State Falls to Carolina 27-19

(We apologize for the delay on this weekends articles. There were things outside of NC State sports that both of us had to take care of. Thank you for understanding)
-Packinsider.com

Here is the write-up from GoPack.com

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State football team scored on four of its first five possessions, but came up short to North Carolina on Saturday afternoon, 27-19.

QB Brandon Mitchell finished the game 10-of-22 for 130 yards and two interceptions. He added 105 yards on the ground on 21 carries, including one touchdown.  Mitchell became the first Wolfpack QB to rush for over 100 yards in a game since Johnny Evans accomplished the feat twice during the 1976 season.

“Any time you lose a game like that, it’s going to be hard to deal with afterwards,” said NC State head coach Dave Doerent. “It came down to mistakes for us. We made too many mistakes. In a game like that, there isn’t much margin for error. It’s disappointing, but we’re going to go back to work and keep recruiting and build this program.”

State was able to get off to a fast start, as Juston Burris intercepted UNC quarterback Bryn Renner on the game’s second play. Four plays later, Mitchell sprinted into the right corner of the end zone from six yards out to give the Pack an early 7-0 lead.  The touchdown run was Mitchell’s first of the season.

Following a UNC three-and-out, the Pack increased its lead to 10-0 on its second drive with a 20-yard field goal byNiklas Sade. The 10-play, 59-yard drive was fueled by a 16-yard Mitchell to Asa Watson connection and a 15-yard reception by Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

North Carolina answered with the next 14 points to take a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Pack utilized two field goals by Sade (38, 44) to regain the lead at 16-14, before the Tar Heels came back with a touchdown on a Ryan Switzer to Quinshad Davis 59-yard pass to give UNC a halftime lead of 21-16.

Sade matched his career-high with his fourth field goal of the day, a 28-yard kick on State’s second possession of the second half to pull the Pack within two at 21-19. He also had four field goals in the Wolfpack’s season-opening win against Louisiana Tech.

UNC added a touchdown with 11:19 remaining in the fourth quarter on T.J. Logan’s eight-yard run, but kicker Thomas Moore missed the extra point to hold an eight-point lead, 27-19, the eventual final margin.

Up next, the Wolfpack travels to Durham, N.C., on Saturday, Nov. 9 to take on Duke at 4 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPNU.