No. 22 NC State blasts Boston College to improve to 2-0 in the ACC
Posted October 16, 2021
Updated October 17, 2021
The breaks might finally be going NC State’s way.
The Wolfpack used a circus catch, a special teams blunder and a pair of turnovers to blast Boston College 33-7 on the road on Saturday night.
The 22nd-ranked Wolfpack started the game the right way with a bobbling, one-handed highlight catch by receiver Devin Carter for a 40-yard touchdown.
Safety Devan Boykin cracked it open in the third quarter when BC punter Grant Carlson dropped the snap and Boykin cashed it in for a 34-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
"We got hot there in the third quarter," NC State coach Dave Doeren said. "The punt block was a huge spark."
NC State (5-1) improved to 2-0 in the ACC in an important Atlantic Division matchup with Boston College (4-2). The Wolfpack is trying to win the program’s first division title and first conference title since 1979.
After a home win over Clemson on Sept. 25, Doeren declared the Wolfpack the best team in the conference. This was its first chance in league play since the important win over the Tigers, who have won the ACC six years in a row.
Quarterback Devin Leary threw for three touchdowns and 251 yards. Receiver Thayer Thomas led the Wolfpack with 122 receiving yards, including a 79-yard touchdown.
Receiver Emeka Emezie also set a new school record for career receptions.
With each team coming off of an open date, the game was tight early. NC State scored on its first possession of the game and then took a 10-7 lead right before the half.
Carter got behind the BC defense and then was able to catch the ball, after a bobble, around the cornerback on his way to a 40-yard touchdown.
The Eagles used an 8-yard touchdown catch by tight end Trae Barry to even the score at 7-7 at 8:47 in the first quarter. Boykin prevented a second Barry touchdown catch in the second quarter, which turned out to be an key momentum shift.
Chris Dunn made a 27-yard field goal on the last play of the first half to give the Wolfpack a 10-7 lead.
Boykin’s fumble return on the bungled punt made it 17-7 at 12:03 in the third quarter and then tight end Dylan Parham put the game out of reach with a 4-yard touchdown catch at 7:05 in the third quarter.