The NC State football team ended its two-game losing streak Saturday with a 35-17 domination of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Saturday.
After totaling just 26 points and 496 yards in its first two ACC games, the Wolfpack (5-2, 1-2 ACC) tallied 28 points and 322 yards in the first quarter alone against Wake Forest (3-5, 1-4 ACC). The defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, sacking the quarterback seven times and adding three hurries and five pass breakups. The pressure the line exerted combined with good coverage in the secondary held the Deacs to just 122 passing yards.
The Wolfpack got off to a fast start, scoring on its opening drive. Senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett broke out of a sack and found freshman wide receiver Maurice Trowell for the 59-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
The NC State defense forced a three-and-out on Wake Forest’s opening drive. On the first play of the drive, junior running back Matt Dayes ran for an 85-yard touchdown to give the Wolfpack a 14-0 lead with 12:15 remaining in the first quarter. The run was the fifth longest in school history.
Later in the first quarter, the Pack put together two quick scoring drives, the first of which came on a beautiful 58-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Nyheim Hines. On the following drive, Dayes burst through the tackles and left the defenders in the dust for a 59-yard touchdown to give the Wolfpack a 28-0 lead with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
It was a fairly uneventful second quarter until freshman quarterback Kendall Hinton escaped the collapsing pocket and broke free for a 69-yard touchdown run with 3:24 remaining in the half to close the gap 28-7.
NC State responded by going 40 yards in eight plays, but ultimately came up short with freshman kicker Kyle Bambard missing a 39-yard field goal. After gaining 322 yards in the first quarter, the Pack totaled just 67 in the second.
Dayes ended the half with 172 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries at the half. Brissett completed 15-of-23 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive ends Mike Rose and Darian Roseboro each sacked the quarterback twice.
The third quarter was just as uneventful as the second. Wake kicker Mike Weaver kicked a 38-yard field goal to put the first points on the board of the second half and to close the gap 28-10.
The Wolfpack finally got its offense going late in the third quarter, once it started getting Dayes involved. Despite marching down the field in a 12 play, 76-yard effort, the drive ended in yet another missed field goal, this one from 33 yards.
With both offenses sputtering, junior wide receiver Bra’Lon Cherry returned the punt 52 yards to the house to give the Wolfpack a 35-10 lead with 4:30 remaining. These were the first points for NC State since the first quarter.
Dayes finished the game with 16 carries for 205 yards and two touchdowns. After completing 10-of-12 passes in the first quarter, Brissett struggled the rest of the game, completing 10-of-22 passes in the remaining three quarters. Trowell led all receivers with four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Rose ended the game with three sacks.
The Pack looks to repeat its first quarter offensive success as it takes on the No. 6 Clemson Tigers Oct. 31.
