A game filled with penalties and missed opportunities, N.C. State rallied back from a 14 point deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers 38-31.
Pittsburgh received the first possession of the game and came out of the gates running with a 47-yard kickoff return. Pitt scored off of this possession with a 6-yard run by Dion Lewis completing a 48-yard drive.
The Pack made a critical stop on 3 down and 8 at the 20-yard line, forcing Pitt to a field goal, making the score 10-0 Pitt with 10 minutes left in the first quarter.
Wilson then completed a touchdown pass to Taylor Gentry, his first career touchdown, for 23 yards, putting the Pack on the scoreboard.
After what seemed to be a touchdown by Wilson, ruled incomplete and kicker Josh Czajkowski missed his first field goal of the season, fourth in his career the Pack trailed Pitt, 17-7 with 7 minutes left in the half.
Completions from Russell Wilson to Toney Baker lead the Pack into scoring position. These plays lead to a completed Czajkowski field goal, bringing the score to 17-10 Pitt at the half.
A 38-yard completion from Wilson to Baker ended in a touchdown capping the first drive of the second half for the Pack. This play tied the game, 17-17, with12 minutes left in the third quarter.
A Cameron Saddler reception from Stull for a touchdown put the score at 24-17 Pitt with ten minutes left in the third quarter.
Tony Baker broke off a 30-yard run to put the Pack in the red zone with five minutes left in the third quarter, but on this drive they were not able to score as Pitt blocked the Czajkowski field goal attempt.
On the following Pitt drive, Stull completed a 71-yard pass for a touchdown to Jonathan Baldwin, making the score 31-17 Pitt with four minutes left in the third quarter, down by 14. The last time the Pack came back from a 14 point deficit was in 2004 when it trailed Wake Forest 14-0 at the half, eventually winning 27-21.
The Pack capitalized on a scoring opportunity with a Wilson to Jarvis Williams completion for a 33-yard touchdown, resulting in a 31-24 Pitt lead with well over two minutes left in the third.
State capped off a 7-yard touchdown from Wilson to George Bryan, tying the game at 31-31 with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter. This touchdown gave Wilson his 12th touchdown pass over the span of three games, breaking Philip Rivers’ 2003 school record of 11 touchdowns.
The Pack then forced a three and out for Pitt. State capitalized on this opportunity to take the lead with a two-yard rush from Baker and an extra point, giving State their first lead of the game 38-31.
After holding Pitt to a three and out with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Pack had a chance to close out the game, but Pitt forced a turnover fumble, putting them on State’s eight-yard line. Pack defense stepped up, not allowing Pitt to capitalize on the opportunity.
State ran the final minute off of the clock, giving them a comeback win over Pitt 38-31. The Pack is now 3-1 and will be playing Wake Forest next Saturday.
