NC State bookended its performance Saturday with two good quarters, and sometimes that’s enough. Pittsburgh was the better team for a lot of the game, especially those middle two quarters, but the Panthers also settled for two field goals in the red zone, which is an excellent way to squander a game in which you’re out-playing your opponent.
The Wolfpack didn’t mess around when it got into the red zone, and that made the difference. Also, the clutch execution on that last drive made a difference. That was impressive work from start to finish from the offense, and Devin Leary didn’t seem bothered at all by the circumstances.