Finley, Wolfpack Cruise Past Georgia State 41-7
Quarterback Ryan Finley threw for 370 yards and a touchdown as NC State defeated Georgia State 41-7 on Saturday.
Georgia State came out on their first drive very composed. After completing a 46-yard pass from Dan Ellington to Devin Gentry, Destin Coates would take the option pitch in to the end zone for the first score of the day.
The Wolfpack would respond on their first drive of the day. A big play up top to Thayer Thomas from Ryan Finley got NC State inside the red zone.
Defensive holding inside of the red zone set up NC State for a 5-yard touchdown to Thomas to even the score up at 7-7.
Georgia State punted on the next drive.
On the ensuing NC State drive, Thayer Thomas pass to Trent Pennix for 56-yards to get the Pack within the red zone but would eventually settle for a 25-yard field goal to take the 10-7 lead with a little over three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
NC State would head in to the second quarter with a 10-7.
Finley to Harmon for 39 yards. Finley would find CJ Riley on 4th down to set up a one-yard Reggie Gallaspie touchdown run to open the second quarter.
Georgia State would march down the field before an Alim McNeil sack would force the Panthers to punt.
NC State would march halfway down the field before gaining enough yardage on 4th and one to get a first down, but a holding penalty would ruin that opportunity and force the Red and White to punt
Dan Ellington 17-yard run on a trick pass play blown up but would miss the 44-yard field goal attempt by Brandon Wright to come up empty right before the half.
Finley found a wide-open Kelvin Harmon streaking down the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain. Thomas would get a 24-yard reception two plays later to set up a 28-yard field goal from Dunn to give the home team a 20-7 advantage over Georgia State heading in to halftime.
Thomas ended the game with nine receptions for 114 yards. Harmon led the game in receiving yards with 129 on eight receptions. Team receiving leader Jakobi Meyers (ankle) did not play today.
Coming out of the halftime break, NC State would struggle to run the ball, getting stopped on a fourth and short run that set up Georgia State in great field position.
After forcing the Panthers to punt, NC State would find another touchdown on the one-yard reception from Trent Pennix to extend the lead to 20 with a little over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
34-yard pass to Penny Hart that would get the Panthers inside of the five yard-line, but several penalties forced them to kick a field goal. The field goal attempt was blocked by NC State to set up the Wolfpack to take over at their own 38 yard-line.
Stephen Louis was knocked out of the game after taking a serious hit to the head. Louis, the redshirt-graduate student from West Palm Beach, Florida managed to pop up and walk to the locker room on his own power several minutes later.
Finley would throw his first interception of the season late in the game to the hands of Panther’s cornerback Quavion White. Despite the interception, Finley had a phenomenal game, throwing for 370 yards and two touchdowns to add to his 31-out-of-38 completions.
Brady Bodine put the nail in the coffin with a 39-yard rushing touchdown with 3:12 remaining in the game to give NC State the 34-7 lead.
The Wolfpack would hang on to defeat the Georgia State Panthers 34-7.
Maurice Trowell would take a fumble recovery inside the ten yard-line late in the game to set up a late Matthew McKay rushing touchdown to take the 41-7 lead.
NC State (2-0, 0-0 ACC) will return to Carter-Finley Stadium next week to host West Virginia at 3:30 pm.