’Noles fall to 0-2 with loss at home

North Carolina State finally has a statement win in Dave Doeren’s fifth year as coach.

The Wolfpack broke a 10-game losing streak to ranked teams Saturday, defeating No. 12 Florida State, 27-21. It is Doeren’s first victory in nine attempts since he took over in 2013.

“We beat a lot of teams that people think we should beat, and knocked on the door with a ton of teams and didn’t finish. Now we finished,” Doeren said after his team improved to 3-1 and 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. “If you want to be in the conversation you have to win games like today.”

The Wolfpack’s last win over a Top 25 team coincidentally was against Florida State in 2012.

N.C. State led ranked teams twice late in games last year but fell short. It had a 10-point, third quarter lead over FSU last year before the Seminoles rallied to win. The Wolfpack also took Clemson to overtime but lost.

“Just being in this situation and to finally just pull it out meant a lot. We’ve been working all year at finishing,” said defensive end Bradley Chubb, who had seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Ryan Finley completed 22 of 32 throws for 230 yards and two touchdowns as the Wolfpack got their first road win over a ranked team since 2008 at North Carolina. His 71-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers late in the second quarter extended the lead to 177. Meyers had 112 yards on five receptions.

Jaylen Samuels also accounted for two touchdowns with a 2-yard run in the first quarter and a 17yard shovel pass from Finley in the fourth.

The Seminoles (0-2, 0-1), who had a 21-day layoff due to Hurricane Irma, have dropped their first two games to open a season for the first time in 28 years. It also marks the first time since 2011 that FSU dropped back-to-back games.

Freshman James Blackman was 22 of 38 for 278 yards in his first start. Auden Tate had nine receptions for 138 yards, including a 4-yard TD early in the second quarter that drew the Seminoles within 10-7.

The Seminoles struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone, with just one in seven trips. Ricky Aguayo had four field goals,