NC State football holds on to beat East Carolina, 21-20, in opener
Coverage from game
- NC State football, narrowly surviving its opener at ECU, learns how other half lives
- Scoreless in second half, No. 13 NC State football holds on to beat ECU 21-20 in opener
Live updates from game
N.C. State opened its 2022 season Saturday with high expectations, plenty of returning talent and the No. 13 ranking in the AP poll. The Wolfpack kicked off its season against East Carolina at noon on Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
The News & Observer’s Chip Alexander, Luke DeCock and Ethan Hyman are on site for the matchup and will have updates from all the action.
Fourth quarter
Harris TD run: NC State 21, ECU 20
The Pirates made a late push down the field in the fourth and Rahjai Harris ran in from 3 yards with 2:58 left in the fourth. But kicker Owen Daffer was wide left on the extra point, leaving the Pack ahead 21-20 and stunning Pirates fans.
Third quarter
Calhoun TD catch: NC State 21, ECU 14
After a strong series by its defense, ECU made it a one-touchdown game as the Pirates converted on three third-down plays. On third-and-goal from the 1, Holton Ahlers found tight end Shane Calhoun open deep in the right corner for the score
Halftime: NC State 21, ECU 7
The Wolfpack closed the first half with 223 yards in total offense to ECU’s 195. The Pack defense picked off two Holton Ahlers passes -- Tyler Baker-Williams with the first, Shyheim Battle the second -- and turned a blocked punt into a touchdown.
Pack quarterback Devin Leary was 12-of-22 passing for 152 yards, with a TD throw to Thayer Thomas. Ahlers was 12-22 for 122 yards, with the two picks, and had a TD throw to CJ Johnson as the Pirates scored first.
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Second quarter
Sumo-Karngbaye TD run: NC State 21, ECU 7
The Pack went 85 yards in 12 plays late in the second, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye bouncing to the outside on a run and scoring from 24 yards. Devin Leary hit Devin Carter for 18 yards to convert a third down early in the drive and Jordan Houston took a swing pass for 17 yards. Houston also picked up 3 yards on a fourth-and-one play at the NCSU 42 after the Pack lost a challenge on a ball spot.
First quarter
Sean Brown recovered punt block: NC State 14, ECU 7
It did not take long for the Pack to grab the lead. After a three-and-out series by the Pack’s defense, Jasiah Provillon blocked Luke Larsen’s punt and Sean Brown won a scramble for the ball in the end zone with 1:34 left in the first.
Thomas TD catch: NC State 7, ECU 7
Devin Leary found Thayer Thomas for a 24-yard gain on third-and-14 from the ECU 36, then hit Thomas on a slant for a 12-yard score as the Pack went 64 yards in 8 plays. Leary also had a 14-yard completion to Devin Carter in the drive as the Pack overcame two false-start penalties.
Johnson TD catch: ECU 7, NC State 0
ECU quarterback Holton Ahlers had his second pass of the game picked off by the Pack’s Tyler Baker-Williams, but responded on the Pirates’ second possession. Ahlers converted one third down with a run, passed for another first down, then found CJ Johnson crossing over the middle for a 39-yard score. The Pirates went 70 yards in 7 plays.
Pregame reading
- NC State’s moment is here. If it’s ever going to happen for Pack, this is it
- How scars from 2019 made NC State a better program, Dave Doeren a better coach
- Ready for ECU return, NC State assistant Ruffin McNeill ‘looking forward to the competition’
- ACC Now podcast: A look back at NC State vs ECU football series ahead of Week 1 opener
- NC State looks to end curse that has defined college football in North Carolina
- Quarterback University? Devin Leary wants to add to NC State’s QB legacy this season
Three things to watch as Wolfpack opens season in Greenville
- Saturday’s college football games in NC are bigger than ACC rivalries — in their own ways
- News & Observer’s Week 1 college football picks
This story was originally published September 3, 2022 at 10:47 AM with the headline "NC State football holds on to beat East Carolina, 21-20, in opener."
