In the final game of the regular season, N.C . State (7-5, 4-4 ACC) beat Maryland (2-10, 1-7 ACC) 56-41 at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The win also ensures the Pack will play in a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2003.
The Pack started the game by forcing a punt on the very first drive after sacking Maryland quarterback C.J . Brown for eight yards.
State, who ranked fourth in the nation in turnover margin coming into the game, didn’t live up to that billing as the offense fumbled the ball three times in the first eight minutes, the second of which became a 66-yard return for a Maryland touchdown.
The Terps , who were averaging 166 rushing yards per game, took full advantage of the strong field position with Maryland tailback Davin Meggett making early inroads into the Pack red zone as the Terps opened up an early 14-0 lead.
Maryland’s numerous pass interference penalties assisted the Pack. The first lead to a touchdown when redshirt junior quarterback Mike Glennon threw a four-yard pass to redshirt freshman halfback Tony Creecy with four seconds left in the first quarter, bringing the game to 14-7.
The second quarter spelled disaster for the Pack as, despite blocking a field goal attempt by Maryland, Brown found the holes in the State defense and threw for a 59-yard pass from where he had a one-yard rush to put the Terps up 21-7.
Within 45 seconds of that, Glennon threw an interception, which Maryland safety A.J . Hendy caught and returned for a 32-yard touchdown run.
Despite dominating the game early on, the Terrapins were guilty of letting State back into the game when a forced fumble by junior linebacker Terrell Manning resulted in a turnover. Glennon reduced the deficit with a seven-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Jay Smith with 3:28 left to go in the half.
Maryland tightened their grip on game when a 24-yard touchdown pass by Brown found junior wide received Kevin Dorsey with 33 seconds remaining. After the Terps missed the extra point, State went into the locker room at half time with a 21-point mountain to climb.
In the third quarter, the Pack offense failed to work, special teams to punt the ball early on. With Meggett having a 46-yard touchdown run with 10:50 to go, the game looked over for the Pack at 41-14.
State lucked out yet again when pass interference on Maryland gave the Pack good ball possession and Glennon threw a six-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Tobais Palmer to slash the lead to 20 points.
That play proved to be the first of six drives for the Pack as they went on to score 42 unanswered points, 35 of which came in the fourth quarter as State registered its biggest comeback in school history to win the game 56-41.
Glennon proved to be the star of the game as he threw 36-of-55 for 306 yards and five touchdown passes and rushed for another as the Pack entered into the ACC record books with the second highest comeback in the history of the conference.
Fans and players will now await the news of State’s upcoming bowl game, with the Belk Bowl in Charlotte and the AdvoCare Independence Bowl being the most likely destinations.
