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  • No. 13 NC State Holds Off the Upset-Minded ECU Pirates to Win on the Road, 21-20

No. 13 NC State Holds Off the Upset-Minded ECU Pirates to Win on the Road, 21-20

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Football

Trailing by one, East Carolina missed a 41-yard game-winning field goal attempt in the final seconds as #13 NC State opened the season with a 21-20 road win.

ECU struck first with a TD midway through the first quarter, but the Pack responded with three straight scores to go into the half up 21-7.

QB Devin Leary found WR Thayer Thomas from 12 yards out to open the Pack's scoring. Then the NC State special teams got into the scoring action, as WR Jasiah Provillon blocked an ECU punt, and SAF Sean Brown fell on the ball in the end zone for a ST TD.

In the second quarter, So. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye scored his first career score, going in from 24 yards out in the final minute of the first half.

The Pirates cut the deficit in half midway through the third quarter, with a second TD pass of the game. The score remained 21-14 going into the fourth quarter.

The Pirates added a TD with just 2:58 left, but missed the extra point to leave the score at 21-20. ECU drove the ball down for a 41-yard game-winning field goal attempt with nine seconds left, but the kick was no good.

NOTABLES

  • Thomas first quarter TD catch was the 21st of his career which moves him into second place in school history for most career TD receptions. He is now tied for second with Jerricho Cotchery, only behind Torry Holt's record of 31.
  • Sumo-Karngbaye played in six games as a true freshman last year, but took no offensive snaps (all his action was on special teams). His second quarter TD was the first of his career, and he is the first #0 to score a TD in Wolfpack history – players were allowed to wear #0 starting in 2020.
  • The win was only the Pack's second all-time in Greenville (2-3), and the first since 2007. NC State has now won three straight in the series overall.
  • Opening the season in a true-road game for the first time since 2008, the win was the first of the season on the road for the Pack since 1999 (23-20 at #16 Texas).

UP NEXT
The Pack will open its home slate next Saturday, as Charleston Southern comes to Carter-Finley Stadium for a 12:30 p.m. contest.