Wolfpack Kicks Off 2019 Season with 34-6 Win over East Carolina
8/31/2019 3:35:00 PM | Football
QB Matthew McKay throws for 308 and adds three total TDs in first career start
Final Stats | Photo Gallery | Postgame Quotes
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RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State team that took the field today looked a lot different then the team that last played a home game in Carter-Finley Stadium. But the result was the same, a convincing win over East Carolina.
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The Wolfpack kicked off its 2019 season with a 34-6 win over visiting East Carolina in front of a sold out crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium.
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With a 58-3 win over ECU to conclude last season's home schedule, NC State has now outscored the Pirates 92-9 in back-to-back contests at Carter-Finley Stadium.
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The Pirates took the opening possession down the field, but a fumble in the Pack's end zone squashed the drive. NC State converted the turnover into the first touchdown of the season on the 80-yard drive to go up 7-0.
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ECU answered with a field goal in the first quarter, but the Pack scored the next 27 points to build the lead to as much as 34-4 before a late ECU field goal ended the game in the final two minutes.
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WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
6 plays, 80 yards in 1:50 – Zonovan Knight 9-yd TD run.
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After NC State recovered an ECU fumble in the end zone on the game's opening possession, the Pack took their first offensive possession of the season 80 yards in six plays for the game's first TD. QB Matthew McKay was 2-of-3 for 37 yards on his first drive as the Pack's starter. The drive was capped by Fr. Zonovan Knight's 9-yard TD run, the rush was Knight's first of his career.
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WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
4 plays, 70 yards in 1:40 – Matthew McKay to Tabari Hines, 48-yard TD pass.
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On its second possession of the second half, NC State added an insurance touchdown, Hines' first TD at NC State. On the drive, Hines caught three passes for 66 yards. The score put the Pack up 24-3 midway through the second quarter.
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STAT LEADERS
QB Matthew McKay
25 of 37 for 308 yards, 1 TD – 6 rushes for 35 yards, 2 TDs
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WR Emeka Emezie
7 catches for 70 yards
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WR Tabari Hines
4 catches for 74 yards, 1 TD – 1 rush for 34 yards
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RB Zonovan Knight
9 rushes for 42 yards, 1 TD
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CB Chris Ingram
9 tackles, 1 INT
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NOTABLES
• Six NC State players made their first collegiate start today: DT Val Martin, OT Emanuel McGirt, Jr., C Grant Gibson, QB Matthew McKay, RB Ricky Person, Jr., and P Trenton Gill.
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• 17 NC State players made their NC State debuts, including 10 freshmen: Gill, Isaac Duffy, Ikem Ekwonu, Jalen Frazier, Tabari Hines, Bailey Hockman, Jordan Houston, Zonovan Knight, Keyon Lesane, Dylan McMahon, Taiyon Palmer, Cecil Powell, Liam Ryan, Jaylon Scott, Joe Shimko, Drake Thomas, and Payton Wilson.
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• Dating back to 1970, QB Matthew McKay became only the third QB in school history to throw for over 300 yards in his first career start: Philip Rivers, 397 yards in 2000 and Harrison Beck, 321 yards in 2007.
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• With a pair of field goals today, PK Christopher Dunn has now made 17 consecutive field goals dating back to last season.
FROM THE LCOKER ROOM
"We are 1-0. Half of the teams in the country are not, and half of the teams are. It's good to be on that side of the ledger. There were a lot of positives. I thank the fans for being there. It was hot today. Hopefully you enjoyed what you got to see from our players. We need you." - said Dave Doeren
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UP NEXT
NC State will be in home action, hosting Western Carolina next Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The game will be televised by RSN.
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RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State team that took the field today looked a lot different then the team that last played a home game in Carter-Finley Stadium. But the result was the same, a convincing win over East Carolina.
Â
The Wolfpack kicked off its 2019 season with a 34-6 win over visiting East Carolina in front of a sold out crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Â
With a 58-3 win over ECU to conclude last season's home schedule, NC State has now outscored the Pirates 92-9 in back-to-back contests at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Â
The Pirates took the opening possession down the field, but a fumble in the Pack's end zone squashed the drive. NC State converted the turnover into the first touchdown of the season on the 80-yard drive to go up 7-0.
Â
ECU answered with a field goal in the first quarter, but the Pack scored the next 27 points to build the lead to as much as 34-4 before a late ECU field goal ended the game in the final two minutes.
Â
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
6 plays, 80 yards in 1:50 – Zonovan Knight 9-yd TD run.
Â
After NC State recovered an ECU fumble in the end zone on the game's opening possession, the Pack took their first offensive possession of the season 80 yards in six plays for the game's first TD. QB Matthew McKay was 2-of-3 for 37 yards on his first drive as the Pack's starter. The drive was capped by Fr. Zonovan Knight's 9-yard TD run, the rush was Knight's first of his career.
Â
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
4 plays, 70 yards in 1:40 – Matthew McKay to Tabari Hines, 48-yard TD pass.
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On its second possession of the second half, NC State added an insurance touchdown, Hines' first TD at NC State. On the drive, Hines caught three passes for 66 yards. The score put the Pack up 24-3 midway through the second quarter.
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STAT LEADERS
QB Matthew McKay
25 of 37 for 308 yards, 1 TD – 6 rushes for 35 yards, 2 TDs
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WR Emeka Emezie
7 catches for 70 yards
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WR Tabari Hines
4 catches for 74 yards, 1 TD – 1 rush for 34 yards
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RB Zonovan Knight
9 rushes for 42 yards, 1 TD
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CB Chris Ingram
9 tackles, 1 INT
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NOTABLES
• Six NC State players made their first collegiate start today: DT Val Martin, OT Emanuel McGirt, Jr., C Grant Gibson, QB Matthew McKay, RB Ricky Person, Jr., and P Trenton Gill.
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• 17 NC State players made their NC State debuts, including 10 freshmen: Gill, Isaac Duffy, Ikem Ekwonu, Jalen Frazier, Tabari Hines, Bailey Hockman, Jordan Houston, Zonovan Knight, Keyon Lesane, Dylan McMahon, Taiyon Palmer, Cecil Powell, Liam Ryan, Jaylon Scott, Joe Shimko, Drake Thomas, and Payton Wilson.
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• Dating back to 1970, QB Matthew McKay became only the third QB in school history to throw for over 300 yards in his first career start: Philip Rivers, 397 yards in 2000 and Harrison Beck, 321 yards in 2007.
Â
• With a pair of field goals today, PK Christopher Dunn has now made 17 consecutive field goals dating back to last season.
FROM THE LCOKER ROOM
"We are 1-0. Half of the teams in the country are not, and half of the teams are. It's good to be on that side of the ledger. There were a lot of positives. I thank the fans for being there. It was hot today. Hopefully you enjoyed what you got to see from our players. We need you." - said Dave Doeren
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UP NEXT
NC State will be in home action, hosting Western Carolina next Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The game will be televised by RSN.
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Team Stats
ECU
ST
Total Yards
269
505
Pass Yards
228
314
Rushing Yards
41
191
Penalty Yards
53
55
1st Downs
18
23
3rd Downs
5
4
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
29:22
30:38
1st Quarter

ECU 0, ST 7
ST - Knight, Z. 9 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:50

ECU 3, ST 7
ECU - Verity, Jake 47 yd field goal 8 plays, 34 yards, TOP 2:21
2nd Quarter

ECU 3, ST 10
ST - Dunn, C. 27 yd field goal 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:31

ECU 3, ST 17
ST - McKay, M. 4 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 3 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:23
3rd Quarter

ECU 3, ST 24
ST - Hines, T. 48 yd pass from McKay, M. (Dunn, C. kick) 4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:40
4th Quarter

ECU 3, ST 31
ST - McKay, M. 21 yd run (Dunn, C. kick), 9 plays, 86 yards, TOP 3:06

ECU 3, ST 34
ST - Dunn, C. 34 yd field goal 12 plays, 59 yards, TOP 6:35

ECU 6, ST 34
ECU - Verity, Jake 31 yd field goal 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:56
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 8)
Monday, September 08
FB Players Postgame Presser vs Virginia
Saturday, September 06
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs Virginia
Saturday, September 06
Pack Rewind 🎥 : East Carolina
Wednesday, September 03