Samuels’ Hat-Trick Leads NC State to Victory, Wolfpack Rolls 49-16

Raleigh, NC – Jaylen Samuels scores three times and the defense forces three turnovers as North Carolina State defeated the Furman Paladins 49-16.

Furman would take the early 3-0 lead on a Grayson Atkins 46-yard field goal.

On the next drive, NC State would get on the board with a two-yard Jaylen Samuels run to give the Wolfpack the 7-3 lead.

The Red and White sideline erupted when quarterback Ryan Finley found wide receiver JuMichael Ramos on their next drive wide open down the right sideline for a 30-yard strike to make the score 14-3. Jaylen Samuels says that he actually called that “J-Mike” would score, saying that “to see him get back in the end zone was a good moment for him and for our teammates. You could see guys like Samuels and defensive end Bradley Chubb running down the sideline to give Ramos a hug after the play.”

Samuels continued,  “When he got back to the sidelines, everyone cheered him on. They know how hard he worked to get back on the field with us and especially in his senior year…it was good for him.”

Finley finished the day with 231 passing yards, completing 22-of-27 of his passes and scoring a touchdown.

Furman would start the second quarter with another field goal from Atkins, that one being 34-yards to cut the deficit for the visiting team to 8.

The Wolfpack would bounce right back as Samuels would get his second TD of the day, taking a direct snap in to the end zone from one yard out to extend the score to 21-6

Andy Schumpert left alone behind the defense and would take the pass from PJ Blazejowski 71 yards for the first Paladin touchdown of the day 21-13

Samuels with the touchdown hat-trick when he scored his third touchdown of the day and second straight one-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining to halftime to give the Wolfpack a 28-13 lead going in to the break.

Samuels finished his day with 75 receiving yards and three rushing touchdowns. His three touchdowns all came from within two yards of the goal line. J-Sam described after the game that Offensive Coordinator Elijah Drinkwitz had plays for him at running back and quarterback in the goal line situations. “Once I get the ball on the goal line, I just think to score” stated Samuels confidently.

Both teams would come out of halftime trading punts.

NC State would score first in the second half as Nyheim Hines took the handoff 28 yards up the sideline to give NC State the 35-13 lead after the extra point

On the ensuing Paladin possession, defensive back Shawn Boone picked off Blazejowski’s pass and returned it 47-yards for the pick-six touchdown to extend NC State’s lead 42-16. Coach Doeren mentioned that when it comes to practice, “Nobody works as hard on ball skills as Shawn does.”

Boone has had a history of injuries but has worked hard to overcome those issues and get back on the field this year.

Redshirt Graduate Student running back Dakwa Nichols would muscle his way in for a nine-yard rushing touchdown to tag on six more. The Carson Wise extra point would give NC State the 49-13 lead.

Furman got three more points added on the next drive via an Atkins 46-yard field goal that would make the score 49-16.

NC State kicker Carson Wise missed a 38-yard field goal late, and the score would end up staying 49-16 until the final horn.

Coach Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack will travel to Tallahassee to face a very tough Florida State team in a hostile environment next Saturday.