Devin Leary keeps throwing touchdowns.
NC State is keeping pace in the Atlantic Division.
Leary’s four touchdown passes led the 19th-ranked Wolfpack to a 28-14 road win over Florida State on Saturday afternoon.
The ACC win for NC State (7-2, 4-1 ACC) sets up next week’s trip to Wake Forest (5-0 ACC) to potentially be the deciding factor in the division race.
NC State hasn’t won a division title since the league split into two sides, the Atlantic and Coastal, in 2005. The Wolfpack is trying to win its first ACC title since 1979.
Leary has been outstanding since a road loss to Mississippi State on Sept. 11. He has thrown for 22 touchdowns with only one interception in the seven games since.
That interception came on a Hail Mary attempt at the end of the first half on Saturday. Leary completed 21 of 32 passes for 314 yards. It is the third straight 300-plus passing game for Leary and fourth of the season.
His 43-yard touchdown connection with running back Ricky Person, at 7:53 in the fourth quarter, secured the win for the Wolfpack.
Florida State, coming off of a difficult loss at Clemson last week, played without quarterback Jordan Travis due to an undisclosed injury. Travis led FSU to ACC wins over Syracuse and UNC earlier in the season. McKenzie Milton threw for a touchdown and 233 yards in Travis’ stead.
Leary opened the scoring with a 62-yard touchdown to receiver C.J. Riley at 9:43 in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Tight end Chris Toudle had a pair of catches on the second touchdown drive, including the 8-yarder for the 14-0 advantage at 13:00 in the second quarter.
FSU cut the advantage to 14-7 after a surprise onsides kick to open the second half. An 8-yard touchdown catch by Keyshawn Helton, from Milton, at 12:11 in the third quarter got FSU on the board.
Leary hit tight end Trent Pennix on a 45-yard touchdown pass at 9:46 in the third quarter to push the Pack’s advantage back to 21-7.
FSU made NC State sweat with a 3-yard touchdown run by Jashaun Corbin at 6:29 in the third quarter to cut the margin to 21-14. But NC State got the answer from Leary who found Person on a screen on third and 10.
Wake Forest lost to UNC on Saturday but that was a nonconference game. The Demon Deacons are 5-0 in league play and have won eight of the past nine home games against NC State.
