It's official: NC State falls short of ACC title game after Wake Forest rout of Boston College
N.C. State's luck finally ran out.
Despite a thrilling comeback win against UNC the night before that kept its ACC title game hopes alive, Wake Forest (10-2, 7-1) easily defeated Boston College 41-10 on the road Saturday to wrap up its first Atlantic Division title since 2006.
Wake quarterback Sam Hartman led his team with 236 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, adding a fourth with his legs.
The Demon Deacons, which will face Pitt Saturday, Dec. 4 at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium in the ACC Championship game, defeated N.C. State 45-42 on Nov. 13 and finish a game ahead of the Wolfpack (9-3, 6-2) and Clemson (8-6, 6-2) in the Atlantic Division.
It's the first time an ACC title game will feature two offenses that average 40 points or more a game.
N.C. State's win against the Tar Heels, scoring 13 points in the final 2:12 to secure a 34-30 victory, previously eliminated Clemson from contention, ending the Tigers' streak of six straight conference championships.
N.C. State can still win 10 games for only the second time in program history after finishing the regular season undefeated at home for the first time since 1986. Coach Dave Doeren became the first coach in Wolfpack history to win at least nine games in three seasons.
Bowl matchups will be revealed on Sunday, December 5, following the regular season and conference championship games.
Relive N.C. State's comeback win over UNC
With 2:12 left in the game, N.C. State appeared to be headed to the loss Clemson needed. The Tar Heels' Grayson Atkins kicked a 50-yard field goal to give UNC a 30-21 lead.
More: NC State's historic comeback over UNC adds a dramatic chapter to in-state rivalry
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But Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary threw two touchdown passes to Emeka Emezie in a 26-second span, with N.C. State recovering an onside kick in between, to stun North Carolina.
Leary passed to Emeka Emezie for a 64-yard touchdown with 1:35 left to cut the Wolfpack's deficit to 30-28, and then five pass plays after the onside kick, Leary and Emezie connected again, this time for a 24-yard touchdown and a 34-30 lead with 1:09 remaining. A two-point conversion attempt failed.
David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at dthompson1@gannett.com, at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Wake Forest defeats Boston College, knocks NC State out of ACC title game
