Final: NC State football 34, North Carolina 30 (with box score)

On3 imageby:Matt Carter11/26/21

TheWolfpacker

NC State football has a myriad of reasons for wanting to beat archrival North Carolina Friday night:

• Senior Day.

• Improve positioning in the bowl games and rankings.

• Preserve an undefeated home record.

• Keep hope alive for an ACC title game appearance.

• End a two-game losing streak to its hated rivals.

The game is televised on ESPN and is a 7 p.m. kick off.

We will have updates throughout the game here.

NC State football fans can discuss the contest on the Wolves’ Den message board.

We have already included a couple of injury updates.

NC State football Senior Day participants (7:03 p.m.)

The following players were honored on Senior Day. Head coach Dave Doeren stressed during the week that not all of these players walking would definitely be leaving NC State football after the season is over.

Some walked as a precautionary measure in case they decide later to turn pro.

The players with stars are eligible to return should they choose:

• Kicker Christopher Dunn*

• Punter Trenton Gill*

• Running back Zonovan Knight*

• Receiver Thayer Thomas*

Receiver Devin Carter*

• Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu*

• Running back Ricky Person Jr.*

• Defensive end Daniel Joseph

• Cornerback Chris Ingram

• Tight end Dylan Parham

• Receiver C.J. Riley

• Receiver Emeka Emezie

Special teams TD for NC State (7:09 p.m.)

After holding UNC to a three-and-out with two negative plays involved, NC State sophomore running back Jordan Houston blocked the punt and it was picked up in the end zone by redshirt senior receiver C.J. Riley for a touchdown.

NC State leads 7-0 with 13:37 left in the first quarter.

NC State extends its early lead (7:38 p.m.)

Behind a pair of physical runs from junior running back Ricky Person Jr., NC State reached the red zone for the first time on the evening and converted the trip into a touchdown.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary found redshirt sophomore tight end Trent Pennix for the 9-yard TD score with 2:14 left in the first quarter.

UNC on the board with field goal (7:49 p.m.)

UNC tried to convert a third and two at the NC State 3-yard line with a shovel pass, but NC State defended it well and was able to sack UNC quarterback Sam Howell for a 2-yard loss.

Kicker Grayson Atkins made a 22-yard field goal with 14:06 left in the half, cutting NC State’s lead to 14-3.

UNC gets late first half touchdown (8:25 p.m.)

Two plays after converting on fourth and one at the NC State 40-yard line with a 16-yard rush from British Brooks, Howell ran it in for a 6-yard score to cut NC State’s lead to 14-10 with 2:02 left in the half.

Turnover leads to UNC go-ahead TD (9:04 p.m.)

A fumble on a reception by Person was returned by UNC linebacker Cedric Gray to the NC State 23-yard line.

Howell would score on a 12-yard TD rush on third and 10 with 9:05 left in the first half.

UNC makes it 24 straight points (9:23 p.m.)

After a three-and-out by the Pack offense, UNC drove the field for another TD to go up 24-14. Howell found receiver Justin Olson for a 17-yard scoring reception with 6:03 left in the third quarter.

NC State gets much-needed touchdown (9:32 p.m.)

Getting back to the running game, NC State drove to the UNC 26-yard line where it faced third and nine. Leary found redshirt junior receiver Thayer Thomas along the sideline, and Thomas made a defender miss to get free for a sprint to the end zone.

UNC leads 24-21 with 32 seconds left in the quarter.

UNC adds short field goal (10:03 p.m.)

A 21-yard field goal after a goal line stand by Atkins pads UNC’s lead to 27-21 with 7:44 remaining.

Back-breaking long field goal for UNC (10:19 p.m.)

A 50-yard field goal by Atkins with 2:12 left makes it 30-21 UNC.

Pack has one timeout left.

Long touchdown keeps hopes alive (10:23 p.m.)

A 64-yard touchdown pass from Leary to senior Emeka Emezie with 1:35 left keeps the Pack’s hope alive.

NC State stuns UNC with late touchdown (10:31 p.m.)

After recovering the onside kick and picking up 30 yards on UNC penalties, Leary found Emezie for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Pack a 34-30 lead with 1:09 left.

The two-point conversion was no good.

UNC Hail Mary intercepted (10:40 p.m.)

Howell’s Hail Mary attempt from 30-yards out was intercepted by NC State redshirt junior corner Derrek Pitts Jr. to end the game and preserve the Wolfpack’s stunning 34-30 win over North Carolina.

NC State ends the regular season 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the ACC.

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