The first full Saturday of the college football season nearly started with a massive upset.
East Carolina came within a made field goal of stunning No. 13 ranked N.C. State in a gut wrenching 21-20 loss.
East Carolina’s Luke Larsen (12) consoles kicker Owen Daffer (41) following a missed field goal attempt against North Carolina State. APOwen Daffer, who earlier missed an extra point that would’ve tied the score, missed a 42-yard attempt wide right with four seconds left as the Wolfpack survived. Daffer was reliable last year as a freshman, making 19-of-23 field goal attempts and 39-of-41 extra points. He chose a poor day to be off his game.
N.C. State entered as a 12.5-point favorite with considerable hype and the ACC Preseason Player of the Year in quarterback Devin Leary, and they were fortunate to survive.
Leary wasn’t at his best, completing 17-of-33 passes for 211 yards, a touchdown and an interception. East Carolina actually outgained N.C. State, 383-344, and won the battle of time of possessions.
It, however, couldn’t finish off the upset.
