RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State let a 15-point lead get away in the final minutes Saturday in Raleigh, falling 34-31 to Syracuse when the Orange scored twice in the last 5 1/2 minutes, the second on an 11-yard touchdown throw from Steve Angeli to Justus Ross-Simmons.
The Wolfpack looked in control after a three-touchdown third quarter. CJ Bailey hit Chance Robinson for a 12-yard score four plays into the second half, a drive set up by a 62-yard run from Duke Scott. Davion Gause later ran in a 2-yard touchdown on a direct snap, two plays after Bailey connected with Davion Dozier on a 69-yard pass, the longest play of the year for NC State. Scott capped the quarter with a 32-yard touchdown run.
Syracuse chipped away from there. Tylik Hill ran for a 13-yard score, and defensive end Tunmise Adeleye then picked off Bailey and took it back 18 yards to the end zone with 5:12 remaining, cutting the gap to 31-26 after a failed two-point try. The Orange got the ball back at the NC State 49 with a little more than three minutes left and drove for the go-ahead score.
Bailey finished with 211 passing yards, a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown, and Scott ran for 127 yards and a score. For Syracuse, Calvin Russell II hauled in 17 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, and Angeli went 27 of 42 for 272 yards.
The loss drops NC State to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It came one day after the university announced that former Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers will take over as head coach next season. Syracuse improved to 5-5.
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