NC State football upsets North Carolina. Wolfpack tops Tar Heels 30-27 in double overtime
In one of the classic games in what has been a classic football series through the years, N.C. State won 30-27 in double overtime Friday at Kenan Stadium.
In the second overtime, the Pack reached the UNC 4 before Christopher Dunn kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 30-27 lead. But UNC’s Noah Burnette missed from 35 yards for the Heels.
Burnette’s 26-yard field goal in the first overtime gave the Tar Heels a 27-24 lead, but Dunn answered from 31 yards for a tie.
Drake Maye’s 4-yard pass to Antoine Green on the final play of regulation forced the OT.
Making his first college football start under the pressure of a bitter ACC rivalry, Ben Finley delivered. From a big play on the Wolfpack’s opening-drive to consistent clock-management throughout the second half and an even bigger play late in the fourth quarter, the redshirt freshman guided the Pack’s offense well enough — and received support from a reinvigorated defense — to post the double-overtime win.
The Wolfpack ultimately won thanks to Christopher Dunn’s steady foot — the kicker converted two field goals in overtime. UNC’s Noah Burnette missed his second try in extra time.
The win snapped N.C. State’s two-game losing streak and sent them into a long break before bowl season on a high note.
UNC, meanwhile, stumbles into next week’s ACC Championship game against Clemson having lost two consecutive games for the first time this season. What had been a dominant offense, led by freshman star Maye, went cold the past two weeks. Finley outdueled the Tar Heels’ quarterback many thought as recently as last week had a legitimate chance to earn some Heisman Trophy votes.
After some lackluster play from both teams through most of the second half, the final 10 minutes heated up. A poor punt from N.C. State set up the Heels at the Wolfpack 38. A few plays later, Maye scampered through the Pack blitz and into the end zone, and the point after knotted the game at 17 with 7:53 to play.
Two possessions — and a Pack interception — later, Finley marched N.C. State back down the field. With 3:54 to play in regulation, he hit Devin Carter for a 26-yard touchdown.
But Maye marched the Heels back down the field and forced overtime after a pair of oft-reviewed touchdowns, the latter one standing to knot the game at 24.
The teams traded field goals in the first overtime.
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The Pack scored first Friday after a long pass from Finley to Devin Carter, and an ensuing penalty, set the visitors up at the UNC 2. Jack Chambers came in at quarterback and rushed for the 2-yard score to put the Pack ahead by a touchdown.
The Heels slogged down the field on their next possession, but stalled at the N.C. State 30, leading to a 37-yard field goal.
N.C. State made it 14-3 on a 28-yard strike from Finley to Terrell Timmons early in the second quarter, and UNC replied in kind with an Elijah Green rushing TD with 5:03 to play in the first half.
Christopher Dunn drilled a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the opening half to extend the Wolfpack lead back to seven.
Dunn missed a field goal for the first time all season in the third, but UNC’s ensuing drive stalled inside the Wolfpack 10, and the Heels also missed a field goal from close early in the fourth to keep things close at 17-10.
Gameday play by play
Green TD catch: NC State 24, UNC 24
Drake Maye’s 4-yard TD pass to Green forced overtime -- after the Pack had celebrated that it believed was a defensive stop and the end of the game.
Drake Maye appeared to have thrown a scrambling 4-yard TD pass to tight end John Copenhaver on the final play of regulation but the catch was overturned on review. There were zeroes on the clock. after the play.
But after the review, two seconds were placed on the clock and Maye again threw for a TD.
Carter TD catch: NC State 24, UNC 17
Ben Finley’s 26-yard TD pass to Devin Carter, on a third-and-7 play, pushed the Pack back in front with 3:54 left in the fourth quarter. The touchdown came three plays after Tanner Ingle’s diving interception of a tipped pass at the UNC 29 as Drake Maye was pressured in the pocket.
Maye TD run: NC State 17, UNC 17
The Tar Heels took advantage of a 18-yard punt by the Pack’s Caden Noonkester to tie the score. Taking over at the NCSU 38 after the punt, UNC scored in four plays as Drake Maye avoided a blitz and ran 14 yards for the TD with 7:53 left in the fourth quarter. Maye had an 18-yard pass to wideout J.J. Jones to start the possession.
Burnette misses FG: Pack keeps 17-10 lead
The Tar Heels had a 13-play drive and converted a fourth-down play, Drake Thomas passing to Kamari Morales for 14 yards to the NCSU 7. But the Wolfpack defense made the stops and UNC’s Noah Burnette missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt with 10:37 left in the fourth quarter.
Dunn misses FG: first miss of season
The Pack’s Christopher Dunn missed on a 43-yard field goal with 1:31 left in the third quarter, his first missed kick of the season. Dunn had made 22 consecutive field goals, the longest streak in the country, and has converted all 199 PATs in his career.
Halftime: NC State 17, UNC 10
Wolfpack quarterback Ben Finley, making his first career start, is 13-16 for 155 yards passing and the Tar Heels’ Drake Maye 11-19 for 68 yards. The Wolfpack defense has limited UNC to 131 yards in total offense.
Dunn 29 FG: NC State 17, UNC 10
Christopher Dunn’s 29-yard field goal ended the first half and gave the Pack a 17-10 lead. A 19-yard punt return by Thayer Thomas got the Pack started and Ben Finley completed three passes including an 18-yarder to tight end Cedd Seabrough to the UNC 12.
Wolfpack turnover: Chambers loses fumble
After the UNC score, the Pack drove to the UNC 16 and faced third-and-1. Quarterback Jack Chambers, who scored the Pack’s first TD, was inserted for Ben Finley but fumbled. The Tar Heels recovered as Cedric Gray jumped on the loose ball with 2:10 left in the first half.
Green TD run: NC State 14, UNC 10
Elijah Green’s 9-yard scoring run ended a drive that included a near-interception by NCSU linebacker Payton Wilson. But Wilson could not hold the ball on Drake Maye’s sideline throw and was shaken up on the play, and the Tar Heels went 59 yards for the score.
The UNC possession came after a poor center snap by the Pack lost 16 yards, Ben Finley diving on the ball, and pinned the Wolfpack at its 3 on the previous possession.
Timmons TD catch: NC State 14, UNC 3
Ben Finley’s 28-yard TD pass to freshman wideout Terrell Timmons, Jr. capped a 7-play, 55-yard drive. Finley’s third career scoring pass came on a throw to the deep right corner of the end zone. The Pack twice converted third-down plays as FInley hit Keyon Lesane for 8 yards and Thayer Thomas for 9.
Burnette 37 FG: NC State 7, UNC 3
The Tar Heels converted three third-down plays before bogging down in the red zone and taking a 37-yard field goal from Noah Burnette. Elijah Green rushed for 30 yards during a possession that began at the UNC 20.
Chambers TD run: NC State 7, UNC 0
After a three-and-out series by the defense on UNCs first possession, the Pack went 67 yards in three plays. With Ben Finley starting at QB, Jordan Houston ran for 10 yards and Finley then hit Devin Carter for 52 yards down the right sideline. Jack Chambers came in at quarterback and scored on a 2-yard run.
Injury updates: Pennix, Wilson to play
Wolfpack tight end Trent Pennix, linebacker Payton Wilson and receiver Devin Carter, who all missed the Louisville game, are in uniform and will play. Quarterback MJ Morris did not dress for warmups and will again be sidelined, as will center Grant Gibson and nickel back Tyler Baker-Williams.
Pennix was injured in the first half Friday and was not in uniform in the second half.
UNC defensive back Tony Grimes was ruled out with a lower-body injury.
This story was originally published November 25, 2022 at 3:18 PM.
