RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Dennis Kennedy's third 1-yard touchdown run -- on the last play of the game -- capped a frantic fourth quarter and lifted Akron to a 20-17 victory over North Carolina State on Saturday.
The Zips (1-1) took advantage of an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the Wolfpack after Marcus Stone's 11-yard scoring pass to Jamelle Eugene with 1:07 remaining. The 15-yard penalty moved the kickoff back and allowed Akron to return the ball to its own 33.
Luke Getsy completed two passes totaling 42 yards to Jabari Arthur, down to the Wolfpack 25. Following an incompletion, Getsy scrambled 14 yards to the N.C. State 11, then added a 10-yard dash to the 1 with 3.5 seconds remaining.
On the next play, Kennedy nudged the ball across the goal line just before his knee hit the ground. The Wolfpack (1-1) were out of time outs and unable to challenge the call.
Stone's 20-yard scoring pass to Darrell Blackman with 10:46 left gave the Wolfpack their first lead at 10-7 with 10:46 left.
Kennedy scored on a 1-yard run with 5:18 left to play to cap a 96-yard drive that came after the Akron defense stopped Stone on a fourth-and-1 at the Zips 4. That gave Akron a 14-10 lead, but the Wolfpack had one more rally left, scoring on Stone's pass to Eugene.
Akron took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter following an N.C. State fumble. Kennedy threw a 24-yard option pass to Getsy, then ran it in for the score with 10:33 left before the half.
N.C. State's John Deraney kicked a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter for its first score.
Courtesy: NC State
