The Pirates opened the season hosting number 13 North Carolina state. The Pack came in with their highest preseason rank in school history. The Pirate, had 20 more yards than the Pack, and won the time of possession battle 32:09 to 27:51 but, a few special teams mistakes and a pair of turnover cost the Pirates a win in front of the biggest crowd in program history with 51,711 in attendance.
Pirates received the opening kickoff. After picking up a first down, a Holton Ahlers pass was intercepted by Tyler Baker-Williams. After the defense forced a three and out the offense marched 70-yards in 7 plays and Ahlers found C.J. Johnson for a 39-yard touchdown to give the Pirates the first score of the game. The Teams traded punts. Then, Devin Leary lead his team on an eight play 64-yard drive which was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Thayer Thomas to tie the game with 2:40 remaining in the first. The first quarter couldn’t have ended worse for the Pirates as a Luke Larsen punt was blocked by Jasiah Provillon, and recovered in the end zone by Sean Brown for a Wolfpack touchdown. A few plays later Ahlers left the game with an injury.
Ahlers returned to the game on the opening play of the second quarter. The Pirates were driving down the field when Ahlers arm got hit a the threw. The contact caused him to throw his second pick of the day. Shyheim Battle retuned the ball to the NC State 42-yard line. A few drives later the Wolfpack offense found the end zone again on a 24-yard touchdown run by Demie Sumo-Karngbaye. The Wolfpack took the 21-7 lead into the locker room.
On their first possession of the half the Pirates cut the wolfpack deficit to 7 thanks to a one-yard touchdown pass from Ahlers to tight end Shane Calhoun to cap off a 12 play 79-yard drive. The Pack drove down the field on the ensuing possession but fumbled on the one yard line. The Pirates couldn’t move the ball and had to punt from their own end zone. Michael Edwards III returned the punt 18 yards to the Pirate 23. The Wolfpack couldn’t take advantage of the field position a their drive stalled out on the one.
With 5:17 remaining in the game and a 7-point deficit Pirate Safety Jireh Wilson picked off a Leary pass and returned it to the State 27 yard line. The Pirates took advantage and Rahjai Harris scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. Owen Daffer missed the PAT and the Pack held on to a 21-20 lead. The Pirate defense forced a punt, and the offense got into field goal range thanks to a 37-yard catch and run by Keaton Mitchell. Pirate kicker Owen Daffer missed a 34-yard field goal that would’ve given the Pirates the lead. The Pack took a knee in a silent Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Pack escaped with a win thanks in large part to their special teams and will take on Charleston Southern next week in their home opener. The Pirates will welcome Old Dominion to town who are coming off a big win over Virginia Tech.