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RALEIGH, N.C. (gopack.com) – Leading from start to finish for the second week in a row in conference action, NC State started ACC play 2-0 with a 33-25 win over Syracuse at Carter-Finley Stadium.

 
Celebrating its annual Military Appreciation Day, NC State came out of the gates hot and scored on each of its first five possessions in building a 26-7 halftime lead. PK Carson Wise hit back-to-back field goals to start the scoring, and Ryan Finley found Stephen Louis for a 20-yard TD pass to cap the first quarter scoring as the Pack jumped out to a 13-0 lead.
 
Syracuse got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, but NC State notched back-to-back TD runs -  Reggie Gallaspy 10 yards and Jaylen Samuels 16 yards - to close out the first half scoring.
 
Syracuse scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter, cutting NC State's lead to 26-17 entering the fourth. The Pack iced the game on the first possession of the fourth, when Nyheim Hines punched in a 1-yard score with just over nine minutes to play.
 
Syracuse tacked on another TD with under five minutes left and cut the lead to a single possession, but after a missed onside kick, NC State ran out the clock the rest of the way with a pair of first downs to improve to 3-0 at home this season.
 
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
5 plays, 70 yards in 1:04 – Ryan Finley to Stephen Louis 20-yard TD pass
 
Holding a 6-0 lead after back-to-back field goals on its first two possessions, NC State scored its first touchdown of the game with 0:25 left in the second quarter. The Pack went 70 yards in only five plays in 1:04. NC State took advantage of 27 Syracuse penalty yards, and had a Jaylen Samuels 22-yard rush and Ryan Finley to Stephen Louis 20-yard pass for the TD to jump out to a 13-0 lead.
 
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
10 plays, 65 yards in 5:02 – Nyheim Hines 1-yard TD run
 
After Syracuse scored 10 unanswered points to start the second half, the Wolfpack iced the ACC win with a TD early in the fourth quarter. Going 65 yards in 10 plays, RB Nyeheim Hines finished off the drive with a 1-yard TD score to push the lead to 33-17 with 9:52 left in the game.
 
STAT LEADERS
• QB Ryan Finley
20-of-33 for 186 yards, 1 TD
5 rushes for 37 yards
 
• RB Nyheim Hines
19 rushes for 115 yards, 1 TD
 
• H-Back Jaylen Samuels
5 catches for 37 yards
9 rushes for 74 yards, 1 TD
 
• WR Jakobi Meyers
7 catches for 57 yards
 
• WR Stephen Louis
4 catches for 67 yards, 1 TD
 
• LB Jerod Fernandez
14 tackles, 7 solo
 
• DE Bradley Chubb
8 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2 sacks
 
NOTABLES
• The win was #200 at Carter-Finley Stadium for NC State.
 
• NC State starts ACC action 2-0 for the first time since the 2006 season. NC State also starts the season 4-1 for the fourth straight year under Dave Doeren.
 
• For the fifth straight game to open the 2017, NC State took its opening offensive possession down for a score – today was a 26-yard Carson Wise field goal.
 
• For the third straight week, RB Nyheim Hines set a new career-high in rushing yards. For the first time in his career, and the first time for a Wolfpack player this year, Hines went over the century mark and finished with 115 yards.
 
• DE Bradley Chubb finished with 3.5 tackles for loss on the day, which brings his career total to 46 and moves him into second place in the NC State record books only behind Mario Williams (55.5). Chubb has a tackles for loss in every game this season thus far.
 
• QB Ryan Finley increased his nation best streak with most attempts without an INT, now reaching 246 dating back to last season. He moved into third place in ACC history, 24 away from second.
 
UP NEXT
The Wolfpack will make a quick turnaround, hosting #17 Louisville this Thursday night in another ACC showdown. The game will be televised on ESPN.