NC State Wolfpack upset by Boston College Eagles, 21-20, in ACC college football game
Coverage from game
Coverage during game
It’s Senior Day for No. 17 N.C. State at Carter-Finley Stadium, with 30 players honored Saturday in a pregame ceremony before the Boston College game. The Pack (7-2, 3-2 ACC) has won 16 straight at home, tied for the school record.
News & Observer reporter Chip Alexander and photographer Ethan Hyman are at Carter-Finley. Check back for live updates from all the action.
Griffin 2-yard TD catch: Boston College 21, NC State
Emmett Morehead’s 2-yard TD pass to Joe Griffin with 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Eagles the lead and the win. The TD came after Wolfpack linebacker Drake Thomas was called for pass interference on a fourth-down pass that was incomplete.
Flowers 35-yard TD catch: NC State 20, BC 14
Eagles quarterback Emmett Morehead completed seven consecutive passes in a 75-yard TD drive capped by a 35-yard TD pass to Zay Flowers, his second of the game. Morehead sidestepped a few blitzers and hit Flowers in full stride down the right sideline.
Dunn 45-yard FG: NC State 20, BC 7
After a three-and-out series by its offense to start the second half, the Pack forced a fumble on BC’s punt, Demarcus Jones recovering at the BC 42. The offense again stalled and Christopher Dunn’s 45-yard field goal push the Pack’s lead to 13 points as Dunn became the ACC career leader in field goals with 89.
Halftime: NC State 17, BC 7
The Wolfpack has 274 total yards to the Eagles’ 142, but after scoring on its first two possessions for a 14-0 lead has had its offense stymied. The Pack had good field position much of the second quarter but was stopped on a BC goal-line stand on fourth down at the 1 and could add only a field goal by Christopher Dunn.
Quarterback MJ Morris is 8-of-12 for 124 yards and a TD, and also scored on a run. BC quarterback Emmett Morehead, despite constant pressure from the Wolfpack defense, was 11-17 for 140 yards and a TD but also was sacked three times and had a pass picked off late in the half.
Dunn 30-yard FG: NC State 17, BC 7
After being stopped at the goal line, the Pack forced a BC punt and added a 30-yard field goal from Christopher Dunn with 1:36 left in the first half for a 17-7 lead.
The Eagles moved to the NCSU 29 after the field goal, but Cyrus Fagan picked off an Emmett Morehead pass at the NCSU 3, the first turnover of the game and rhe Pack closed out the half with the 17-7 lead.
BC goal-line stand; Pack’s Gibson injured
The Eagles stuffed the Pack on a fourth-and-goal play at the 1 as quarterback MJ Morris was stopped for a loss with 6:21 left in the first half. Pack graduate center Grant Gibson was injured on the play and had to be helped off the field.
The Pack had reached the BC 4 on a 26-yard pass to Trent Pennix after a double reverse and pitch back to Morris. But the Pack was called for holding and then could not get in the end zone after Morris completed a pass to Jordan Houston for 4 yards to the 1 on third down.
Flowers 17-yard TD catch: NC State 14, BC 7
Just when it appeared the Pack was close to a knockout punch, the Eagles put together an impressive TD drive as quarterback Emmett Morehead found receiver Zay Flowers for a 17-yard score. Morehead had completions of 8, 13 and 28 yards to wideout Jaelen Gill, the third on a fourth-and-3 play at the NCSU 45. He then found Flowers open in the left corner.
Wolfpack defensive back Cyrus Fagan was initially called for targeting on Gill’s 28-yard catch but the targeting was overruled after a review.
Morris 10-yard TD run: NC State 14, BC 0
Another possession, another TD for the Pack. Michael Allen ripped off runs of 16 and 36 yards before quarterback MJ Morris easily scored from 10 yards. One downside to the six-play, 68-yard scoring drive: an injury to running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye.
Pennix 27-yard TD catch: NC State 7, BC 0
After a sack by Pack linebacker Isaiah Moore blew up BC’s first possession, the Pack zipped 88 yards in 5 plays for a touchdown. Thayer Thomas had a leaping 23-yard catch on an MJ Morris pass, Julian Gray went 24 yards on a reverse, Jordan Huston ran 13 yards and Morris then hit Trent Pennix for a 27-yard score.
Injury update: Sumo-Karngbaye goes out
Pack running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye was injured midway through the first quarter and had to be helped off the field, not able to put any weight on his left foot. Sumo-Karngbaye was injured on his second carry. ...
Wolfpack nickel back Tyler Baker-Williams and wide receiver Devin Carter were not dressed and will not play in the game. Both were honored in the pregame.
Pregame reading
What to watch for as NC State hosts Boston College and honors its seniors on Saturday
NC State vs Boston College: Pack will have shot at new home win streak against Eagles
UNC and NC State rise in AP Top 25 football poll. Four ACC teams in latest rankings
This is NC’s weirdest college football season in recent memory — and maybe its most fun
NC State wide receivers step up, help lead Wolfpack to 30-21 win over Wake Forest
- ‘Gave it my all’: NC State linebacker Payton Wilson wants strong finish to final season
This story was originally published November 12, 2022 at 3:22 PM.
