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Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Pittsburgh

Live updates and analysis from Saturday's ACC football game between NC State and No. 24 Pittsburgh from Heinz Field
Brett Friedlander|
Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Pittsburgh
Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Pittsburgh

So which NC State team shows up today at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh?

Is it the one that looked so promising, especially on offense, in an opening week win against Wake Forest? Or was it the Wolfpack that was manhandled at Virginia Tech last Saturday in a performance that was hauntingly familiar to those of the disappointing 2019 season?

The answer to those questions will go a long way toward determining the direction for the rest of this unusual 2020 season.

Win or lose against the 24th-ranked Panthers, State needs to give a better accounting of itself than it did in Blacksburg. Two things going in its favor are the return of key defensive players Payton Wilson and Tanner Ingle from injury. The linebacker and safety ranked 1-2 on the team in tackles last season and can't help but be an improvement to a defense that allowed 300-plus yards on the ground and 45 points last week.

Offensively, Devin Leary is expected to make his first start of the season after being set back by excessive contract tracing during the postseason. 

His 12 of 16 effort with two touchdown drives after relieving Bailey Hockman midway through the third quarter against the Hokies is an encouraging sign. But regardless of who plays quarterback, it's going to be up to State's veteran offensive line to get the job done against a formidable Pitt defensive front for the Wolfpack to have any chance at winning this game.

While you're waiting for kickoff, here is some pregame reading from our coverage this week to keep you busy:

Wolfpack Kickoff: Everything you need to know about today's game

Wilson, Ingle Will Be Available Against Pitt

Payton Wilson Ready For Some 'Meat and Potatoes Football'

Coach Dave Doeren's Pittsburgh Scouting Report

Pitt QB Pickett has Grown up Since First Start vs. Wolfpack

PREGAME

There are some important names missing from NC State's active list for today's game at Pittsburgh. Some, like injured defensive backs Chris Ingram, Khalid Martin and Rakeim Ashford, aren't surprises. Among the other prominent players that are not with the team today for undisclosed reasons are starting offensive tackle Justin Witt, starting nickel Tyler Baker-Williams, fellow nickel Jalen Frazier, and backup defensive tackle Val Martin.

Because the Wolfpack is so thin in the secondary, wide receiver Max Fisher has been moved to safety and will switch numbers from 82 to Teshaun Smith's old 22. Smith will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

State wins the toss and elects to defer, will start on defense first ...

FIRST QUARTER

Welp, that's not the way you'd draw up the start of a game. The Wolfpack's problems in the secondary come to roost right off the bat when on the second snap of the game, Pitt's top receiver Jordan Addison is left WIDE open for a 75-yard touchdown pass. And just like that ...it's Pitt 7, State 0

To no one's surprise, it's Devin Leary getting the starting assignment at quarterback ... He and his offense are going to have to put up a big number in this one from early indications ...

Bryson Speas is replacing Witt at right tackle ...

Pitt may also have some issues in the secondary today too. On State's first offensive play, its best defensive back Paris Ford limped off the field and into the injury tent after getting laid out on a block from tight end Dylan Parham. ...

So far, Tim Beck is helping Leary get his feet on the ground and a rhythm going by utilizing his back in the passing game. Person and Knight already have catches for nice gains on this opening drive. ...

Leary must be going something with his cadence, either that or Pitt's D-line is really anxious to get into the State backfield. The Panthers have already been offside twice on this drive ...

Great answer by Leary and the offense. Sixteen plays, 75 yards and a touchdown pass from Leary to Cary Angeline help take some of the sting off that miserable start by the defense ...

State 7, Pitt 7, 8:11 left in the quarter

After getting torched for a quick TD, State's offense makes a strong statement with a three-and-out. Pitt to punt after a timeout ...

Beck and Leary taking full advantage of Angeline's height advantage in the early going ...

Third offside penalty on Pitt's defense ...

Leary hasn't hit on a deep shot yet, but he's already drawn two interference calls on the Pitt secondary. That's 30 yards of gain, just as good as the completions. That's something we haven't seen in the first two games and can only help open up the run game even more ...

Bad decision by Leary on that play ... after picking the ball back up off the ground, he should have thrown it away out of bounds rather than taking the sack ... 

Rather than risk a third and long pass, State plays it safe with a Knight run to get Christopher Dunn into better field goal position ... and Dunn coverts his 14th straight field goal dating back to last season, a 40-yarder ...

State 10, Pitt 7, 1:20 left in the period

State's offensive line has done a great job so far of keeping Pitt's pass rush off Leary and 25 offensive plays in two possessions thus far, the Wolfpack has done a great job of protecting its defense with ball control. This is a good recipe if State can keep this up ...

Another 3 and out for the Wolfpack defense. That first series was a disaster, but give Tony Gibson and his crew credit. They've looked good since the 75-yard touchdown pass. ...

End of 1 quarter: Wolfpack 10, Panthers 7

SECOND QUARTER

Timothy McKay is down with what appears to be an injury to his left leg. And he's favoring it noticably as he's helped off the field. Wolfpack is already shorthanded up front with Justin Witt out. This isn't going to help the situation ...

Offside penalty No. 4 on the Panthers ...

Leary with the toss, Emeka Emezie wins the jump ball and it's a 35-yard touchdown pass that puts the Wolfpack up ... 17-7 with 12:56 left in the half.

Emezie fancies himself as being the heir apparent to his mentor Kelvin Harmon ... and he sure looked like it on that play, jumping high over the DB to win the ball and get his first TD catch of the season ...

Cecil Powell with a nice pass breakup on the slant on third-and-one, and the defense gets yet another stop ...

Offside penalty No. 5 on the Panthers results in a third down conversion for the Wolfpack ...

Keyon Lesane gets his first catch of the year ... Nine players have already caught at least one pass for State today ...

Pass interference penalty No. 3 on Pitt today ...

Freshman Anthony Smith was wide open for what looked like it would have been a sure touchdown, but he dropped the well-thrown pass ...

State going in the wrong direction now after a hold and a false start ...

Another play it safe third down call, but this one doesn't work as well as the first one. So instead of getting a field goal attempt, the Wolfpack will punt from the Pitt 40 ...

After playing so well since the opening possession, the secondary gives up another big play to Addison. This one, at least, doesn't go for a touchdown. And then there's another wide open receiver. Pitt has made some adjustments and the Wolfpack needs to counter ...

What a huge terrible break ... Jakeen Harris's spectacular pick six is nullified by a roughing the passer call on freshman Joshua Pierre-Louis. It was the right call, though ...

And to add insult to injury, Pierre-Louis is ejected for targeting ... with Baker-Williams and Jalen Frazier inactive and Rakeim Ashford and Khalid Martin out with injury, State is VERY thin in the secondary right now ...

Nice pass breakup by Malik Dunlap holds Pitt to a field goal. Could have been worse ...

State 17, Pitt 10, 4:50 left in the half

A nice 4 1/2 minute touchdown drive here would be nice ...

Instead, it's a three-and-out and then a long punt return by Pitt. The momentum has completely shifted ... 

State defense can't get off the field on fourth and two and the Panthers are threatening to tie this one up before halftime ...

Ingle is down with what is hopefully just a cramp. State can't afford to lose another safety/nickel, especially one as important as the co-captain ...

Pitt tests replacement Devan Boykin right away and the true freshman makes a big stop for a three-yard loss ...

Vi Jones with a sack ... forces another field goal attempt. It's good, but State maintains the lead ... Wolfpack 17, Panthers 13

Wolfpack dominated that first half and lead, but it feels as if it should be ahead by more than just four. But that's where we are ...

Halftime: State 17, Pitt 13

THIRD QUARTER

Not a good first possession for the Wolfpack offense, either from an exectution or a play calling standpoint. Three and out gives Pitt a chance to build on its first half momentum right out of the gate ...

Tanner Ingle is back in the game. That's good news ...

And Ingle is back down on the ground after making a tackle. Looks like a hamstring  ...

Breakdowns in the secondary on two straight plays and Pitt is knocking on the door, about to take the lead ... 

State's defense sniffed out that rollout pass well and forced Pickett to throw the ball away ... Panthers will go for it on fourth and goal from the one ...

How about that Wolfpack defense ... Co-captain Isaiah Moore with the first hit and big ole' Joshua Harris finishes the ballcarrier off and the Wolfpack gets a huge goal line stand ... Four plays from inside the 2, no points for the Panthers and it stays State 17, Pitt 14 ...

Emezie gets the Wolfpack out of the hold with a great pass, just getting his foot down in bounds. Another Kelvin Harmon-like catch. And now Devin Carter with a contested catch on a beautifully thrown downfield pass to get State near midfield ...

A promising drive stalls when Person is stopped for a loss on third down ... Gill punts into the end zone ...

Terrell Dawkins is down, but it doesn't look serious ...On the other hand, Jordan Addison, who caught the 75-yard TD pass on the second play of the game, is out of his pads and is done for the day with an injury ...

State defense responds with a three-and-out of its own to give the ball back to the offense ...

Wolfpack is having trouble running the ball now. Something you would never have expected coming into this game. Second three-and-out in three second half possessions ... 

And there's a Drake Thomas sack. First of the day for either team. But then Cecil Powell is called for a hold, giving the Panthers a first down. Very late flag. ...

Pitt complaining about the out of bounds call, but Pickett was clearly on the line ...

State uses its second time out and isn't happy. He's letting his defense have it on the sideline ...

Ingle has come off with an apparent hamstring problem a couple of times today, but he just saved a TD with that pass breakup ...

Now now Ingle is hurt again after delivering the hit on that third down catch by Pitt's Taysir Mack. ... And one play later Pickett hits D.J. Turner, who beats freshman Boykin just outside the end zone. 

No goal line stand this time. Pickett sneaks it in for the go-ahead touchdown ...

Pitt 20, State 17, 1:11 left in the period ...

State's ground game has come to a screeching halt ... Knight stuffed on third and short and the Wolfpack will give the ball up again. Only two rushing yards in the entire third quarter ...

End of 3 ... Panthers 20, Wolfpack 17

FOURTH QUARTER

State goes for it on fourth down and appears to get it on a Leary sneak, but Pitt called timeout before the play ... but after the timeout, Person bounces outside of left end to get the badly needed conversion. ...

A first down sack puts State behind the chains and sets up a punt anyway ...

Needless to say, the Wolfpack needs a stop here ...

A recurring theme, Ingle is down on the field. Looks like a cramp. The kid is a warrior. He keeps getting up and coming back in ... 

And now C.J. Clark is down ... a lot of injuries here today. It's his left leg. Again, hopefully just a cramp. There have been several of those today ...

Pitt kicks its third field goal of the day, extending its lead to six. But it could have been worse. State still within one score, but needs to get its offensive rhythm back, especially on the ground ...

Panthers 23, Wolfpack 17, 10:52 left to play

Good call on the roughing the passer penalty. But where is the targeting call? This hit one was just as high as the one that led to Pierre-Louis' ejection. Not sure what the difference was. But the Wolfpack will take the automatic first down .... 

Why is Devin Leary the starting quarterback? That bullet on third and long to Angeline is why ... poise in the pocket, zip on the pass, go-ahead touchdown. Win or lose today, this performance is promising for the big picture this season. State back on top ...

State 24, Pitt 23 ... 8:16 remaining

Pitt going for it on fourth and one from the 31 with 5:51 left ... and State burns its last timeout. Pickett sneak gets the yard ...

Wolfpack needs to limit this to a field goal at best to have any shot ...

Pitt looking at a fourth and goal from an inch away ... does the Wolfpack have another goal line stand in it?

REALLY slow whistle there ... Pickett's progress was clearly stopped, but they let the play continue and it's ruled a touchdown. ... That should not have been a TD. State got robbed on that ...

Two-point conversion is no good, leaving the door open for the Wolfpack. ...

Pitt 29, State 23 with 1:44 left

80 yards to the winning score, 1:41 left and no timeouts ... Does Devin Leary have some magic in his arm?

Leary has the ball into Pitt territory, but it's fourth and nine ... ballgame here on this play. First down catch by Thayer Thomas ... Wolfpack still breathing ...

Holding on Pitt. State has it on the 13 yard line with 29 seconds left. Four shots at the end zone and a win ... 

Great throw by Leary, amazing catch in the end zone by Emezie. State gets the go-ahead TD with 23 seconds left ... 79 yards, eight plays 1:21 ... Devin Leary becomes an instant Wolfpack legend (provided something stupid doesn't happen) ...

Cecil Powell with a breakup ... on a day in which the secondary has been shorthanded, he's come up big several times ...

Tanner Ingle with the tackle on the final play and State holds on ... huge STATE-ment win ... first win against a ranked opponent on the road since 2017 and first road win of any kind in six games ... 

Final score ... State 30, Pitt 29

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