That was good and fun.
NC State scored quickly to open the game, thanks to a miracle catch by Devin Carter on an underthrown ball, and while this did not set a tone for the first half, it did prove solid evidence that this would be the Wolfpack’s night.
Boston College came right back with a 75-yard touchdown drive of its own to even the scoring, but that would turn out to be the last time the Eagles’ offense got the better of State’s defense.
State’s offense did plenty of struggling in the first half after that opening touchdown, managing just a field goal the rest of the way, and the team took a narrow 10-7 edge into the break. This game did not have the makings of a laugher at that point, but as the third quarter got underway, NC State again made itself some big breaks and took advantage of them.
There are turning points and then there are Turning Points: Boston College’s punter dropped the ball as he was going to kick it early in the third quarter; Devan Boykin scooped it and scored, giving the Pack its first two-score lead. Not long after, Isaiah Moore picked off a tipped pass around midfield, and NC State took the ball right down the field for a touchdown.
That put BC solidly in the pit of despair, as the Eagles would have to throw the ball to get back in the game, when they’d much rather be running it. Boston College does not want a game to have to hinge on Dennis Grosel throwing the ball, and it’s plain why: he finished 21-39 for 194 yards, an average of five yards per attempt.
State’s defense was outstanding while playing with a comfortable lead, and BC ended up finishing with just 97 yards rushing on 3.2 per carry. That’s a hell of an effort.
The capper for the night was Devin Leary’s beauty of a touch pass to Thayer Thomas late in the third quarter—it was a broken play, really, and it ended up a back-breaker as Thomas broke a tackle in traffic and took the ball 79 yards for a touchdown. BC had nothing left after that.
Big-time effort in the third quarter, big-time win. NC State is 5-1 and 2-0 in ACC play.