Recap: NC State 35, Syracuse 20

Saturday, November 12

Syracuse, NY

12:30 pm

Syracuse University

4-6 , 2-4

NC State

5-5 , 2-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

NC State

Syracuse

11/12/2016 1:13:00 PM | Football

Box Score Cuse TV: Highlights Postgame Notes Cuse TV: Dino Babers Press Conference Cuse TV: Players Press Conference Postgame Quotes Notes Quotes

Wolfpack scores late touchdown to hold off Orange

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – NC State (5-5, 2-4 ACC) running back Matthew Dayes ran for three touchdowns and the Wolfpack emerged from the Carrier Dome with a 35-20 triumph against Syracuse (4-6, 2-4 ACC) on Saturday, Nov. 12.

The Wolfpack outgained the Orange 546-218, ran 29 more plays, had a 23-minute advantage in time of possession and converted 10-of-18 third-downs to secure the win.

Backup quarterback Zack Mahoney, who started in place of the injured Eric Dungey, was 14-of-25 passing for a career-high 190 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Syracuse. Receiver Amba Etta-Tawo added to his Orange season-record receiving totals by making four receptions for 88 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown. Etta-Tawo now has 79 catches for 1,246 yards in 2016. His season yardage total ranks 10th in ACC history.

On Syracuse's opening possession, Mahoney stepped into the huddle for his first meaningful snaps of the season and led the Orange to paydirt. He hit on 5-of-6 throws in the 12-play, 61-yard drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Dontae Strickland. Syracuse converted a key fourth-and-2 during the series when Mahoney teamed with Ervin Philips on a 12-yard pass.

The Wolfpack evened the score after a 13-play, 82-yard march that bridged the first and second quarters. The drive appeared to stall at the Syracuse 31, but on fourth-and-3, the Orange were flagged for interference, which resulted in a first down. Dayes got NC State on the board three plays later with a 7-yard touchdown scamper to tie the score five seconds into the second quarter.

The Orange answered with a field goal on the following possession. Mahoney helped set things up with a 46-yard pass to Alvin Cornelius that put the ball on the NC State 27. Syracuse was unable to advance further and Cole Murphy kicked a 48-yard field goal to put the Orange ahead again, 10-7.

On the ensuing series, NC State used the long ball to regain the advantage. Quarterback Ryan Finley connected with Nyheim Hines for 56 yards to put the Wolfpack in the red zone, and shortly thereafter Jaylen Samuels took the ball across the goal line from three yards out. The Wolfpack had a chance to add to their lead late in the half, moving 43 yards in 12 plays down to the Orange 4-yard line. Facing third-and-3, Jalan McClendon threw for the end zone, but safety Rodney Williams intercepted the pass to halt the threat. A Kielan Whitner interception finished off the first half and the Wolfpack took a 14-10 lead into the intermission.

In the third quarter, a broken tackle helped the Wolfpack pad to their advantage. A quick slant from Finley to Kevin Harmon turned into a 68-yard touchdown when Harmon split a pair of Syracuse defenders. The extra point by Connor Haskins pushed the NC State margin to 21-10 less than two minutes into the second half.

Facing its largest deficit of the afternoon, Syracuse responded with a big play of its own. Mahoney threw deep and hit Etta-Tawo in stride. Etta-Tawo outraced two Wolfpack defensive backs to the end zone for his longest touchdown reception of the season. Murphy's extra point pulled SU within four, 21-17.

The momentum from Etta-Tawo's touchdown fueled the Orange defense, which rose up to force a three-and-out on the ensuing NC State possesion. Freshman Sean Riley blocked A.J. Cole's punt and Ted Taylor recovered to give Syracuse great field position at the Wolfpack 17. Four plays later, Murphy's 39-yard field goal brought the Orange within one, 21-20, with 10:29 left in the third quarter.

Murphy's field goal proved to be SU's last points of the game. NC State pulled away on a pair of touchdown runs by Dayes. The Wolfpack senior finished off the longest drive of the game, a 14-play, 86-yard march, which featured four third-down conversions, with a 20-yard scoring run near the end of the third quarter. Then he added some insurance on a 13-yard TD scamper with 4:50 remaining in the contest.

A few, poorly-timed penalties hurt the Orange cause. In addition to the pass interference call that kept an NC State scoring drive alive in the first half, Syracuse had a 34-yard, Mahoney-to-Cornelius touchdown pass called back because of an illegal block in the fourth quarter. Had the score stood, the Orange would have had an opportunity to go for two and tie the game at 28-all.

Four defenders tallied double-digit tackles for the Orange. Linebackers Zaire Franklin (11) and Parris Bennett (11) and defensive backs Rodney Williams (10) and Daivon Ellison (10) led the Syracuse defensive effort. Williams also finished with an interception and a pass breakup. Bennett's 11 stops raised his season tackle total to 100. He's first Orange defender to reach the century mark for tackles since Derrell Smith (114) in 2010.

Alvin Cornelius made his first start of the year at wide receiver and had four catches for 61 yards. Philips also finished with four receptions to push his season total to 72, the most catches ever for a Syracuse junior.

Punter Sterling Hofrichter had a successful afternoon, kicking six times for an average of 47.3 yards per boot. Hofrichter boomed a pair of 60-yard punts, including a career-long, 65-yarder.

Dayes ran 27 times for 108 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolfpack. Finley was 20-of-29 passing for 340 yards and one score. Harmon led all receivers with four receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Syracuse hosts Florida State in its final home game of the season next Saturday, Nov. 19. Kickoff time for the game will be announced tomorrow. Tickets are available online, by phone (888-DOMETIX), at Destiny USA kiosks and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

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