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CMU falls to NC State 38-24

RALEIGH, N.C. - Mike Glennon threw four touchdown passes to lead North Carolina State to a 38-24 win over Central Michigan on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Wolfpack took advantage of five CMU turnovers, including four in the second half.
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"You can't beat a good team, an ACC team, on the road when you turn the ball over five times," said CMU head coach Dan Enos. "In the second half their defense showed tighter coverage and put more pressure on the quarterback. Their defense played very well, and we have to give them credit.
"You have to give our defense credit as well," Enos said. "They played a great second half, and our offense played a great first half. They just both didn't play great in the same half."
The Wolfpack (3-3) opened the scoring on their first possession, an eight-play drive sparked by a 42-yard return on the opening kickoff and kept alive with a 17-yard pass on third-and-12. The drive was capped with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end George Bryan.
The Chippewas (2-4) responded with a touchdown on their first drive after Titus Davis returned the kickoff a career-long 33 yards. Eight plays later, Ryan Radcliff, who completed all five pass attempts for 61 yards on the drive, found a wide open Cody Wilson for a 17-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven.
After N.C. State took a 14-7 lead on its next drive, Courtney Williams put the Chippewas in good position with a 37-yard kick return. Radcliff's pass on third-and-one was batted down at the line of scrimmage, but John Carr recovered a fumbled punt at the Wolfpack 25-yard line to regain possession and Williams capitalized on the turnover with a 23-yard touchdown catch two plays later to tie the game once again.
Williams' catch was his second career touchdown in as many receptions.
David Harman gave the Chippewas a 17-14 lead five minutes into the second quarter, capping an 11-play, 82-yard drive. The field goal was set up when Radcliff threaded two defenders and found Jerry Harris who broke a tackle and ran up the right sideline for a 32-yard gain to the N.C. State 23. Ben Brown was stopped for a loss on third-and-two at the 4-yard line to force the 22-yard field goal attempt.
The Wolfpack took a 21-17 lead late in the second quarter on their longest drive of the game - a 13-play, 80-yard possession that was capped with a two-yard touchdown pass at the 3:30 mark.
Near the end of a very even first half, the Chippewas threatened to regain their lead when Ryan Radcliff hooked up with Titus Davis on a 50-yard catch, but the ball was fumbled as Davis was being tackled and N.C. State recovered at its own 12-yard line with 1:38 to play. The Chippewa defense, however, held the Wolfpack to their second three-and-out of the half and CMU took over with 1:10 remaining. They ran out the clock with three consecutive rushes to go into the locker room down four, 21-17.
Radcliff had completed 15 of his 17 pass attempts in the first half, finding eight different receivers for 196 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times on 1-of-10 passing in the third quarter. The first resulted in a Wolfpack touchdown and a 28-17 lead.
The Wolfpack later stretched the lead to 38-17 on a short touchdown run and a 45-yard field goal.
On the first offensive snap following the field goal, Paris Cotton burst off the right side and scampered up the sideline for a career-long 77-yard touchdown run. CMU then recovered an onside-kick to regain possession with just more than eight minutes remaining, but Radcliff was intercepted in the end zone and N.C. State erased the final 5:38 off the clock.
Racliff finished 19-of-32 for 245 yards and two scores, but was intercepted four times. Cotton ran for 158 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes. Justin Cherocci led the Chippewas' defense with 11 total tackles.
Glennon completed 20-of-36 throws for 244 yards and four touchdowns for the Wolfpack. James Washington added 109 yards on the ground.
CMU out-gained the hosts 427-406, but committed five turnovers to N.C. State's one, and the Wolfpack held an advantage of 7:30 in time of possession.
The Chippewas return home next Saturday, hosting Eastern Michigan on Homecoming at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
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