Wolfpack Opens ACC Slate with 35-21 Win Against Virginia
9/29/2018 3:58:00 PM | Football
Raleigh, N.C. – NC State opened ACC play 1-0 for the third straight season, with a 35-21 win over Virginia at Carter-Finley Stadium. QB Ryan Finley three for three scores, freshman RB Ricky Person went over 100 yards, and DT Larrell Murchison had three sacks.
After falling behind 7-3 in the second quarter, NC State scored 24 straight points and took a 27-7 lead in the second half.
NC State opened the scoring with a 34-yard field goal early in the first quarter.
The Cavs got on the scoreboard with a 35-yard TD pass late in the first quarter to take a 7-3.
In the second quarter, NC State scored 17 straight points to take a 20-7 lead into the half.
QB Ryan Finley three a pair of TD passes – 16 yards to Emeka Emezie and 14 yards to Cary Angeline – and Dunn kicked a 44-yard field goal as the half expired.
The Pack took its opening second half possession in for a TD as well, capped by a two-yard Reggie Gallaspy, Jr. TD run, to increase its lead to 27-7.
Virginia cut the lead by seven with a nine-yard TD pass late in the third, to be answered by Finley's third TD pass of the day – 16 yards to Harmon.
The lone score in the fourth was a UVA TD with three minutes left.
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
9 plays, 80 yards in 3:50 – Ryan Finley to Cary Angeline 14-yd TD pass
Holding a 10-7 lead, NC State upped its lead to 10 points in the middle of the second quarter, after the Pack converted a 9-play, 80-yard drive with a Ryan Finley to Cary Angeline 14-yd TD pass. The first three plays of the drive were all first down runs by RB Ricky Person: 12, 16 and 27 yards.
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
10 plays, 76 yards in 4:51 – Reggie Gallaspy, Jr. 2-yd TD run
On the first offensive possession of the second half, NC State increased its lead to 27-7 after a 10-play, 76-yard drive. Reggie Gallaspy, Jr., punched the ball in from the two yard line, Gallaspy's fourth straight game with a TD rush to open the season.
STAT LEADERS
• QB Ryan Finley
22-of-32 for 257 yards, 3 TDs
• RB Ricky Person
14 carries for 108 yards
• Kelvin Harmon
6 catches for 94 yards, 1 TD
• DT Larrell Murchison
6 takles, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks
NOTABLES
• With 108 rushing yards, Fr. RB Ricky Person is the first true freshman to go over 100 yards rushing in a game since Shadrach Thornton in 2012 (4 times).
• DT Larrell Murchison recorded three sacks in the game, the most in a game for a Pack player since 2016 when both Darian Roseboro and Bradley Chubb totaled that amount. The three sacks in a game is also the fifth-most in school history.
• The first catch of Cary Angeline's Wolfpack career went for a 14-yard score in the second quarter. Angeline transferred from USC and had to sit out the first two games of the season. HE played last week at Marshall but did not record a catch.
• NC State surrendered its first, second half TD on defense this season.
UP NEXT
The Wolfpack will return to Carter-Finley Stadium next weekend, as NC State will host Boston College at 12:30 p.m.
Don't forget to bring your donations to today's @PackFootball game to help Hurricane Relief Efforts. @GoTriangle buses located at FanZone, Close-King IPF and Trinity Road Tunnel. Collection tent also located at Gate 4. Thanks in advance, #WPN! pic.twitter.com/al0mg7gRO1
— Justin Lisk (@JustinLisk) September 29, 2018
Team Stats

VA 0, ST 3
ST - Dunn, C. 34 yd field goal 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:53

VA 7, ST 3
VA - Zaccheaus, O 35 yd pass from Perkins, B (Pearson, H kick) 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 4:01

VA 7, ST 10
ST - Emezie, E. 16 yd pass from Finley, R. (Dunn, C. kick) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:01

VA 7, ST 17
ST - Angeline, C. 14 yd pass from Finley, R. (Dunn, C. kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:50

VA 7, ST 20
ST - Dunn, C. 44 yd field goal 6 plays, 22 yards, TOP 0:35

VA 7, ST 27
ST - Gallaspy, R. 2 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 10 plays, 76 yards, TOP 4:51

VA 14, ST 27
VA - Zaccheaus, O 9 yd pass from Perkins, B (Pearson, H kick) 9 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:32

VA 14, ST 35
ST - Harmon, K. 16 yd pass from Finley, R. (Emezie, E. pass) 8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 4:48

VA 21, ST 35
VA - Ellis, J 7 yd run (Pearson, H kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:17