Recap: Orange Rally Falls Short in 16-10 Loss to NC State

Thursday, October 10

Raleigh, NC

8 PM

Syracuse University

3-3 , 0-2

NC State

4-2 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Syracuse	0	0	3	7	10
NC State	6	7	3	0	16

Photo by: Charles Wainwright

Recap: Orange Rally Falls Short in 16-10 Loss to NC State

10/10/2019 11:53:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery Dino Babers Press Conference Tommy DeVito Press Conference Andrew Armstrong Press Conference Postgame Notes Quotes

RALEIGH, N.C. – Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito completed 29-of-39 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown, but it was not enough as a late rally fell short and NC State held off the Orange 16-10 on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The Orange slipped to 3-3 and 0-2 in the ACC, while the Wolfpack moved to 4-2 and 1-1 in the league.

After falling behind 16-0, Syracuse scored the game's last 10 points and had an opportunity late in regulation to win.

Syracuse regained possession on its own 24 with 1:48 left. DeVito completed four consecutive passes to move the ball down to the Wolfpack 39. The Orange were whistled for a false start on first down. On the next play, DeVito misfired on a pass, and then on third down he was sacked for a loss of five by Larrell Murchison as time wound down. The game ended on another false-start penalty against Syracuse.

QUOTABLE
"Obviously, that was a fantastic game between two football teams battling," Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said. Coach [Dave] Doeren and those guys did a fantastic job. They were well prepared after the break, and we've got to find a way to regroup. I don't think that we're down and out. We're definitely hurting from this one, and we've got a tough game versus one of our rival teams (Pittsburgh) next Friday back in the Dome."

DEVITO'S BIG SECOND HALF
Tommy DeVito connected on 18-of-24 for 178 yards after the intermission. The Orange came out of the break trailing 13-0, but the redshirt sophomore guided Syracuse on two scoring drives in the game's last 16 minutes.

His 29 completions were a career high and the performance marked his second 300-yard passing game.

MR. JACKSON
Redshirt junior receiver Trishton Jackson had a career-high nine receptions, including a 2-yard touchdown catch with three minutes to go that made the score 16-10 in favor of NC State. Jackson, who has a touchdown reception in three straight games, ended the evening with nine catches for 106 yards.

Jackson's previous best effort was seven catches on Sept. 7 at Maryland.

GETTING IT DUNN
NC State placekicker Christopher Dunn accounted for nine of NC State's 16 points. He converted field goals of 32, 43 and 23 yards.

Dunn has made 13-of-16 field-goal tries this season.

WOLFPACK QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Three different NC State players threw passes in the first half and only two were quarterbacks. The other, wide receiver Thayer Thomas, was responsible for the game's first touchdown. He caught a lateral and threw a an option pass to Trent Pennix for a 32-yard score with 1:16 left in the second quarter. The play put the Wolfpack up at halftime, 13-0.

Redshirt sophomore Bailey Hockman made his first start quarterback for NC State. He was 16-for-27 for 205 yards and an interception. Redshirt freshman Devin Leary also saw snaps during the contest, completing one out of three passes for 23 yards. Redshirt sophomore Matt McKay, who had started NC State's first five games, did not play.

SZMYT STYMIES NC STATE SHUTOUT HOPES
Sophomore kicker Andre Szmyt put the Orange on the board with a third-quarter field goal. His 32-yard attempt, set up in part by a 36-yard completion from Tommy DeVito to Taj Harris, narrowed the NC State advantage to 16-3 with 54 seconds left in the third quarter. Szmyt's kick ended a streak of eight offensive series that did not result in points.

ARMSTRONG'S AIR DEFENSE
Senior linebacker Andrew Armstrong put a stop to NC State's first drive of the second half by intercepting quarterback Bailey Hockman. Redshirt sophomore Curtis Harper tipped the ball and Armstrong hauled it in and return the pick six yards to the Orange 29-yard line.

The interception was the second of Armstrong's career. Both have come against NC State. Armstrong also had one against the Wolfpack last season in the Dome.

In addition to the takeaway, Armstrong finished as Syracuse's top tackler. He made a career-high 14 stops, including six solo tackles, and two tackles for losses.

ELMORE IS EVERYWHERE
Junior Chris Elmore played both ways for the second game in a row. He started against NC State at tight end and served on the Orange's kickoff return and punt coverage teams. It wasn't long before Elmore joined his defensive teammates as a down lineman.

Elmore finished the contest with three tackles, the top total of his career.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

Andrew Armstrong's interception extended Syracuse's streak of consecutive games forcing a turnover to 20. It is the second-longest active streak in the FBS ranks and trails only Mississippi State (21 games).
Andre Szmyt missed his field goal of the season on the last play of the first half. His 44-yard kick had plenty of distance, but hit the upright. He rebounded to hit a 32-yarder late in the third quarter and is now 5-of-6 for the year.
Sterling Hofrichter moved into fourth on the program's career punting list, going past Jim Fox (235 punts). Hofrichter kicked seven times for 307 yards (43.9 avg.) increase his total to 238. The Orange career leader is Brendan Carney, who had 271 from 2003-06.
Hofrichter also moved into third place on the program's record list for career punting yardage. Mike Shafer (1999-2002) had owned the spot with 10,071 yards. Hofrichter now has 10,328 in 43 games.
There was a great disparity in penalties. Syracuse was flagged 12 times for 59 yards, while NC State was whistled for infractions only four times for 47 yards.
Senior safety Evan Foster had 10 total tackles, equaling his career high. It's a figure he's now reached four times during his Syracuse tenure.
Senior wideout Sean Riley had six catches for 52 yards and senior running back Moe Neal equaled his personal best with six catches for 48 yards.

UP NEXT
Syracuse returns to the Dome to host Pittsburgh on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Tickets start at $35. They are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Dome Box Office located in the Ensley Athletic Center.

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