The NC State football team gave the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles a run for their money on Saturday, in a potential upset that came up short for the Pack, who lost 56-41. The two teams faced off at Carter-Finley stadium, a venue that has hosted a history of upsets against the Florida State team.
The Wolfpack struck first blood on the second play of the game, as redshirt junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw over the top to freshman receiver Bo Hines on a 54-yard touchdown pass thanks to blown coverage by the Seminoles’ backfield.
The Noles countered with a seven-play 55-yard touchdown drive commanded by Florida State sophomore signal caller Jameis Winston. On NC State’s 32, the 2013 Heisman trophy winner completed to sophomore receiver Jesus Wilson in the end zone.
Junior running back Shadrach Thornton ran as a battering ram in the Pack’s ensuing drive. Thornton accrued 41 yards in five carries, the majority of which shoved down the throat of the Florida State defensive front. Thornton capped off the drive with a three-yard push into the end zone.
Senior tackle T.Y. McGill sacked Winston in the first play of the following FSU drive and forced a fumble, which was recovered by NC State. The Pack went three and out, and settled for a 37-yard field goal booted by senior place kicker Niklas Sade.
Following a three-and-out by FSU, Brissett punished the Seminoles’ flawed coverage again with 45-yard pass to redshirt sophomore tight end David Grinnage.
The Pack concluded their drive on third-and-six on the FSU eight-yard line. Brissett escaped two tackling defenders in the backfield and completed a near impossible touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Johnathan Alston.
The Pack outscored FSU 24-7 in the first quarter, the most first quarter points that the school has allowed in the history of its program.
The Noles were offended by their 17-point deficit, and a 39-yard pass to Wilson and a four-yard run into the end zone by sophomore running back Karlos Williams gave Florida State a needed breath of life.
The former national champs were able to score consecutively, after Winston connected on a 22-yd pass to senior receiver Rashad Greene, who tiptoed in to tighten the score, 24-21.
The third quarter opened with an athletic interception by Fernandez, giving Brissett the opportunity to flaunt his dynamic playmaking ability.
Brissett accomplished a spectacular string of plays, which included a sidearm pass to Thornton while being taken down by multiple defenders, a first down rush once escaping a defender in the backfield, and a ten yard gain down the middle, juking two tacklers in the process. The South Palm Beach native capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dayes.
Florida State kept pace, as freshman running back Dalvin Cook darted up the middle for FSU’s next touchdown.
A bobbled punt return by FSU’s Greene was recovered by redshirt freshman cornerback Malcolm Means, giving the Pack position on the 20.
A 17-yard sweep by freshman tight end Jaylen Samuels and a 10-yard touchdown run up the middle by Thornton gave the Pack a 38-28 lead.
The Noles pushed back yet again, as Winston finished the next drive with a 15-yard pass to Wilson.
On the third play of the Wolfpack’s next drive, Brissett was sacked and fumbled the ball, putting FSU five yards from the end zone. Winston tossed the ball five yards to Greene to take the lead, 42-38.
Brissett was sacked and fumbled again 20 yards from the end zone, which was neutralized after Fernandez caught his second pick on Winston, and returned the ball inside the 20.
State settled for a field goal, tightening the score to 41-49.
The Wolfpack defense had a chance to stop the Florida State offense on a third-and-11 opportunity, but failed to pressure Winston, who showed off his speed when rushing for 20 yards. The Noles put the nail in the coffin with a touchdown from Williams with a final score of 56-41.
Brissett was 32-48, and threw for 359 yards for three touchdowns, while rushing for 90. Thornton ran for 90 yards in 18 attempts, while Hines caught eight passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
