RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Steve Angeli threw 11 yards to Justus Ross-Simmons with 48 seconds left as Syracuse rallied from 15 points down in the fourth quarter to beat N.C. State 34-31 on Saturday.
Angeli threw for two touchdowns and 272 yards on 27-for-42 passing, with Calvin Russell II making 17 catches for 137 yards with a touchdown. After the go-ahead touchdown, Angeli made a two-point conversion toss to Ross-Simmons
Syracuse (5-5, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored two touchdowns in the final 5 1/2 minutes, beginning with Tunmise Adeleye's 18-yard interception return.
CJ Bailey ran for a touchdown and threw for another and Duke Scott rushed for 127 yards for N.C. State (4-6, 2-5). The Wolfpack had three quick-strike drives in the third quarter in their home finale just a day after N.C. State announced that former quarterback Philip Rivers will be next season's coach. The Wolfpack fell to 1-2 under interim coach Todd Goebbel.
Scott had a touchdown run among his 14 carries.
N.C. State led 28-13 to begin the fourth quarter.
Big plays boosted N.C. State after it led 7-6 at halftime. The Wolfpack scored two touchdowns in the first four minutes of the second half, with Chance Robinson's 12-yard catch from Bailey capping a four-play 75-yard drive shortly after Scott's 62-yard run.
Davion Gause's 2-yard run on a direct snap was the third play of a 75-yard possession after a Bailey-to-Davion Dozier pass play of 69 yards marked the longest play of the season for N.C. State.
N.C. State converted on fourth-and-9 to set up Bailey's 9-yard scramble for the only touchdown of the first half.
Syracuse had field goals of 31 and 35 yards from Tripp Woody in the first half.
The takeaway
Syracuse: The Orange sputtered on offense before finding the right combinations to pull within a game of reaching bowl eligibility.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack have scored at least 31 points in each of their victories this season but that wasn't enough in this one. N.C. was held to three points in the fourth quarter.
Up Next
Syracuse: Saturday at Boston College
N.C. State: Saturday at Florida State
