ACC

Where does NC State QB Devin Leary’s fourth quarter performance rank all time? You decide

Dave Doeren had one word to describe Devin Leary’s performance against Louisville on Saturday night: Gutsy.

Leary, N.C. State’s starting quarterback had three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, helping the Wolfpack pull away from the Cardinals, 28-13. Leary finished with 317 yards through the air and four total touchdowns.

“He’s gutsy,” Doeren said after the win. “He’s standing in there taking hits and throwing good passes and taking care of the football.”

Leary was especially good in the fourth quarter. N.C. State trailed Louisville 10-7 at the end of the third. That’s when Leary caught fire, completing 7-of-8 passes in the final frame for 123 yards, three of his seven completions going for touchdowns.

N.C. State quarterback Devin Leary (13) passes during the first half of N.C. Stateís game against Louisville at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, October 30, 2021.
N.C. State quarterback Devin Leary (13) passes during the first half of N.C. Stateís game against Louisville at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, October 30, 2021. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com

He completed five straight passes to start the fourth and six of his first seven. His final two completions of the game were both touchdowns, a 12-yard score to Devin Carter and a 10-yard strike to C.J. Riley.

Leary got hot when it mattered the most, bringing to question if this was one of the best late game performances from an N.C. State quarterback that we’ve seen in recent memory.

Behind both Mike Glennon and Russell Wilson, the Wolfpack came from behind to defeat Florida State at home in 2010 and 2012. The biggest comeback was led by Glennon in 2011 when N.C. State trailed Maryland 41-14. Glennon threw five touchdowns (two in the fourth quarter) to upset the Terrapins.

Leary can possibly add his recent showing to the conversation.

What do you think?

This story was originally published October 31, 2021 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Where does NC State QB Devin Leary’s fourth quarter performance rank all time? You decide."

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Jonas E. Pope IV
The News & Observer
Sports reporter Jonas Pope IV has covered college recruiting, high school sports, NC Central, NC State and the ACC for The Herald-Sun and The News & Observer.
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