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Carter

Oh, What a Night

9/26/2021 8:52:00 AM | Football

-- By Jeff Gravley --

RALEIGH, N.C. - All week long, there was a different vibe surrounding this game. On game day, Carter-Finley Stadium was electric from the pregame tailgates to the opening kickoff until the final play of the second overtime.
 
When the Clemson's final pass fell to the turf, many of those making ear piercing noise in the stands flooded the field.
 
Yes, it was a win worthy of a storm.
 
"The curse is broken, NC State fans, finally." Those words were part of Dave Doeren's opening statement after a thrilling 27-21 double overtime win. For the first time since 2011, the Wolfpack took down the Tigers, winners of 6 straight ACC championships.
 
"We didn't flinch," Doeren said as several things unfolded that went against the Wolfpack.
 
The phrase "didn't flinch" was echoed by QB Devin Leary and LB Isaiah Moore. You can SAY IT, but you really have to BELIEVE IT when things look bleak and seem sour. 
 
They believed it.
 
Leary was 32-44 for 238 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Several times he escaped pressure and either got rid of the ball or created a positive out of a negative.
 
"I thought our quarterback was incredible," Doeren said of Leary.
 
The four touchdown passes went to three different receivers. The first was a magical catch by Emeka Emezie, who hauled in a career-high 14 passes. There was a third down TD toss to Thayer Thomas in the first overtime and two strikes to Devin Carter, including what proved to be the game winner.
 
On that play, the offensive line gave Leary the time he needed to progress through his reads and drop it in the bucket to Carter in the deep right corner of the endzone. His adjustment to the ball was part of an incredible connection.
 
The Wolfpack went 11-of-21 on third down and that high conversion rate was helped by what they did on first down averaging 4.5 yards.
 
Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person, Jr. were a big part of that success by what they did in the run game, combining for 170 yards on 44 carries.
 
This was #PackUnited week on the NC State campus. On Wednesday at a #PackUnited event, Moore said they had a few defensive wrinkles ready for Clemson. Whether he was involved in those wrinkles or not, Moore's defensive play was a key element with eight tackles, a pair of tackles for a loss, three quarterback hurries and a tipped pass that ended up in the hands of Drake Thomas for a pick.
 
"To come out with a win like that, it's huge for our team, for our program moving forward," said Moore. "I feel like it can push us to a place we want to be."
 
After winning a game of this magnitude, in such dramatic fashion, you look for somebody to hug.
 
For DL Cory Durden it was his mom, who saw her son play in a Wolfpack uniform for the first time in person. Devin Leary's fist hug was with Coach Dave Doeren.
 
There were many hugs among the those who filled the field at Carter-Finley Stadium after the win. A few miles away, the Belltower on Hillsborough Street turned red. It's a tradition when significant athletic moments happen.
 
"Light it RED, Chancellor Woodson. Light it RED and leave it on all night," was Dave Doeren's request.
 
That's what wins like this can do.