Hockman’s 4 TDs help NC State beat Florida St. 38-22
RALIEGH, N.C. (AP) — Bailey Hockman threw for three touchdowns and ran for another against his former team as North Carolina State defeated Florida State 38-22 on Saturday night.
Hockman, who began his collegiate career in 2017 at Florida State, was 24-for-34 for 265 yards and an interception.
“It definitely is a little personal,” Hockman said. “But it is no type of revenge or anything like that. It’s just great to win. The guys played great.”
Thayer Thomas, a redshirt senior, made a career-high 11 catches for a career-best 135 yards and two touchdowns.
NC State (5-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a two-game skid.
Freshman Chubba Purdy got his first career start for Florida State, completing 15 of 23 passes for 181 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
The Seminoles (2-6, 1-6) have lost three straight games since upsetting then-No. 5 North Carolina.
“We’re making too many mistakes when it comes to what’s necessary to win a college football game,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said.
Emeka Emezie dodged defenders on his way to a 21-yard touchdown reception for N.C. State to conclude a game-opening 12-play, 75-yard drive. Hockman was 8-for-8 passing for 93 yards on the possession.
“He was on fire early, very accurate,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said of Hockman. “When your quarterback is playing like that and you get off to a good start, it can give people on the sideline a lot of confidence.”
Hockman threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Thomas early in the second quarter. Hockman ran 4 yards for a 21-3 lead with 1:32 to play in the first half.
Florida State’s Jashaun Corbin scored on a 28-yard fourth-down run in the third quarter. Purdy’s 69-yard connection with Ontaria Wilson and 24-yard pass play to Warren Thompson gave the Seminoles, who dropped to 0-4 in road games, two more touchdowns.
THE TAKEAWAY
Florida State: Quarterback Jordan Travis didn’t travel with the Seminoles. It was speculated that he might not be available after sitting out the second half a week earlier against Pittsburgh. Purdy became the fourth QB to start a game for Florida State this year. The Seminoles also had four freshmen start on the offensive line.
Travis had scored at least one rushing touchdown in five consecutive games – a program record for a Florida State quarterback.
NC State: The Wolfpack’s defense allowed at least 495 yards of total offense in four of its first seven games. That trend came to a halt as Florida State was limited to 347 yards -– with nearly half of those in the fourth quarter.
GO FOR IT
Both teams failed on fourth-down plays in the first quarter.
The Wolfpack was at the Florida State 10 when were stuffed. Florida State failed to convert a fourth-down run at its own 31.
NC State turned that into its second touchdown of the game for a 14-0 lead.
“That was definitely a big confidence boost for us,” Wolfpack linebacker Isaiah Moore said of the defensive stop.
On Florida State’s next possession, it converted a fourth-and-1 play on Jashaun Corbin’s 4-yard run and cashed in on Parker Grothaus’ 48-yard field goal.
The Seminoles entered the game 9 for 19 on fourth downs, the eighth-most attempts nationally. They finished 5 for 7 in that category Saturday –- with three of those conversions coming on a third-quarter touchdown march.
UP NEXT
Florida State: Home vs. No. 4 Clemson next Saturday.
NC State: Home vs. No. 22 Liberty, which is undefeated, next Saturday.
