The No. 20 NC State football team increased its win streak to six games as it defeated Pittsburgh, 35-17, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Wolfpack junior running back Nyheim Hines led the way with 142 yards from scrimmage with one rushing touchdown and a 92-yard punt return touchdown.
NC State (6-1, 4-0 ACC) had a huge drive early on that reached the Panther (2-5, 0-3 ACC) 34-yard line, but failed to convert on a fourth and three.
Pitt scored first with a beautiful 33-yard pass from quarterback Ben DiNucci to the sideline to wide receiver Jester Weah. The score was set up by a 28-yard punt return by wide receiver Quadree Henderson.
The Pack found itself trailing for the first time in conference play, and answered quickly. Hines ran for an 83-yard touchdown to tie the game. The Garner, North Carolina native was tripped up on the play, but regained his balance and blew past the rest of the Pittsburgh defense.
Hines scored again on his next touch, this time a 92-yard punt return where he used his speed to cut through the Pitt defense, and dashed for the end zone to put the Wolfpack up by seven.
The Panthers nearly tied the game up late in the second quarter on a trick play to offensive lineman Brian O’Neil, but O’Neil was stopped one yard short. On the next play, however, Pitt running back Darrian Hall ran it in untouched.
With under 20 seconds to go in the half, redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley hit redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the endzone for a touchdown, but an offensive pass interference penalty was called on sophomore wide receiver Kelvin Harmon, negating the score.
The Pack was forced to attempt a 34-yard field goal, but graduate transfer Carson Wise missed wide-left, leaving the game tied at 14 going into the half.
At the midway mark, NC State totaled 232 yards, 163 of which were rushing. Finley and the receiving corps struggled. Finley completed six of 14 attempts for just 69 yards. NC State only held the ball for 11 minutes that half, which is abnormal for the Pack, a team that typically dominates time of possession.
The Wolfpack bounced back however. NC State scored late in the third quarter after Finley drove down the field, completing three passes for 57 yards, including a three-yard touchdown pass to Meyers, putting the Pack on top 21-14.
NC State then found the endzone on a one-yard touchdown run from senior all-purpose back Jaylen Samuels.
Pitt scored its first points of the second half with kicker Alex Kessman drilling a 43-yard field goal, bringing the Panthers within 11 points with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation.
With the game all put over, Samuels burst through the Panther defense, sealing the victory with a 40-yard touchdown scamper.
The Wolfpack offense revived in the second half. Finley completed 8 of 11 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. The Pack finished the game with 446 total yards, 232 of which were on the ground.
NC State is on a bye next week, and will be back in on the gridiron against No. 16 Notre Dame on Oct. 28 in South Bend, Indiana.
