack.com) – A stout third quarter defense and back-to-back touchdown drives in the third and fourth quarters, led #20 NC State to its sixth straight win, 35-17 at Pittsburgh. The Wolfpack (6-1, 4-0 ACC) starts 4-0 in conference action for the first time since the 2002 season, and also reaches bowl eligibility in the fewest games since that same season.
NC State broke a 14-14 tie with 14 unanswered points spanning the third and fourth quarters. First Jakobi Meyers caught a three-yard Ryan Finley TD pass and Jaylen Samuels rushed in from a yard out on the next possession to build the Pack's lead to 28-14 early in the fourth.
In the third quarter, NC State limited Pitt to just 47 yards of offense (5 rushing, 41 passing), and caused three three-and-outs on the Panthers' four drives.
After a Pitt field goal, NC State iced the game with a 40-yard Samuels TD rush with 2:01 left.
Pitt opened the scoring with a 33-yard TD pass with five minutes to go in the first quarter, the first time NC State faced a deficit in ACC play this year.
But the Wolfpack answered with back-to-back explosive plays from RB Nyheim Hines. First it was a 93-yard TD run to even the score, then on his next touch he returned a punt 92-yards for his second TD and the Pack's first lead 14-7 with less then a minute to go in the opening quarter.
The two teams went into halftime tied 14-14 as the Panthers tallied the lone points in the second quarter.
NOTABLES
• Nyheim Hines' 83-yard TD run was the seventh-longest in school history and the longest play from scrimmage of the season for NC State.
• Hines' 92-yard runt return for a TD was the second-longest in school history, and the longest since 1926 (NC State Hall of Famer Jack McDowall).
• For the third straight game, Hines went over 100 rushing yards. Today he finished with a career-best 135 yards.
• In the first quarter alone, Hines posted 200 yards of total offense (93 rush, 92 PR, 15 KOR).
• WR Kelvin Harmon went over 100 yards receiving for the fourth time this season (113 yards). He now has the most games with at least 100 yards in a season since Jerricho Cotchery had seven in 2003.
• With a pair of fourth quarter rushing scores, Jaylen Samuels moves into third place in school history with 41 careers TDs (23 rushing, 18 receiving).
• QB Ryan Finley extends in INT-free streak to 313 attempts, dating back to last year's Miami game.
• Pitt got on the scoreboard first with a first quarter 33-yard TD pass. The Wolfpack had not trailed at any point in its first three ACC games this season, and today was the first time NC State had trailed since the first drive of the Furman game, a span of 15 quarters.
• In his first start of the season, CB Mike Stevens recorded his third career interception, first of the season.
• The win at Pitt was the first for NC State at Pitt in five all-time attempts, the try was in 1987. The win was also the first matchup as ACC foes between the two teams.
UP NEXT
NC State will have its bye week next weekend, before stepping out of conference play with a trip to #16 Notre Dame on Oct. 28. Pitt heads to Duke for a 12:20 kickoff on Oct. 21.