College Sports

NC State beats East Carolina 58-3 in regular-season finale

Posted December 01, 2018 6:00 am

By AARON BEARD

North Carolina State's Reggie Gallaspy II (25) breaks away from East Carolina's Devon Sutton (42) as he runs for a touchdown during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Reggie Gallaspy Jr. ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns to set a program single-season TD record and help North Carolina State beat East Carolina 58-3 on Saturday.

N.C. State scored on its first four possessions to lead 24-0 by early in the second quarter and never looked back.

The Wolfpack (9-3) finished with 655 yards. Gallaspy took care of the ground work and hit 19 total touchdowns this season, while Ryan Finley threw for 409 yards and three scores to lead a passing attack that included a big day for Jakobi Meyers with 13 catches for 163 yards and a TD.

The Pirates (3-9) managed 104 yards and avoided their first shutout since October 1997 by calling timeout with 3 seconds left to get Jake Verity's 46-yard field goal to end the game.

The game was scheduled to replace cancelled September dates for both teams due to Hurricane Florence.

THE TAKEAWAY

ECU: The Pirates took the field roughly 48 hours after the firing of coach Scottie Montgomery. Defensive coordinator David Blackwell was the interim coach, and his already-difficult task was made tougher by the fact starting quarterback Holton Ahlers was out due to injury for this one. The Pirates also lost No. 2 quarterback Reid Herring (Saturday's starter) when he was hurt on a third-quarter sack. All in all, it was a debacle of an afternoon to finish a rough season.

N.C. State: No drama, just an easy stat-padding (and record-setting) win against an overmatched opponent. The list included Gallapsy's TD mark, Meyers setting a new season receptions record and Christopher Dunn setting a season record for made field goals. Heck, even graduate center Garrett Bradbury got in on the fun with a 1-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. It all added up to N.C. State reaching nine wins for the second straight season.

UP NEXT

ECU: The Pirates' offseason to-do list includes finding a new coach as well as getting around to hiring a new athletic director after leaving that position vacant since the spring. And oh yes, they open next season right back here on the same field in Raleigh.

N.C. State: A bowl game awaits.

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Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

North Carolina State's Jakobi Meyers (11) gets flipped over backwards as he scores a touchdown against East Carolina's Daniel Charles (27) and Warren Saba (17) during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

North Carolina State's Jakobi Meyers (11) celebrates his touchdown with Ryan Finley (15) and head coach Dave Doeren during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

East Carolina interim head coach David Blackwell directs the team during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

East Carolina quarterback Reid Herring (9) looks to pass during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

North Carolina State's Nick McCloud (4) defends as East Carolina's Trevon Brown (88) hauls in a pass during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

North Carolina State's Reggie Gallaspy II (25) gets some help from teammate C.J. Riley (19) as he fights for yardage against East Carolina's Nate Harvey (40) and Warren Saba (17) during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

North Carolina State's Jakobi Meyers (11) gets flipped over backwards as he scores a touchdown against East Carolina's Warren Saba (17) during the first half of NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press