via GoPack.com
RALEIGH, N.C. – A blocked field goal in the final two minutes preserved NC State’s 15-14 home win over previously beaten Liberty Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.
With NC State leading by one late, Liberty drove the ball down to the Pack’s 28-yard line and attempted a 39-yard field goal with 1:20 left. Pack LB Vi Jones was in the middle of the field and leaped up to record the block, his third blocked kick of the season.
In addition to the blocked field goal, the Pack’s defense recorded three interceptions, three sacks and a safety in the victory.
NC State recorded its first win over a ranked foe at Carter-Finley Stadium since #17 Louisville in 2017, and the first at home over a ranked non-conference foe since #15 East Carolina in 2007.
After a scoreless first quarter, NC State broke the scoreless tie with the game’s first touchdown midway through the second quarter. RB Zonovan Knight scored his team-leading sixth TD of the year from 19 yards out to give the Pack the 7-0 lead.
Liberty notched the equalizer with just 19 seconds left in the first half, capping an 84-yard drive with a 12-yard TD pass.
At the half, the game was tied 7-7.
After forcing a Pack punt on the first possession of the second half, Liberty went 53 yards and took the lead with a 6-yard TD pass eight minutes into the third quarter.
After a punt by QB Bailey Hockman pinned Liberty back to its two-yard line, LB Isaiah Moore recorded a safety on the very next play to bring the Pack to within 14-9 to go into the fourth quarter.
After Fr. CB Aydan White’s first career interception gave the Pack the ball at the Liberty 26-yard line, Knight again found the end zone from four yards out this time for the TD. After a failed two-point conversion, NC State held a 15-14 lead with 6:53 left for the game’s final score.
The Wolfpack honored the efforts of its student-athletes in their quest for social justice and change in tonight’s #PackUnited game. NC State athletics’ PackUnited initiative has been led by the student-athletes and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) since its inception in late spring.
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE
6 plays, 59 yards, 2:24
After a quarter and a half of scoreless action, NC State notched the first TD of the day. Zonovan capped a 6-play, 59-yard drive with 19-yard TD run with 6:56 left in the first half. On the drive, NC State had four rushes for 51 of the 59 yards on the drive.
STAT LEADERS
QB Bailey Hockman
14-of-27 for 154 yards
RB Zonovan Knight
14 rushes, 96 yards, 2 TDs
RB Ricky Person, Jr.
14 rushes for 82 yards
LB Isaiah Moore
13 tackles, 2 TFLs, 0.5 sacks
LB Payton Wilson
12 tackles, 1.5 TFLs
NOTABLES
• In the third quarter, LB Isaiah Moore forced a safety. It was the first for the Wolfpack defense since Terrell Manning vs. UNC in 2010.
• The NC State defense recorded three interceptions for the third in a game this season (at Pitt, at Virginia).
• Today’s game was the first time NC State went into the second quarter tied 0-0 this season. The 14 combined points in the first half were the least in a Pack game since last year’s win over Syracuse (13).
UP NEXT
NC State will be back in road action next weekend, as the Pack will head up to Syracuse. The game time will be announced on Sunday.
