The monkey has officially been removed from the back.
NC State defeated #12 Florida St. 27-21 down in Tallahassee to break a 10-game losing streak against ranked opponents. In fact, the last ranked team the Wolfpack beat was Florida State back in 2012.
Over the first three weeks, NC State’s defense got off to slow starts, giving up points and ample yards right out of the gate. Today was a different story. NC State held Florida St. to 3-and-out’s in their first two possessions.
In contrast, the Wolfpack marched down the field and put 10 points on the board in the first two drives, with a 24-yard field goal by Carson Wise, and a 2-yard touchdown run by Jaylen Samuels.
Florida St. responded with the longest drive by either team all day (5:56), ending with a 4-yard touchdown pass from true freshman James Blackman to Auden Tate.
Despite the fact that NC State’s next two offensive drives were 3-and-outs, the Seminole’s weren’t able to take advantage, fumbling on one drive and missing a 30-yard field goal on the other.
Then NC State responded with an unbelievable play by slot receiver Jakobi Meyers, who turned a 10 yard reception, into a 71-yard touchdown reception, making the uber talented Seminole Safety Derwin James miss.
Florida St. responded by marching down the field, kicking a 37-yard field goal with 5 seconds left on the clock, making it a 17-10 NC State lead at the half.
After NC State produced a 3-and-out coming out of the half, FSU marched down the field and kicked a 36-yard field goal, to bring the Seminoles within 4. The Wolfpack responded with their longest drive of the game (5:27), resulting in 30-yard Carson Wise field goal, pushing the NC State lead to 20-13.
With a little less than a minute off of the clock in the 4th quarter, NC State once again held the Seminoles to a field goal in the Red Zone, with Ricky Aguayo kicking in a 37-yard field goal to once again cut the deficit to 4 points.
NC State didn’t panic. Rather, they marched 75 yards down the field in t0 plays, with the final one being a brilliant 14-yard shovel pass from Ryan Finley to Jaylen Samuels, giving the Wolfpack a 27-16 advantage.
Florida St. couldn’t respond by putting points on the board in the conventional manner, with the Wolfpack forcing them to punt, but pinned them down on their own 3-yard line. NC State center Garrett Bradbury hiked the ball high and to the right of Ryan Finley, and he intuitively knocked it out of the back of the endzone.
The score was 28-17. There was 6:26 left on the clock. Florida St. was getting the ball back. I can’t remember if I threw up in my mouth a little bit or not, but I feel like I did. I had been here before. The deja vu was nauseating.
Florida St. turned the ball over on downs. NC State ran the ball three times, punted, and Florida St. was held by the Wolfpack defense in the Red Zone again, resulting in a 34-yard field goal, making it a one possession game (27-21) with 3 minutes left.
After the turnover on downs, some of my nausea subsided, and suddenly it came rushing back. Nyheim Hines rushes for 3 yards, and then for no gain. It’s 3rd and 7.
I’m almost to the point of tears at this point. Couldn’t my parents have raised me to pull for a different team? Why God, why?
But then a play happened that I’m not used to seeing.
Nyheim Hines rushed for 15 yards to give NC State a first down, and ultimately clinched the victory.
With the game on the line, NC State made the play they had to make to win.
NC State dealt FSU their first 0-2 start since 1989.
The Wolfpack picked up their first signature win of the Dave Doeren era, and it happened in Doak Campbell Stadium no less.
NC State was resilient. They weren’t afraid. They responded. They led the whole entire game.
Today they looked like the preseason hype.
