Wolfpack start off on the right foot
No. 13 NC State escapes after EC misses extra point, late FG
GREENVILLE, N.C. — No. 13 North Carolina State topped East Carolina 21-20 on Saturday after Pirates kicker Owen Daffer missed an extra point with 2:58 left and a 41-yard field goal with 5 seconds to go.
“We’re not walking out of here with a loss to learn from,” Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary said. “That’s my biggest takeaway.”
The Pirates (0-1) were in position to hand the Wolfpack a surprising loss when they got the ball back late down one, not to mention offer Daffer a shot at redemption after he pulled the tying PAT wide left after Rahjai Harris’ short touchdown run.
Holton Ahlers’ keeper set Daffer up with a makeable field goal in the final seconds, but he missed this one wide right to stun a oncerowdy crowd and leave many fans putting their hands on their heads in disbelief.
The Wolfpack (1-0) celebrated the miss, with Shyheim Battle emphatically waving that the kick was no good while coach Dave Doeren pumped his right fist.
Still, the moment appeared to be more about relief than jubilation for a team that had a long list of troubles in its latest bumpy trip to Greenville.
This time, at least, it all came in a win. Leary, the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, threw for 211 yards and a touchdown, but he had a costly interception with about 5 minutes left that set up East Carolina’s late touchdown drive. The Wolfpack also came up empty on six goal-line plays in the fourth quarter, first with a goal-line fumble by Jordan Houston and then with talented youngster Demie Sumo-Karngbaye getting stuffed four straight times to end another drive.
In fact, the difference in this game – Duffer’s misses aside – came on a blocked punt by Jasiah Provillon deep in ECU’s end that Sean Brown recovered in the end zone late in the first quarter.
“Our preparation coming into this game, we were very confident this morning,” ECU coach Mike Houston said. “I know nobody outside of Greenville gave us much of a chance but those kids never doubted. We should’ve won the ballgame.”
Ahlers threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns to lead East Carolina, one going to C.J. Johnson and the other going to Shane Calhoun.