Duke beatdown of NC State included a must-see missed field goal returned 109 yard for touchdown
Rivals meet in Raleigh
NC State entered Saturday’s game against Duke with a 4-4 record, following a rough stretch that included a coaching change weeks earlier. The Wolfpack hosted their in-state rival at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Duke went on to win 41-3. The most striking play came at the close of the first half, with NC State already trailing 24-3.
A field goal falls short
With two seconds remaining in the half, interim coach Todd Goebbel sent out the kicking team. NC State hoped kicker Kanoah Vinesett could make a 50-yard field goal before halftime.
Vinesett’s attempt did not travel far enough. Duke safety Andrew Pellicciotta was waiting in the end zone and took possession of the missed kick.
Pellicciotta returns it
Pellicciotta ran the kick back 109 yards for a touchdown, turning NC State’s failed attempt into another Duke score. The play came as the teams headed toward halftime.
The account describes the score as changing a 24-6 deficit into a 31-3 gap, while also stating that NC State trailed 24-3 before the kick. Those figures conflict; the final score was reported as Duke 41, NC State 3.
Key points
- Duke beat NC State 41-3 at Carter-Finley Stadium.
- Kanoah Vinesett’s 50-yard field-goal attempt fell short with two seconds left in the half.
- Andrew Pellicciotta returned the missed kick 109 yards for a touchdown.
- The account gives conflicting pre-play scores: 24-3 and 24-6.