The NC State football team coasted to a comfortable 42-0 shutout win over the Presbyterian Blue Hose at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.
The Wolfpack produced a dominant first half, scoring three times, while denying Presbyterian any offensive momentum.
Graduated redshirt running back Tony Creecy signaled the Pack’s intent on an early run, carrying the ball for 44 yards before being tackled two yards from the end zone.
Redshirt junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett opened the scoring two plays later, taking the sneak one yard for the touchdown with 10:32 remaining in the first quarter.
Presbyterian grew into the game, however, putting pressure on the Wolfpack offense on ensuing drives, and the quarter ended 7-0 in NC State’s favor.
This theme continued into the second quarter, with neither team’s offense really posing much of a threat.
But Brissett and the State attack that put up 49 points last weekend eventually found its rhythm, and the Pack capped a nine-play, 74-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Brissett to sophomore wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Less than a minute later, the Pack defense went to work, forcing a quick fumble on the Presbyterian 27 yard line to get the offense back on the field.
Brissett would capitalize immediately, zipping a pass into sophomore running back Matt Dayes, who took the ball into the endzone with 1:09 left in the half.
At halftime, State led 21-0, with Brisset completing 10-of-15 passes for 112 yards and two scores while rushing for a third.
Redshirt senior Bryan Underwood would get his first touchdown of the season just after half time, latching onto a Brissett bomb for a 65-yard score in the first play of the third quarter.
Dayes would get his second touchdown later in the quarter. Junior running back Shadrach Thornton took a direct snap and handed off to Dayes, who burst through a seam in the Blue Hose defense for a 68-yard touchdown run with 5:35 left in the third.
The frustration built up for the Blue Hose and boiled over late in the third quarter, as sophomore defensive lineman Ryan Brown was disqualified for throwing a punch.
State wouldn’t relent, however, and Thornton would get in on the action in the fourth quarter, carrying the ball 33 yards to the end zone to finish off an 11-play, 86-yard drive with 12:41 left in the game.
With the 42-0 lead, Head Coach Dave Doeren pulled most of his starters, and redshirt junior Garrett Leatham replaced Brissett at quarterback.
The Wolfpack saw out the game without any stumbles, preserving the shutout 42-0. State takes on Florida State next Saturday in Raleigh to open ACC play.
