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GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State coach Dave Doren watched from the sideline for a late field goal that could have overpowered the 13th-place team.
The Wolfpack survived — and it’s almost as good as anyone in red about the Pirates missing two crucial second-half kicks in Saturday’s 21-20 win in East Carolina. It was so positive.
“I think they’re probably more mad than I’m going at them right now,” Doren said of his players.
NC State could barely hold on from being up 14 points in the third quarter, thanks to two plays. The Pirates were in position to give the Wolfpack a surprise loss, but when they got the ball back late on 1st down, Owen Duffer added an extra point to the left after Rajai Harris’ short touchdown run at 2. Not to mention offered a shot in exchange after pulling the :58 rest.
The Holton Ahlers keeper set up a 41-yard field goal in the final seconds for Daffer in each school’s season opener. But he missed this one wide right of his with five seconds left, putting his hand on his head in disbelief for many fans in the once-tumultuous crowd.
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Shyheim Battle highlighted that the kick was not good as Doeren suggested a fist pump to Wolfpack, but the moment quickly seemed like a relief after another bumpy trip to Greenville.
This time, at least, they all won.
“It wasn’t pretty, obviously,” Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary said.
Leary, the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, threw for 211 yards and a touchdown, but made a costly interception with about five minutes left to set up East Carolina’s second-half touchdown drive. . The Wolfpack also went empty on six goal-line plays in the fourth quarter. The first was a goal line fumble by Jordan Huston, then talented youngster Demie Smokanvey was stuffed four in a row to end another drive.
In fact, the difference, aside from Dufur’s mistake, was that Jassia Proviron blocked a punt deep in the ECU end that Sean Brown recovered in the end zone late in the first quarter.
Ahlers threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns to lead East Carolina and held the Wolfpack to 25 fourth quarter yards.
ECU coach Mike Houston said, “I know nobody but Greenville gave us many chances, but those kids never doubted.” should have.”
Defending Champion No. 3 Georgia Route No. 11 Oregon, 49-3
Takeaway
North Carolina: Everything from Leary’s presence to a program that rivals all-time preseason rankings in AP polls is set up for Wolfpack to take a giant leap in Doeren’s 10th season. North Carolina State led him 21-7 by halftime, but the game was nearly over as the Wolfpack lost four of his five games at the stadium. rice field.
ECU: The first three years in Houston were a major restructuring of the ECU program. The ECU program has long had a reputation for success in competing against rowdy crowd-supported home power his conference schools. The Pirates continued to hang around before making a slow move towards a big upset.
Demy’s play
Sumo-Karngbaye ran 79 yards and scored one to lead the Wolfpack ground game, showing a strong physical presence.
This included a 22-yard run to 1 early in the fourth round, a performance Doren said was a highlight for the Wolfpack, which bounced back and pulled off about half a dozen purple jerseys. I ran through and kept moving my legs.
final kick
The Pirates had to run Dufer and a field goal team from the sidelines until the clock ran out as the Ahlers keeper’s timeout had expired. However, the Wolfpack had injury problems and had to call a timeout with nine seconds remaining, giving Dufur more time to prepare his kick.
“He had just missed an extra point, so I thought he was probably a little bit in the head,” Doren said of his thoughts from the sideline.
Duffer had earned a scholarship last year after kicking a 54-yard field goal as the deadline to beat Navy expired.
“He feels worse than anyone right now,” Houston said. “We have to support him, and he has to get back on his feet. But it’s a very difficult drug to swallow.”
poll meaning
North Carolina State University didn’t look too sharp this time around. As such, Wolfpack could lose the next AP Top 25 voters.
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next
North Carolina: Championship Subdivision Charleston Southern visits the Wolfpack next Saturday.
ECU: The Pirates will host Old Dominion — who beat Virginia Tech in Friday’s opener — next Saturday.