State Falls to Maryland in Season Finale

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State fell to Maryland on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium, 41-21, to close out the 2013 regular season. In his final game for the Pack, QB Brandon Mitchellfinished 21-of-31 for 200 yards and two touchdown passes, and Shadrach Thorntonadded 96 yards on 18 carries on the ground.

State started strong, taking the opening kick-off 80 yards in 10 plays to take an early 7-0 advantage. Mitchell connected on 4-of-5 passes on the drive, including a 54-yard pass to Quinton Payton. The drive was capped four plays later by a Mitchell touchdown pass to fullback Tyler Purvis on a fourth-and-one play from the three-yard line.

Maryland countered with a 33-yard field goal off the foot of Brad Craddock on its first possession of the contest. Following an NC State three-and-out, the Terrapins took the lead on its next drive, 10-7, with a 53-yard touchdown pass from quarterback C.J. Brown to Nigel King.

The Terps would add three more touchdowns in the half, including three rushing scores by Brown of 49 yards, as well as runs of three and two yards. Craddock would also add his second field goal of the afternoon.

The Pack added another score late in the second quarter, before the teams went into their respective halftime locker rooms with Maryland ahead, 34-14. Mitchell connected on a five-yard pass to Rashard Smith for the score.

Maryland opened the second half with the football, adding a Brown touchdown pass to Albert Reid to increase its lead to 41-14.

NC State marched right back down the field on a six-play 48-yard drive for a touchdown of its own, culminating with a three-yard quarterback draw by Mitchell for the final margin of 41-21.

For Maryland, C.J. Brown completed 13-of-25 passes for 259 yards and two touchdown passes, while adding 138 yards and three scores on 15 rushing attempts.