NC State
Virginia Tech
NC State Slips Past Virginia Tech, 17-16
9/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 25, 2004
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By CHRIS KAHN
Associated Press Writer
BLACKSBURG, VA. (AP) - T.A. McLendon ran for 93 yards and a touchdown for North Carolina State and Virginia Tech kicker Brandon Pace missed a 43-yard field goal attempt as time expired as the Wolfpack beat the Hokies 17-16 Saturday.
NC State (2-1, 1-0 ACC) solidified its reputation as one of the country's best defenses by sacking Tech quarterback Bryan Randall 10 times and holding the Hokies (2-2, 1-1) to 192 total yards.
Still, the Wolfpack would have left without a win were it not for the Hokies' struggles in the kicking game - long a strength under coach Frank Beamer.
Besides his miss on the game's final play, Pace also missed a 33-yard attempt in the first quarter. And, with the game tied 10-10 in the third quarter, Tech punter Vinnie Burns fumbled a snap that N.C. State's Troy Graham recovered at the Hokies 5. Three plays later, Marcus Stone rushed for a 1-yard touchdown and a 17-10 lead.
Pace did connect from 23, 32 and 37 yards.
After two field goals by Pace in the fourth quarter, the Hokies still had a chance when they got the ball at their own 5, trailing 17-16 with 2:44 left.
Randall was just 3-for-8 on the drive, but completed a 38-yard pass to David Clowney to set up Pace's final attempt.
N.C. State quarterbacks Jay Davis and Marcus Stone, still struggling to replace Philip Rivers, combined for just 78 yards passing. In the first quarter Davis was picked off in the end zone, ending a Wolfpack drive. The next series, he was replaced by Stone, who promptly fumbled a handoff on the NC State 35 that set up the Hokies' first score - a 4-yard pass from Randall to John Kinzer.
John Deraney hit a 53-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game to give NC State a 3-0 lead. McLendon added 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
