PITTSBURGH (AP) Devin Leary hit Emeka Emezie for the go-ahead touchdown with 23 seconds remaining and NC State stunned No. 24 Pitt 30-29 on Saturday.
Leary, making his first start of the season, drove the Wolfpack 79 yards in 12 plays, the final 13 coming on a perfect back-shoulder throw to Emezie, who made a perfect spinning grab to give NC State its first victory over a ranked team since 2017. Leary finished 28 of 44 for 336 yards and four touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to put NC State (2-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) in front.
Kenny Pickett threw for a career-high 411 yards and a touchdown and added two more on the ground, including a go-ahead score with 1:44 to play. Still, Pitt's bid to start 4-0 for the first time since 2000 ended when Leary picked apart the nation's top-ranked defense with the game on the line. The Panthers (3-1, 2-1) allowed 398 yards, nearly 180 more than they had allowed coming in.
Leary found Thayer Thomas to convert a 4th-and-9 at the Pitt 23. A holding penalty on the Panthers - their 13th of the day - moved the Wolfpack to the 13 and Leary and Emezie did the rest.
Pickett completed 21 of 37 passes and added 40 yards rushing while often the only option in a running game that was non-existent at times. He scored twice from a yard out in the second half, including the game-winner on a remarkable effort in which he stretched the ball over the goal line after initially getting stopped.
It figured to be enough against a Wolfpack team that ran out of gas last week while getting rolled on the road at Virginia Tech. Instead Leary, slowed during camp due to COVID-19, calmly stared down a defense that led the nation in yards allowed and sacks during an impressive start.
UP NEXT
NC State: Travels to Virginia next Saturday. The Wolfpack won the previous meeting between the schools 35-21 in 2018.
Pitt: Hits the road for the first time next weekend when the Panthers play at Boston College. The Eagles are quarterbacked by Pittsburgh native and Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec.