Football Jeff Gravley
NC State will be the one to enjoy that feeling this year, as the Wolfpack defeated 17th-ranked North Carolina 30-27 in double overtime, marking the fourth time in the last five trips to Chapel Hill that the Wolfpack took home bragging rights. The win was the eighth of the year for Dave Doeren's squad, with four different quarterbacks playing a part in each of those wins.
FOUR different quarterbacks. Let that sink in. Devin Leary, Jack Chambers, MJ Morris, and Ben Finley were on the celebratory side of Wolfpack wins.
Finley returned to the place where he threw his first career touchdown back in 2020. But Friday marked his first career start and he made the most of it, completing 27 of 40 passes for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns.
In a matter of weeks, Finley went from scout team to first team. "Five weeks ago I was the fourth-string quarterback messing around on the scout team," Finley said. "But just having my first start and being able to go out there with the guys and get the W ... this is the greatest feeling ever. It just means the world to have the support from the entire team."
"It was amazing to go out there and see that," receiver Devin Carter added. "We all had faith in him. We knew he could go out there and get the job done."
Finley laughed that he hadn't thrown a pass to Carter "in probably over a year and a half." But it didn't seem that way, as the duo connected six times for 130 yards and a touchdown. Finley's other touchdown toss was delivered over a trio of Tar Heel defenders into the hands of true freshman Terrell Timmons, Jr.
"I think it's a great lesson for people out there that you don't give up," Dave Doeren said of Finley's performance. "You keep working."
"You can never doubt yourself," Finley said. "To be able to persevere, that's the biggest thing in life. Things are going to happen to you. Just keep fighting and climbing up the hill."
It's one of the core values of the Wolfpack football program that they leaned on during a difficult month and helped them earn an unforgettable win over rival North Carolina.
The defense kept the highest scoring offense in the ACC in check, allowing just 27 points. No team has scored more than 30 points on the Pack this year. A prime example of team defense came in the final quarter when Drake Thomas came off the edge to pressure quarterback Drake Maye. His pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Davin Vann and Tanner Ingle made an acrobatic, one-handed interception. Three plays later, Finley found Devin Carter for the go-ahead touchdown.
"I think it's just a testament to our team culture," Ingle said. "We made an emphasis on 'whatever happens, just make sure we finish the season.' We went out and played hard and did what we were supposed to do. We didn't hang our heads. We didn't go out there and play soft. We played like we wanted to win, and that's what we did."
During his postgame interview on the field, Doeren's voice cracked as he tried to sum up the meaning of the win and the journey to get there. "These guys have so much heart," he said. "I'm so proud of them. We bring in a fourth-string quarterback. We're down so many players. The heart of these guys ... the staff ... it's a beautiful group of guys man. I'm blessed to be their coach and thankful to have this 'W' with them."
By Jeff Gravley
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November 27, 2022 at 01:32AM
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Finley and the Pack Find a Way in Rivalry Win - NC State University Athletics - NC State Athletics
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