NC State Gets Nipped By South Carolina In Opener

NC State came close but it wasn't close enough as they got beat by South Carolina in their season opener. 

Down by seven late in the fourth quarter, NC State drove down to the USC 10-yard line in the final seconds but was unable to find the equalizer as the Wolfpack fell to South Carolina 35-28 in the Belk College Kickoff in Charlotte. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
A back-and-forth first half saw the two teams tied 21-21 at the break. NC State posted 343 yards of total offense and 19 first downs in the opening half behind QB Ryan Finley's stat line of 27-of-34 completions for 296 yards – one passing TD, one rushing score. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
South Carolina scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 35-21 lead into the fourth. The Wolfpack punched the ball in on fourth down and pulled within seven with 12:21 left in the game. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
NC State got the ball back at its own 28-yard line and took the ball 62 yards down into South Carolina territory. But the Gamecocks held the Pack to three incompletions and a sack on second down to seal the game, "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE
14 plays, 75-yards in 5:51 Ryan Finley's  six-yard TD run "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
After South Carolina took back the opening kickoff 94-yards for a TD, NC State responded with its own touchdown drive on its first offensive possession of the season. QB Ryan Finley capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a six-yard keeper. On the drive, Finley was 5-of-7 for 52 yards passing to go along with the rushing score. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
STAT LEADERS
QB Ryan Finley – school record most completions, personal-best passing yards
45-of-64 and 415 yards, 2 TDs "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
H-Back Jaylen Samuels Stephan Louis "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
15 catches for 85 yards, 1 TD "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
WR
10 catches for 114 yards "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
CB Jonathan Alston – First career game played at CB
1 INT, 1 sack, 3 tackles "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx

QB Ryan Finley set a new school record with his 45 completions, the fifth-most in ACC history. Finley also set a personal-best with 415 yards passing, the 11th-most in school history.
 
H-Back Jaylen Samuels  15 receptions tie the NC State school record for most catches in a single game. (Torry Holt vs. Wake Forest in 1998). The 15 catches were also one behind the ACC record of 16. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
The Wolfpack scored on its opening offensive possession of the season for the third straight year. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
True-freshmen to make their NC State debut: Emeka Enzie  (WR), Raven Sanders (ST), Joshua -Fedd Jackson (ST), Chris Ingram  (ST). "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
Other NC State players to make their Wolfpack debuts: Brock Miller  (ST), James Valdez  (ST), Justin Witt  (starter at RT), Joe Sculthorpe  (OG),  Dylan Autenrieth (TE), Carson Wise  (ST), Philip Walton (ST), Shug Frazier (DT),Isaiah Stallings  (ST), Deshawn Stephens (ST)C.J. Riley (WR). "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx
 
 NC State's 99 total plays set a new school record – besting the previous game-high of 98 offensive plays against Maryland in 2010. "according to http://www.gopack.com/news/2017/9/2/football-pack-comeback-in-season-opener-falls-short.aspx

NC State will next have their home opener at Carter Finley Stadium Saturday when they host Marshall. 

Kick-off is set for 6 pm. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra. "according to http://www.gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=football