[CraigSca]

3rd quarter

N.C. State’s Allen kicks off to the OSU 5 yard line, returned by Meadows for 20 yards to their own 25. 1st and 10. Holmes carries the ball on first down and gains 3 yards after being dropped by Sanderson and Westbrook. 2nd and 7. Mercury Schneider runs forward and is stopped for no gain by Flynn and Sanderson. CJ Schmaltz drove through his block to dissolve the play. 3rd and 7. The Wolfpack crowd begins to awaken….surprisingly, Schneider runs the ball on 3rd down and is stopped cold after a single yard by NT David Finley. 4th and 6! 37 yard punt, 7 yard return, ball on the NC State 41 yard line. 12:33 left in the 3rd quarter.

Spragan throws a screen to Orlando Macri but he’s taken down behind the line for a 2 yard loss. 2nd and 12 at the 39. Illegal motion on NC State, still no penalties against OSU (favoritism, favoritism! ). 2nd and 17. Gino Linquist runs the ball but is stopped for 0 yards. 3rd and 17. Spragan’s pass to Hickman is incomplete – Ohio State’s Crawford defends the pass. Time for us to punt…23 yard punt (ugh), no return. Ohio State will start on their 43, 11:08 left in the 3rd.

Schneider runs the ball and moves the pack forward for a 5 yard run. 2nd and 5. Horton runs a counterplay and finds a big hole – 15 yard gain. 1st and 10 at our 37. Holmes carries off left guard and gains 5 – stopped by Sanderson and Schmaltz. 2nd and 5. Hardy carries the ball up the middle, finds a seam and is finally dropped after an 8 yard gain. Uh oh…our defense is looking tired. 1st and 10 at the NCSU 24. Horton takes it, but is dropped for a 1 yard loss by Ethan Alexander and Sherman Sanderson. Holmes gets the call and gains 3 – Sanderson gets yet another tackle. 3rd and 8 at our 22. Horton throws a screen and finds Floyd open…he moves through the crowd and is stopped after a 9 yard gain. First down at the 13 – ugh. A run around left end by Horton gains 5. 2nd and 5 at the 8. False start by OSU – hallelujah! 2nd and 10. Because of the penalty, Horton attempts a pass and is nailed by Finley and Schmaltz for a sack and a loss of 7 yards. 3rd and 17 at the 20. Horton fades back but can’t find anyone so he zigs and zags for a 6 yard gain on the scramble. 4th and 11 at our 14 – field goal time. Watson attempts the 31 yard field goal, but OJ Brooks breaks through the line and blocks it! Mercury Schneider collects the ball at his own 17 but is stopped there! Turn over on downs! BIG PLAY! 5:11 left in the 3rd.