NC State Wolfpack beats Florida State Seminoles, 19-17. Devin Leary injured in game
Coverage from the game
NC State comes from behind to beat FSU 19-17 after Devin Leary goes down with injury
NC State quarterback Devin Leary injured against FSU, leaves game in third quarter
Coverage during the game
N.C. State and Florida State face off Saturday in a game that can keep the winner a factor in the Atlantic Division race and all but eliminate the loser. The No. 14 Wolfpack, coming off its loss at Clemson, is 0-1 in the ACC and the Seminoles 2-1 after their first loss of the season last week, to Wake Forest.
News & Observer reporters Chip Alexander and Andrew Carter and columnist Luke DeCock are at Carter-Finley Stadium and will have updates from all the action.
Dunn FG: NC State 19, Florida State 17
Another Christoper Dunn field goal has pushed the Pack into the lead with 6:33 left in the fourth. Dunn was good from 27 yards after the Pack reached the FSU 8.
Dunn FGs: Florida State 17, NC State 16
Field goals of 40 and 53 yards by Christopher Dunn has pulled the Pack within a point after Devin Leary went out with an injury. The 53-yarder, with 12:07 left in the fourth, came after an unusual turnover by FSU.
FSU punter Alex Mastromanno faked a punt, ran to his right and had an open field. But Mastromanno punted the ball, past the line of scrimmage. The result was a loss of down, loss of possession and NCSU ball at the FSU 13.
The Pack bungled the possession as a pass by Thayer Thomas to Jack Chambers lost yardage and the Pack was called for two holding penalties. But Dunn nailed the 53-yarder.
Injury update: Pack’s Leary injured
Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary was injured and had to be helped off the field with 4:39 left in the third quarter. Leary appeared to injure his right shoulder when hit by FSU’s Joshua Farmer, who was called for roughing the passer. Leary was replaced by Jack Chambers.
Jones TD catch: Florida State 17, NC State 10
The Pack, with the ball to begin the second half, got some strong second-effort running from Jordan Houston and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, a 25-yard sideline catch by Keyon Lesane and then a 10-yard TD throw from Devin Leary to Darryl Jones for a TD with 9:49 left in the third. Make it 84 yards in 10 plays.
Fitzgerald FG: Florida State 17, NC State 3
The Seminoles used a 51-yard punt return by Ontaria Wilson to add a field goal in the final seconds of the first half. The Pack’s Shane McDonough got off a 57-yard punt, but Wilson, who was all but unnoticed by the Pack, chased after it, then sped down left sideline. Ryan Fitzgerald, 4-for-9 on field goals this season, was true on a 47-yarder to end the half.
FSU had 294 yards in total offense in the opening half while limiting the Pack to 133.
Toafili TD run: Florida State 14, NC State 3
The Noles, their defense shutting down the Wolfpack, hammered the Pack’s defense with a few more big plays in taking a 14-3 lead. Trey Benson first broke off a 26-yard run on third-and-4 at the FSU 34, then quarterback Jordan Travis connected with a 29-yard pass on third-and-11 from the NCSU 41. Lawrance Toafili was barely touched on a 14-yard TD run.
Pittman TD catch: Florida State 7, NC State 3
The FSU offense, stifled by the Pack in the first quarter and early in the second, ignited for a two-play TD drive. Quarterback Jordan Travis took off on a 71-yard run to the NCSU 14, then passed 14 yards to Mycah Pittman in the left corner for the score. Just like that, FSU had the lead.
Dunn FG: NC State 3, Florida State 0
After two stops by the Wolfpack defense, the Pack took a 3-0 lead on Chris Dunn’s 38-yard field goal with 3:08 left in the first period. Devin Leary hooked up with Devin Carter on a 23-yard pass to the FSU 24 in the possession.
Let there be light
A glitch caused the Carter-Finley Stadium lights not to be illuminated and force a delay in the start of the game scheduled for 8 p.m., according to N.C. State officials.
Some of the preliminary warmups were held on a quickly darkening playing field. The brightest lights were from the stadium scoreboards.
The lights finally came on at 7:22 p.m., with officials saying the game would start 47 minutes later.
NCSU athletic director Boo Corrigan huddled with Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren and FSU coach Mike Norvell to discuss the situation.
Pregame reading
Begin again: Florida State game more than chance for NC State to put Clemson loss behind
How NC State wide receiver Thayer Thomas went from walk-on to top target for the Pack
Florida State at NC State brings memories from 30 years ago when ‘Noles first joined ACC
NC State looks to get ‘best back on the field’ against Florida State. What to watch for
NC State vs Florida State football first look: Odds, top story line and game key
