Devin Leary shines as NC State football beats Charleston Southern 55-3 in home opener
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N.C. State, after an intense week of practice, will be looking to put together a complete, more efficient effort as the No. 18 Wolfpack hosts Charleston Southern in the home opener at Carter-Finley Stadium at 12:30 p.m.
The Buccaneers of the Big South Conference opened their season last week with a 52-38 loss to Western Carolina.
The News & Observer’s Chip Alexander is at Carter-Finley Stadium and will have updates from all the action.
Coit TD catch: NC State 55, Charleston Southern 3
Jack Chambers started at QB for Charleston Southern before transferring to NCSU after last season. He did not play in the ECU game but has been in for much of the second half and had 10-yard TD throw to Jalen Coit early in the fourth.
Babbush FG: NC State 48, Charleston Southern 3
The Bucs forced the Pack’s first turnover of the game -- a fumble by Delbert Mimms III -- and got on the board on Sam Babbush’s 48-yard field goal.
Toudle TD catch: NC State 45, Charleston Southern 0
Quick start for the Pack in the second half. The defense forced a fumble on the Bucs’ first possession and Devin Leary hit Christopher Toudle from 27 yards on the first play for his fourth TD throw of the game.
Halftime: NC State 38, Charleston Southern 0
The Wolfpack, with quarterback Devin Leary passing for three TDs and running for two, has built a big lead over the outmanned Buccaneers. The Pack, which led 10-0 after the first quarter, had 344 yards in total offense to the Bucs’ 86 in the half. Leary passed for 211 yards and had 10 players catch passes. Thayer Thomas also was a weapon on punt returns, with runbacks of 38 and 19 yards.
The Wolfpack defense wrapped up and was much sharper tackling against the FCS Bucs, who had zero yards rushing in the opening half.
Mimms TD catch: NC State 38, Charleston Southern 0
Devin Leary’s third TD pass of the game came on a sideline throw that running back Delbert Mimms III turned into a 20-yard score. Leary has passed for three TDs and run for two as the Pack has scored four TDs in the second quarter.
Smith TD catch: NC State 31, Charleston Southern 0
After a slow start, quarterback Devin Leary is having a day. His second TD pass of the game, a 40-yarder to Anthony Smith, came after he shrugged off a defender to unload deep. Smith made a nice leaping catch in the right side of the end zone.
Houston TD catch: NC State 24, Charleston Southern 0
Thayer Thomas’ 21-yard punt return gave the Pack good field position at the CSU 47. Running back Jordan Houston turned a short pass into a 23-yard gain, then took a 24-yarder from Devin Leary in the left corner for the TD as the Pack scored on three plays. Well-thrown pass for the TD as Leary has thrown for one TD and run for two.
Leary TD run: NC State 17, Charleston Southern 0
Devin Leary’s second TD run of the game has pushed the Wolfpack cushion to 17 points. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye had runs of 11 and 14 yards and Demarcus Jones a 12-yarder. After a pass-interference call against the Bucs, Leary went 2 yards for the score to cap the 67-yard drive.
Leary TD run: NC State 10, Charleston Southern 0
After a sluggish start on offense, the Pack went 95 yards for the 10-point lead. Devin Leary had a pair of completions to Keyon Lesane, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye had a 15-yard run and Leary scored the TD on a 12-yard run up the middle, the QB breaking three tackles before diving over with 3:28 left in the first quarter.
Dunn FG: NC State 3, Charleston Southern 0
The Pack’s Jordan Houton returned a short opening kickoff 29 yards to the CSU 48 and Devin Leary – on his 23rd birthday – came out throwing the ball in a no-huddle look. A holding call blew up the possession and the Pack settled for a 46-yard field goal from Christopher Dunn.
NCSU linebacker Payton Wilson came out for pregame warmups in full gear but switched to a white T shirt and stood on the sideline during the game. Wilson was injured last week against ECU but did practice this week and was listed as a starter on the depth chart.
Check back here for updates during the game.
Pregame reading
NC State wants to be sharper, more efficient as Charleston Southern comes to town
- NC State’s Christopher Dunn offers ECU kicker words of encouragement after Pack’s win
- NC State LB Payton Wilson not seriously injured, but TE Trent Pennix will miss time
- NC State coach Dave Doeren not second-guessing decisions on goal-line offense at ECU
- As Saturday proved, we need more college football games like NC State-ECU, UNC-App State
- NC State football vs Charleston Southern first look: Pack, Bucs look to ‘clean up’ play
This story was originally published September 10, 2022 at 12:06 PM.
