Tag: NC State

Sep 7, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen (1) prepares for contact by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Trenilyas Tatum (0) in the fourth quarter at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

LeQuint Allen, Syracuse look to run past NC State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Syracuse and North Carolina State are on different ends of the momentum spectrum heading into Saturday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference matchup in Raleigh, N.C.

The Orange (4-1, 1-1) are coming off a thrilling road victory over then-No. 25 UNLV last week. LeQuint Allen scored his fourth touchdown of the game in overtime to propel Syracuse to a 44-41 triumph.

“He’s the passion of our program,” Orange coach Fran Brown said of the junior tailback. “If I could just take one person and have every single other kid on our football team act just like he is, it would be LeQuint Allen.”

The visitors held the ball for nearly 40 minutes and compiled 492 yards of offense, including 355 passing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Kyle McCord.

“I trust Kyle a lot,” Brown said of the Ohio State transfer. “Everybody trusts Kyle.”

Meanwhile, North Carolina State (3-3, 0-2) is coming off a 34-30 loss to Wake Forest in a game in which the Wolfpack squandered a 10-point lead with under nine minutes remaining. North Carolina State played most of the game without starting quarterback Grayson McCall, who suffered a concussion on a vicious hit in the first quarter.

“We’ll give him time to go through the steps that he wants to go through before we talk any more about what the next steps are,” coach Dave Doeren said. “… Thankful that he is, for the most part, OK.”

If McCall is not available this weekend, then freshman CJ Bailey will get the start under center. Bailey completed 28 of 42 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against Wake Forest.

North Carolina State had won seven of the previous eight meetings before dropping a 24-9 decision at Syracuse in 2022. In a matchup where both teams were ranked in the top 20, Oronde Gadsden II caught two touchdowns to help the Orange prevail.

This season, Gadsden is one of four Syracuse players with at least 26 receptions and three touchdowns. Trebor Pena leads the way with 34 catches for 383 yards and five TDs, although Gadsden, Jackson Meeks and Allen also will challenge the Wolfpack defense through the air.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall (2) gets tackled without his helmet by Wake Forest Demon Deacons linebacker Quincy Bryant (9) and linebacker Dylan Hazen (24) during the first half of the game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

NC State QB Grayson McCall carted off after fierce hit

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North Carolina State quarterback Grayson McCall was taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to a hospital after a hard hit knocked off his helmet during the first quarter of the Wolfpack’s 34-30 loss to visiting Wake Forest on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

McCall was involved in a collision with three Wake Forest players while scrambling for yardage. He appeared to be momentarily knocked out after the initial contact and was fitted with a neck brace before being put on the stretcher and carted off.

McCall displayed movement in his arms and signaled to the crowd with his hand while being taken off the playing surface.

“Grayson, once he came to, he was talking, and said, ‘I want the boys to win the game,’” NC State coach Dave Doeren said after the game. “He was trying to get up and the (medic) wouldn’t let him. I felt for him and his parents.”

The school said Saturday night that McCall was out of the hospital.

“Some great news: quarterback Grayson McCall has been released from the hospital. He is alert and in good spirits and all scans were normal,” the school said.

McCall has a history of concussions but the school didn’t reveal if he sustained one Saturday. McCall also left a game against Louisiana on Sept. 14 after taking a hit and the school never specified what type of injury he sustained.

The contest against Wake Forest was his first appearance since the Louisiana game.

McCall suffered a season-ending concussion last year when he played for Coastal Carolina. He was taken off the field via ambulance and hospitalized after that one, sustained Oct. 21 at Arkansas State.

McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year in four seasons at Coastal Carolina before transferring to the Wolfpack after last season.

NC State offensive lineman Tim McKay said it was tough to watch the scene play out.

“It was heartbreaking to see that,” McKay told reporters. “He’s a guy who fought hard for us. He came here from Coastal, is a captain. Seeing him go down earlier in the season and go down again this week is kind of disheartening. We know how hard he works for us. It’s really sad seeing that.”

McCall completed 3 of 5 passes for 42 yards before exiting Saturday. He has completed 53 of 80 passes (66.3 percent) for 518 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in four games this season.

CJ Bailey replaced McCall and passed for 272 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for NC State.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Sam Hartman (10) looks to pass as he is pressured by North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive lineman Jykeveous Red Hibbler(47) during the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

NC State DE Red Hibbler to enter transfer portal

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North Carolina State defensive end Red Hibbler plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, his agents confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

The 6-foot-2, 264-pound senior from Louisville, Miss., is no longer listed on the Wolfpack’s roster. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

Hibbler led NC State with 6.5 sacks in his first season with the program in 2023, adding 13 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games.

Through four games this season, he had zero sacks and six tackles.

Hibbler is represented by Adie von Gontard and Noah Reisenfeld of Young Money APAA Sports.

He enrolled at NC State in January 2023 after three seasons of junior college football at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He was ranked as the No. 5 edge prospect in the 2023 transfer class by 247Sports.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (16) looks for an opening for a throw against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

NC State braces for stern test from Wake Forest

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North Carolina State will make another attempt to stack victories together when it hosts struggling Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon at Raleigh, N.C.

The Atlantic Coast Conference matchup between in-state rivals is a chance for the Wolfpack to start looking like a top-notch team.

“We’ve got seven games with two bye weeks and two months,” North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren said of the remaining slate. “It’s going to go really fast. We’ve got to stay really mission-focused on the day we’re in and have a great week of practice.”

The Wolfpack (3-2, 0-1) will aim to gain back-to-back victories for the first time this season after topping visiting Northern Illinois 24-17 last week.

Wake Forest (1-3, 0-1) has a three-game losing streak as it prepares for its first road game of the year. Last week’s 41-38 loss to Louisiana came with some offensive highlights for the Demon Deacons, but too many glitches.

“We just have to keep these guys together and make sure they keep improving and keep working, and stick together,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said.

The Demon Deacons are 1-3 for the first time in 11 seasons under Clawson.

The Wolfpack will identify areas to exploit. Doeren said it won’t be easy facing a team that has caused trouble for North Carolina State at inopportune times.

“You know who you’re getting,” Doeren said. “You’re getting a team that plays really hard, really fundamentally sound, that knows what their systems are, do a good job of punching the ball out on defense. They’re going to be in the places you think they’re going to be.”

Wake Forest has scored at least 30 points in three of its four games this season.

Meanwhile, North Carolina State’s offense has yet to fully roll. Freshman quarterback CJ Bailey will be set for his third consecutive start unless Grayson McCall is back to action following an injury three weeks ago.

Doeren said he would like to see more efficiency from other offensive players to boost Bailey.

“We’ve got to make sure that we’re not beating ourselves,” Doeren said. “There’s no doubt CJ has great energy. That kid has that every single day. I appreciate that about him.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (16) runs ball into end zone against the Northern Illinois Huskies in the first quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Turnovers help NC State past Northern Illinois 24-17

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CJ Bailey completed 13 of 20 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while adding 22 rushing yards and a score on the ground, as NC State escaped with a 24-17 win over visiting Northern Illinois on Saturday at Raleigh, N.C.

The Wolfpack offense mustered just 171 total yards, but the defense forced four Northern Illinois turnovers. Noah Rogers caught two passes for 48 yards, as NC State (3-2) wrapped up its nonconference schedule.

Ethan Hampton completed 14 of 29 passes for 159 yards one touchdown and two interceptions for Northern Illinois. Antario Brown rushed the ball 28 times for a game-high 114 yards, as the Huskies (2-2) dropped their second straight after an impressive win at Notre Dame.

Early in the second half, NC State’s Darin Vann’s sack cause Hampton’s to fumble on his own 1-yard line. Three plays later, Bailey found Kevin Concepcion for a 3-yard touchdown pass, giving the Wolfpack a 24-14 lead with 11:46 left in the third quarter.

Kanon Woodill’s 50-yard field goal cut into the Huskies’ deficit with 14:46 remaining. The Huskies’ defense forced a Wolfpack punt with 4:23 left, but Devon Marshall picked off Hampton on the following Northern Illinois play.

After a three-and-out from NC State, Hampton led the Huskies to the Wolfpack 34-yard line, but was intercepted by Tamarcus Cooley’s on the game’s final play.

After a Northern Illinois punt on the game’s first possession, Bailey’s 34-yard pass to Rogers advanced the ball to the Huskies’ 2-yard line. Two plays later, Bailey rushed in the Wolfpack’s first score, a 1-yard touchdown with 6:15 left in the first quarter.

Northern Illinois answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that was capped with a game-tying touchdown. On third and 2 from NC State’s 3-yard line, Brown fumbled into the end zone, but Northern Illinois’ Brock Lampe fell on it for the Huskies’ touchdown with 2:23 left in the first quarter.

Following a Wolfpack punt, Hampton was strip-sacked on his own 16-yard line by DK Kaufman, who scooped the ball and returned it for an NC State touchdown with 14:09 remaining in the second quarter.

After Kanoah Vinesett’s 37-yard field goal extended NC State’s lead to 17-7 with 4:55 left in the first half, Hampton connected with Andrew McElroy for 42 yards to the Wolfpack 6-yard line. Hampton then found Cam Thompson for a touchdown, cutting Northern Illinois’ halftime deficit to 17-14.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigersdefensive end T.J. Parker (3) hits North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (16) to force a fumble during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images

No. 21 Clemson scores early, often in rout of NC State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cade Klubnik threw for three touchdowns and had a long scoring run as No. 21 Clemson clobbered visiting North Carolina State 59-35 in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Clemson, S.C.

Klubnik was involved in three touchdowns in the game’s first 10 minutes, and the Tigers led 28-0 by the end of the first quarter. He finished 16-for-24 for 209 passing yards and 70 rushing yards.

Clemson (2-1), which blew out Appalachian State two weeks earlier before an off week, racked up 523 yards of offense. The Tigers held a 408-164 advantage in total yards through the first half, which ended with a 45-7 score.

By game’s end, the Tigers had 107 rushing yards and one touchdown from running back Phil Mafah. Antonio Williams caught two touchdown passes.

It wasn’t much of the first collegiate start for NC State quarterback CJ Bailey, who orchestrated a second-half comeback last Saturday against Louisiana Tech after starter Grayson McCall departed with an injury. But with the Wolfpack (2-2) in a huge early hole, Bailey was in tough spots throughout this ACC game.

Bailey finished 16-for-25 for 204 yards in the air, but the Wolfpack suffered its second lopsided loss to a ranked team in three weeks after a neutral-site setback to Tennessee.

Klubnik ran 55 yards for a touchdown on the fourth snap of the game. His first-quarter output grew with 31- and 2-yard touchdown passes to Williams.

Mafah’s 38-yard run later in the quarter pushed the Tigers to a 28-0 edge. NC State got on the board with Bailey’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Waters midway through the second quarter.

But Clemson racked up 17 points in the last six minutes of the half, with scoring runs by Cole Turner (18 yards) and Jay Haynes (19 yards) to go with Nolan Hauser’s 21-yard field goal on the final play before the break.

Kendrick Raphael, Hollywood Smothers and Demarcus Jones II all had second-half scoring runs for NC State, which hasn’t won at Clemson since 2002. Raphael rushed for 90 yards on 10 carries. Lex Thomas threw for 40 yards to Terrell Anderson for a touchdown with 5 seconds left.

–Field Level Media

Sept 7, 2024; Clemson, SC, USA; The Clemson Tigers played the Appalachian State Mountaineers in college football Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) after his touchdown play. Mandatory Credit: Alex Hicks Jr./USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images

No. 21 Clemson has goal of ACC title, but NC State stands in way

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clemson has experienced a full range of emotions across its opening two games of 2024.

Now comes the start of a major aspect to the season as the No. 21 Tigers launch into their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule by taking on North Carolina State on Saturday at Clemson, S.C.

“It all about getting to Charlotte (for the ACC championship game),” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “It’s all about winning your league. We can’t waste an opportunity.”

The game is the ACC opener for both teams, with Clemson coming off a bye.

Awareness of the conference component is probably more heightened than in recent years for the Tigers (1-1). They won six consecutive ACC title games before failing to qualify for the title game in two of the past three years.

NC State (2-1) will be in its first true road game. Two weeks ago, a neutral-site 51-10 setback to then-No. 14 Tennessee put an early blemish on the record, though the Wolfpack rallied from 11 points down to defeat Louisiana Tech last week.

Clemson stumbled through a dismal offensive performance in the opener against then-No. 1 Georgia, falling 34-3. The Tigers rebounded with an impressive offensive display in blowing out Appalachian State 66-20.

“Now that we know we can do it, let’s go do it every week,” Tigers receiver Antonio Williams said. “Keep the momentum going.”

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnick is eighth in the ACC in passing, averaging 260 yards per game.

The Wolfpack will have freshman quarterback CJ Bailey making his first collegiate start. He came in to replace Grayson McCall, who exited with a game-ending injury in the second quarter last week against Louisiana Tech.

“CJ is going to run the show until Grayson is healthy,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “I’m excited to see what CJ can do.”

There will be plenty of areas for the Wolfpack to address while using a quarterback short on experience. Practice this week has included artificial crowd noise in an attempt to simulate the expected atmosphere.

“It’s going to be a loud environment,” Doeren said. “They’re coming off a game when they looked unstoppable.”

The Wolfpack will want to make Bailey as comfortable as possible.

“Schematically, (we’ll do) the things he’s best at, and letting him play ball,” Doeren said. “He’s a football player. That kid understands the game.”

Swinney is concerned about how the Wolfpack might use receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion, particularly if NC State revamps schemes with Bailey as the starter. Concepcion has 22 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns on the young season.

“He really hurt us last year,” Swinney said of Concepcion, who had five catches for 83 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-17 Wolfpack win.

Doeren hasn’t provided any information on the nature of McCall’s injury, other than to refer to his playing status as day-to-day.

Doeren isn’t overwhelmed by taking his young quarterback into Clemson.

“We know that we can beat them,” Doeren said. “We also know they’re a really good team, and playing them at home, they’re an even better team.”

This is the fourth time in Doeren’s 12 seasons that NC State’s ACC opener comes vs. Clemson. The Wolfpack have won two of the past three meetings overall, both times at home. NC State hasn’t won at Clemson since 2002.

“We need to get the job done down there,” Doeren said. “That’s something we haven’t done. We’ve been close. Close doesn’t get it done.”

— Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall (2) runs with the football against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

With QB Grayson McCall out, NC State tabs CJ Bailey

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With NC State quarterback Grayson McCall ruled out for Saturday’s game at No. 21 Clemson, coach Dave Doeren announced Monday that true freshman CJ Bailey will make his first career start.

Doeren told reporters at his weekly news conference that McCall is “day-to-day” after suffering an undisclosed injury in the second quarter of a 30-20 weekend win against Louisiana Tech.

McCall, who has a history of concussions, was hit by Louisiana Tech’s blitzing linebacker Zach Zimos with just over 5 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter and was slow to get up. He was 9-of-13 passing for 54 yards and rushed four times for 22 yards before exiting.

“We’re going to take our time, and when he’s ready, he’ll be ready,” said Doeren, who declined to get into specifics regarding McCall’s injury but said it wasn’t season-ending. “CJ is ready to play.”

In relief of McCall, Bailey went 13-of-20 passing for 156 yards and an interception against Louisiana Tech. He also rushed for a touchdown in the comeback victory for the Wolfpack (2-1).

“I was really proud of the way that the team rallied around CJ,” Doeren said. “At halftime, when he knew it was his time to play, he was ready for the moment.”

As NC State seeks its first win at Clemson in 22 years, Doeren is eager to see what Bailey can do with his opportunity in the ACC opener for both teams.

“They’ve got a great defensive line, and they do a lot of blitzing, so we’ve got to give them all the looks — not just him, the O-line and the protections with the backs,” the Wolfpack coach said. “Obviously, crowd noise is going to be a part of what we’re doing every day, and making sure our cadence functions in the noise that we’re going to be dealing with.

“Then just schematically, doing the things that he’s best at, and then letting him play ball. That’s the one thing about him. He’s a football player. That kid understands the game. He’s a winner, and he’s excited. I’m excited for him.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall (2) is assisted during the first half against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

NC State QB Grayson McCall injured, exits game vs. Louisiana Tech

Posted on | by Field Level Media

North Carolina State quarterback Grayson McCall exited with an undisclosed injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s home game against Louisiana Tech and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

McCall was hit by Louisiana Tech’s blitzing linebacker Zach Zimos with just over 5 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter and was slow to get up. He walked off the field after the third-down incompletion and soon headed to the locker room with team trainers.

McCall has a history of concussions, including a season-ending one last season when he played for Coastal Carolina. He was taken off the field via ambulance and hospitalized after that one, sustained Oct. 21 at Arkansas State.

McCall was 9-of-13 passing for 54 yards and rushed four times for 22 yards before exiting on Saturday. Freshman C.J. Bailey replaced him at quarterback.

On the play after McCall was hurt, Kanoah Vinesett kicked a 35-yard field goal to give NC State a 6-0 lead. Louisiana Tech scored 17 unanswered points over the final 2:41 of the quarter for a 17-6 halftime lead.

NC State closed to 17-13 on DK Kaufman’s 33-yard interception return for a touchdown with 14:03 left in the third quarter.

McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year in four seasons at Coastal Carolina before transferring to the Wolfpack after last season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall (2) runs with the football as Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Tyre West (42) and defensive lineman Caleb Herring (31) defend during the second half at the Dukes Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

After drubbing, NC State regroups ahead of Louisiana Tech

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The high hopes North Carolina State had for this season officially have been tempered.

The Wolfpack will look to bounce back from a severe beating when they battle Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

North Carolina State (1-1) was steamrolled 51-10 by then-No. 14 Tennessee last weekend in a contest that exposed the Wolfpack. Tennessee outgained NC State 460-143 and the points allowed were the most by the Wolfpack since a 55-10 loss to Clemson in 2019.

NC State coach Dave Doeren knew where to place the blame for the debacle.

“It starts with me. I’m the one that sits in there and leads the staff and our game planning and all that,” Doeren said. “But this is a really good bunch of guys, and they will go back to work, I know that, and they’ll stick together. There’ll be a lot of people telling them that they’re no good, and that’s fine.”

Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns in his school debut in a 38-21 win over visiting Western Carolina on Aug. 29. It was a much different story in his second appearance.

McCall had just 104 passing yards and was intercepted once against Tennessee during a game in which the Wolfpack were 3-of-12 on third-down conversions and 0-of-2 on fourth down.

McCall, a former three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year at Coastal Carolina, was unable to pinpoint what went wrong.

“I’m not sure honestly. We got behind the sticks a lot,” McCall said. “We were hurting ourselves with penalties, dumb mistakes that we usually don’t make. We weren’t able to sustain drives. When we did and we got to the red zone, we couldn’t finish.”

Louisiana Tech (1-0) had a bye last weekend after opening the season with a 25-17 win over FCS program Nicholls on Aug. 31.

Bulldogs quarterback Jack Turner left the contest in the first half with an injured left knee. The bye week was timely in that regard and coach Sonny Cumbie is hopeful Turner will be available.

“We’ll see more (at practice) how he moves around and where he’s truly at,” Cumbie said. “That’ll determine if he can play, but I’m encouraged with where he’s at in terms of his chances to play.”

Turner completed 4 of 8 passes for 70 yards, one touchdown and one interception before exiting against Nicholls. Backup Blake Baker was 12-of-24 passing for 207 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

NC State has won both previous meetings, including a 34-27 home win in 2021.

–Field Level Media