College Sports

Finley starts at QB, NC State beats William & Mary 48-14

Posted September 01, 2016 7:00 am

By AARON BEARD

North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley (15) passe during the first half of an NCAA college football game against William & Mary, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP) The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Jaylen Samuels and Matt Dayes combined to score five touchdowns to help North Carolina State beat William & Mary 48-14 on Thursday night.

Graduate transfer Ryan Finley started at quarterback for the Wolfpack (1-0) after a preseason battle for the job. Finley directed touchdown drives on his four first-half series, helping N.C. State build a comfortable lead to start Dave Doeren's fourth season.

"At the end of the day we just went out and executed and got our athletes the ball in space," said Finley, who completed 17 of 21 passes for 174 yards and two scores.

Steve Cluley ran and threw for scores for the Tribe (0-1), who came in ranked No. 10 in the Championship Subdivision ranks. But they couldn't keep up in a 21-point second quarter by the Wolfpack that may have also solidified Finley's hold on the starting job in the new offense installed by Eli Drinkwitz.

"It was a very physical game and it took its toll on us," Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock said. "I like to think that we could have played better but don't know if we could have with as tough as they are."

While Finley made a series of easy throws and distributed the ball to playmakers Dayes and Samuels, Jalan McClendon - the guy he beat for the starting job - threw late and high on a second-quarter rollout under pressure for an interception.

McClendon didn't make it back on the field again until the fourth quarter.

THE TAKEAWAY

WILLIAM & MARY: The Tribe opened with a long touchdown drive but things soon fell apart. Then again, it's the kind of thing that can happen on the road against a Bowl Subdivision team. Move on.

N.C. STATE: Doeren cautioned this week that the Week 1 starting QB wouldn't necessarily be starter all year. That makes Finley's performance little more than a good start in a gameday audition against an overmatched opponent for now.

UP NEXT

WILLIAM & MARY: The Tribe will aim to improve to 7-0 against instate program Hampton on the road.

N.C. STATE: The Wolfpack won't have an easy trip to East Carolina, which will boast a rowdy crowd eager to see the Pirates stick it to their power-conference instate foe.

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the AP's college football site at http://collegefootball.ap.org

North Carolina State's Jaylen Samuels (1) breaks free for a gain during the first half of an NCAA college football game against William & Mary, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP) The Associated Press

William & Mary's wide receiver DeVonte Dedmon (11) makes the catch as North Carolina State cornerback Jack Tocho (29) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP) The Associated Press

North Carolina State quarterback Jalan McClendon (2) tries to evade William & Mary's defensive end Peyton Gryder (93) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP) The Associated Press

North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren walks the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against William & Mary, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.