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NC State wins a season-opening nail-biter against ECU

On3 imageby:Ethan McDowell•09/03/22•

ethanmmcdowell

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(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

It’s game day! NC State has arrived at Dowdy-Ficklen stadium for its season-opening matchup with East Carolina. The Wolfpacker staff will post updates here throughout the day.

3:50

ECU misses the 41-yard field goal with five seconds remaining. NC State wins its season-opening matchup 21-20.

3:41

NC State goes three-and-out. Darryl Jones made a great tackle in punt coverage, and a penalty backs ECU up to their own 29-yard line. With 2:27 remaining in the game, the Wolfpack leads by 1.

3:34

ECU scores a touchdown on a three-yard rush, but the Pirates miss the extra point. NC State maintains a 21-20 lead.

3:30

Devin Leary just threw his first interception of the season. ECU takes over at NC State’s 27-yard line.

3:24

NC State forced a turnover on downs during the following possession. After getting shaken up earlier in the drive, Aydan White returned to the game and defended a pass perfectly on fourth down.

3:13

NC State gets stuffed on fourth-and-goal. ECU ball with 10:18 to go. That’s consecutive red zone drives with no points to show from it.

3:00

A pair of nice plays by Aydan White help force a three-and-out, and an impressive return by Thomas, has the Wolfpack starting its drive on ECU’s 23 yard-line.

2:57

NC State put together a great drive down to the ECU two-yard line, but Jordan Houston fumbled on third-and-goal. ECU ball, down seven, with 14:10 remaining in the game.

2:49

End of the third quarter: NC State leads 21-14

The Wolfpack is inside ECU’s 10-yard line thanks in-part to a pair of beautiful throws by Devin Leary and some tough running from Sumo-Karngbaye.

2:39

Touchdown ECU. That was an impressive drive by Ahlers and the Pirates. Tight end Shane Calhoun hauls in the scoring pass on third-and-goal. NC State leads 21-14.

2:25

Both teams traded punts to start the second half. ECU starting its next drive on its own 21.

2:15

Looks like Payton Wilson will not return. He’s wearing a t-shirt on the sidelines. Trent Pennix is down another injury as well.

1:51

Halftime: NC State leads 21-7.

The Wolfpack’s defense settled into a groove after the opening possessions, and the offense put together a few complete and balanced drives.

A few notes:

– Devin Leary is 12 for 22 with 152 yards and a touchdown.

– Demie Sumo-Karngbaye is a tough and elusive running back. That was a really nice half for him.

– The passing attack is super balanced right now, with seven receivers recording a target.

1:45

Touchdown NC State. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye broke off a 24-yard touchdown to put NC State 21-7. He’s up to 6 carries for 43 yards.

1:21

NC State’s drive fizzles out, but a fantastic punt pins the Pirates at their own one-yard line. Still no Payton Wilson to start the following drive, but NC State forces a stop.

1:10

Shyheim Battle picks off a Holton Ahlers pass to force the Pirates’ second turnover of the game. He returned it to the Wolfpack’s 42-yard line.

1:06

Injury update: Payton Wilson is questionable to return with an upper-body injury.

1:02

Another three-and-out for NC State. Devin Leary is 7-12 so far today with 72 yards and a TD.

12:59

Cyrus Fagan made a great tackle on fourth down to force a punt. The Wolfpack takes over on its own 18-yard line.

12:57

Holton Ahlers is back in the game and had a pass batted down by C.J. Clark, who is having a really solid game so far.

12:53

NC State leads 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

12:51

After an impressive run, Ahlers is down with an injury. Alex Flynn is now in for the Pirates.

12:46

Touchdown NC State after a blocked punt by receiver Jasiah Provillon. NC State now leads 14-7 with 1:34 to go in the first quarter. That punt was set up by a huge hit by Tanner Ingle to break up a pass.

12:39

Touchdown NC State. Thayer Thomas has a tremendous drive, hauling in 3 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Eight-play, 64-yard drive for the Pack to tie things up.

12:35

NC State picked up its first first down of the afternoon with six minutes to go in the quarter. Keyon Lesane, Devin Carter, Thayer Thomas, Darryl Jones, Porter Rooks and Jasiah Provillon have all played at receiver so far.

12:29

NC State forces a stop after a nice pass breakup. ECU quarterback Holton Ahlers is 6-9 with 87 passing yards through three drives.

12:26

Another three-and-out for NC State. Tight end Trent Pennix took a big hit and was shaken up on the play.

12:19

Touchdown ECU. C.J. Johnson is hauls in a 39-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The Pirates moved the ball pretty easily through the air during that drive.

12:11

A five-yard Jordan Houston reception is followed by two Devin Leary incompletions, and the Wolfpack starts the game with a three-and-out. Leary tried to find Keyon Lesane on a vertical route, but he overthrew him. Great coverage by the ECU cornerback as well.

12:10

On the second play of the game, Tyler Baker-Williams intercepts a pass. NC State takes over at its own 33-yard line.

12:05

NC State won the toss and deferred. The Pirates will get the ball first.

12:04

Both teams just took the field. With kickoff approaching, the stands are filling up quick, and I’d say it’s about 80-percent full now.

11:58

The crowd is filling in with less than 10 minutes until kickoff, but it is definitely not a full stadium. A ton of NC State fans are here, including a few Wolfpack fans who made it into the student section.

11:43

NC State is fired up. During the team huddle before heading back into the locker room, nose tackle Cory Durden was turned around facing ECU’s warmups and clapping. The team is clearly excited to be out there.

11:27

Jordan Houston is taking first-string running back reps in warmups. Looks like the team is indeed healthy headed into the season opener. Derrek Pitts and Shyheim Battle are taking first-team reps at corner after being listed as ‘OR’ with Aydan White on the depth chart.

11:20

Plenty of boo’s raining down on the Wolfpack as they run onto the field. ECU fans are packing the stands above NC State’s locker room entrance.

11:11

Dave Doeren interviewing on College Gameday right now.

“It’s frisky down here. They’re already calling us names. … I might learn a few new four-letter words today.”

11:06

NC State’s quarterbacks are on the field for warmups!

11:00

Fans are starting to file into the stadium. Looks like it is going to be a strong student turnout for the Pirates. According to the ECU website, today’s game is officially a sellout.

10:41

NC State just wrapped up some early stretching and warmups and is headed back into the locker room.

10:30

The Wolfpacker’s Ethan McDowell made it to Greenville and will have full coverage of today’s noon kickoff.

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