RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)– The NC State football team outscored Florida State 16-0 in the second half to battle back for a 19-17 win at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday night.
FIRST HALF (Florida State 17-3)
After a pair of scoreless possessions from the Wolfpack and Seminoles, NC State defensive lineman
Davin Vann helped the Pack defense force a three-and-out when he beat his man on the right side of the offensive line to sack Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis for a 10-yard loss.
The Pack offense built off the defense's momentum, capping off a 7-play, 38-yard drive with a 38-yard field goal by
Christopher Dunn to make it 3-0.
NC State's defense then came up with another key stop, forcing the Seminoles to turn it over on downs with a fourth-down stop at its 23-yard line on the first play of the second quarter.
The Seminoles took their first lead with a quick two-play, 85-yard drive when Travis connected with Mycah Pittman for a 14-yard touchdown. Travis opened the scoring drive with a 71-yard quarterback keeper to advance into the red zone.
The 'Noles extended their lead to a game-high 14 points with a pair of scores in the final minute. The Seminoles scored their second touchdown of the night with 48 seconds remaining to make it 14-3 before kicker Alex Mastromanno converted a 47-yard field goal as the clock expired to make it 17-3 at the break.
SECOND HALF (NC State 19-17)
NC State's offense marched right down the field to open the second half, trimming Florida State's lead to 17-10 when Devin Leary connected with Darryl Jones for a 10-yard touchdown pass to cap off a 10-play, 84-yard drive.
Dunn helped cut Florida State's lead down to one point with his second and third field-goal conversions of the night, connecting on tries from 40 yards and 53 yards to make it a 17-16 game.
Backup quarterback Jack Chambers, who entered the game in the third quarter following an injury to Leary, led the Wolfpack on three scoring drives, all of which ended with Dunn field-goal conversions. Dunn's 27-yarder with 6:33 remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner.
NC State's defense posted back-to-back stops to seal the victory. Florida State's first drive following Dunn's game-winning kick lasted just one play when Shyheim Battle picked off Travis' pass with 6:24 left.
Another key interception, this time from Devan Boykin in NC State's own end zone, sealed the victory for the Pack with 38 seconds remaining.