Wolfpack Beats Football, 39-20, To Close Regular Season

Saturday, November 25

Raleigh, N.C.

8 PM

North Carolina

8-4 , 4-4

NC State

9-3 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

North Carolina

NC State

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

November 25, 2023 | Football

Box Score Final Stats (.pdf)Postgame Notes Media Central

By: Matt Bowers

RALEIGH, N.C.— NC State jumped out to a 23-0, first-half lead and dominated North Carolina, 39-20, to conclude the 2023 regular season on Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The Wolfpack offense scored the first eight times it had the ball and never let the Tar Heels into the game.

State limited Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who entered the night leading the ACC in passing, to 58 yards through the air in the first half and 254 overall. Maye completed 22 of 38 passes on the night with two interceptions, both of which came off of deflections.

The Tar Heels scored a season-low 20 points for the second consecutive week after also doing so in a loss at Clemson a week ago.

Brennan Armstrong completed 22 of 31 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns for NC State.

UNC fell to 8-4 overall and 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the defeat. The Tar Heels have lost four of six contests, including each of their last three road games, since starting the season 6-0. State improved to 9-3, 6-2 while winning its third in a row in the series.

The Wolfpack controlled the first half, scoring on all six of its possessions to lead, 26-7, at intermission. NCSU out-gained Carolina, 327-123, in the first two quarters, limiting the Tar Heels to 58 passing yards and posting 18 first downs to UNC's six.

Both teams scored touchdowns on each of their first two possessions of the second half as NCSU held Carolina at bay in the third quarter. The Wolfpack finally punted on its final two drives of the third period, but it intercepted Maye in the red zone in the first minute of the fourth quarter to maintain a three-score advantage.

UNC's Omarion Hampton entered the game ranked tied for the national lead with 1,414 rushing yards but managed a season-low 28 yards on a season-low nine attempts on Saturday. His streak of six consecutive 100-yard rushing games, the longest in program history since 1970, came to an end.

How It Happened
First Half
• NC State took a 23-0 lead to start the game and dominated the first half statistics.
• The Wolfpack converted 6 of 10 third-down attempts while holding UNC to 0 for 5 in the first half. First downs were 18-6 in NCSU's favor before halftime.
• Maye was for 4 for 10 passing for 58 yards with a fumble in the first two quarters.
• State dominated first-half time of possession, 22:06 to 7:48.
• Armstrong threw for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first half.

Second Half
• NCSU received the second half kickoff and promptly added a touchdown for a 33-7 lead.
• Both teams connected for TDs on each of their first two second-half possessions as the Pack maintained its lead in the third quarter.
• With Carolina trailing, 39-20, and driving inside the NCSU red zone with 14:01 remaining in the fourth, State intercepted Maye.
• Maye left the game due to injury after being tackled from behind with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter but later returned.

Up Next
The Tar Heels have concluded their 2023 regular season and now await word on their bowl destination.

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