Tag: North Carolina State

Oct 19, 2024; West Point, New York, USA; Army Black Knights safety Max DiDomenico (6) attempts a tackle on East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Anthony Smith (17) during the second half at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

In-state rivals NC State, East Carolina meet in Military Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

East Carolina turned its season around following an October coaching change. The Pirates became bowl-eligible, and their reward was a game against an in-state rival.

North Carolina State will meet East Carolina and new coach Blake Harrell in the Military Bowl on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.

Harrell, the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, became the Pirates’ interim head coach on Oct. 20 when the program fired Mike Houston following a 3-4 start to his sixth year in charge.

East Carolina (7-5) proceeded to win four straight games under Harrell, who had the proverbial interim tag removed before the regular season came to a close.

The Pirates were invited to the 2021 Military Bowl but saw the game canceled when their opponent, Boston College, had to withdraw for issues related to COVID-19.

“We have 12 players on our current roster that were up there last time,” Harrell told WNCT in Greenville, N.C. “We made all those preparations, didn’t quite get to play in a game, but we’re looking forward to playing this time.”

There’s double the reason to look forward to a bowl game against a nearby rival. NC State owns a 19-13 edge in the all-time series and has won the past three meetings, though East Carolina made it hard in the 2022 season opener before the Wolfpack prevailed 21-20.

The only previous time the programs met outside the state of North Carolina was at the Peach Bowl following the 1991 season. East Carolina won, 37-34.

The Wolfpack (6-6) became bowl-eligible when they defeated another rival, North Carolina, 35-30 on the final day of the regular season. NC State trailed by a touchdown entering the fourth quarter, but quarterback C.J. Bailey led the offense to three touchdowns and a field goal as the Wolfpack turned the tables.

Bailey passed for 2,183 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the regular season after original starting signal-caller Grayson McCall sustained a season-ending concussion and eventually announced his retirement from football.

Bailey won’t have standout receiver KC Concepcion (53 receptions, 460 yards, six TDs), who entered the transfer portal, but most of the NC State roster is primed to play.

“We look forward to playing them,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said earlier this month. “It’s a game that goes a long way back. We don’t get to play each other very often. It’s been a while.

“I don’t know how many of our players, the way rosters change anymore, are going to remember the last time we played. They’re excited to go to a bowl game.”

NC State hasn’t won a bowl game since the 2017 season, losing in four trips since then. Meanwhile, this is East Carolina’s second bowl trip in the past decade. The Pirates won in their other appearance, the 2022 Birmingham Bowl.

Katin Houser has been in charge of the ECU offense since replacing Jake Garcia under center. He’s thrown for 1,859 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine picks. He’ll be missing wide receiver and portal entrant Chase Sowell (34 receptions, 678 yards, three TDs), but still has leading receiver Anthony Smith (767 yards, six TDs on 38 catches).

Smith had a breakout season after transferring from NC State to East Carolina. He gets to wrap up the year by facing his former team.

“It’s a fresh start, and sometimes that’s all we need as individuals to kind of spark us and get us going,” Harrell said, per the Raleigh News & Observer. “Anthony has certainly done that.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Tylee Craft (13) scores a touchdown as North Carolina State Wolfpack cornerback Devon Marshall (16) and linebacker Sean Brown (0) defend in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

NC State beats North Carolina for fourth straight time

Posted on | by Field Level Media

CJ Bailey threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns as visiting North Carolina State reached bowl eligibility by beating Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina for the fourth consecutive season 35-30 on Saturday in Chapel Hill.

Bailey, a true freshman, completed 14 of 20 passes and also rushed for 54 yards on 14 carries. Hollywood Smothers paced the rushing attack with 83 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, while also picking up 34 receiving yards on three catches for the Wolfpack (6-6, 3-5 ACC).

Jacolby Criswell threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-33 passing for the Tar Heels (6-6, 3-5 ACC). Omarion Hampton totaled 253 yards of total offense and two touchdowns on 26 touches.

The Wolfpack are assured of a non-losing regular-season record for the 10th time in 12 seasons under coach Dave Doeren.

The loss marked the final regular-season game for the Tar Heels under Mack Brown, who is in his sixth season of his second stint leading the program. It remains unclear if Brown will coach North Carolina in its bowl game.

With 1:51 left to play, Hampton snagged a short shovel pass from Criswell, knifed through the teeth of the defense, outran five defenders and dragged another into the end zone, covering 47 yards. His 40th career touchdown leaves him third in program history — and the extra point gave North Carolina a one-point advantage.

But NC State quickly responded, driving 75 yards in just six plays and 86 seconds. The drive was highlighted by Bailey connecting with Noah Rogers, covered by two defenders, for 44 yards. Smothers capped the possession with a 2-yard scamper.

The Wolfpack scored on all six of their possessions in the second half. For the game, they led in time of possession by about 11 minutes.

After the game, several players from both sides were involved in a fight on the field.

The Tar Heels played the majority of the game without one of their top pass rushers, Kaimon Rucker — who has six sacks and an interception this season — after he was hit by an NC State player away from the action on a play in the first quarter.

Rucker had to be carted off the field and did not return. The team said he suffered a lower body injury.

The Wolfpack got on the board first thanks to a 2-yard touchdown run by Smothers. The score was set up by Wolfpack edge rusher Davin Vann, who took possession back for NC State with a strip sack. Vann picked up his sixth force fumble of the season after entering the weekend leading FBS.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Aaron Philo (12) runs the ball against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Georgia Tech edges NC State on Aaron Philo’s late TD run

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Aaron Philo scrambled for a go-ahead 18-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left, helping Georgia Tech beat North Carolina State 30-29 in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Thursday in Atlanta.

Trailing 29-23 with 1:30 remaining, Philo orchestrated a seven-play, 75-yard drive that included two 18-yard rushes, the latter being the game-winner. NC State’s Collin Smith lined up for a potential game-winning 58-yard field-goal attempt with six seconds left but missed wide left.

Philo’s heroics came soon after Hollywood Smothers put the Wolfpack ahead 29-23 on a 53-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left.

Philo completed 19 of 33 passes for 265 yards and an interception, adding 57 rushing yards as Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3) won its second straight. Eric Singleton Jr. caught five passes for 106 yards.

CJ Bailey completed 17 of 30 passes for 147 yards for NC State (5-6, 2-5) and was picked off three times. Bailey rushed for 83 yards and three scores, while Smothers finished with 79 yards on the ground as the Wolfpack fell for a second straight game.

Holding a 13-7 halftime lead, Philo’s 49-yard pass to Singleton set up Aidan Birr’s 45-yard field goal at the 3:55 mark of the third. NC State cut its deficit to 16-14 with Bailey’s 28-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Later in the third, Philo’s 38-yard pass to Singleton advanced the Yellow Jackets to NC State’s 12-yard line. Philo was then intercepted in the end zone by Bishop Fitzgerald, who returned it to the Wolfpack’s 18-yard line.

Trailing by two with 6:53 left, Bailey gave it right back to the Yellow Jackets, as Romello Height returned the third Georgia Tech takeaway to NC State’s 3-yard line. Haynes King extended the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 23-14 on the next play with a scoring rush at the 6:40 mark.

NC State then drove 75 yards in just over 2 1/2 minutes as Kendrick Raphael’s 25-yard run was followed by Bailey’s 1-yard rushing score — his third of the game.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Wolfpack took their first lead on Smothers’ 53-yard run. Bailey ran in the 2-point conversion to give NC State a 29-23 lead.

Georgia Tech opened the scoring as Bailey’s attempted handoff to KC Concepcion was tipped in the air and intercepted by E.J. Lightsey, who returned it for a 21-yard touchdown at the 7:18 mark of the first quarter.

NC State answered with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped with Bailey’s 16-yard rushing touchdown with 2:37 left in the first quarter. Georgia Tech ended its next two drives with Birr’s field goals of 44 and 41 yards, respectively.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) throws a pass against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Georgia Tech ready for home finale in Thursday clash with NC State

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A pair of well-rested teams will meet Thursday in Atlanta, when Georgia Tech hosts North Carolina State in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Neither team has played since Nov. 9, with each coming off bye weeks.

The last time Georgia Tech played, the Yellow Jackets (6-4, 4-3 ACC) delivered one of the biggest upsets of the college football season, knocking off then-No. 4 Miami in Atlanta, 28-23.

In the program’s first win against a top-five team since 2009, Georgia Tech became bowl-eligible for the second straight season — the first time the Yellow Jackets have done that since qualifying for 18 straight bowl games from 1997-2014.

Georgia Tech aims to build on that momentum on Thursday, when it vies for its first win against the Wolfpack since 2019.

“We’ve had a couple extra days to get our guys healthy,” Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key said. “To me, your signature win is your last win and you’re only as good as your next one. We’re focused on putting together the best plan for NC State and having that be our most electric game of the season.

Key played for Georgia Tech from 1997-2000 and said Thursday night home games were some of his fondest memories.

“To give these seniors one last, lasting memory of Bobby Dodd Stadium, it can’t be more important,” Key said.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is coming off a two-touchdown performance (one passing, one rushing) against Miami, while Jamal Haynes ran for 83 yards and a score. King has passed for 1,600 yards and nine touchdowns this year, along with 446 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. Haynes has rushed for a team-best 681 yards and nine touchdowns.

Standing in the way of a celebratory senior night is North Carolina State (5-5, 2-4), out to clinch a fifth straight bowl bid.

Last time out, the Wolfpack had their season-best two-game winning streak snapped in a 29-19 home loss to Duke. North Carolina State managed just 268 total yards as true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey was held to 184 passing yards.

At the tail end of a disappointing season, the Wolfpack still have an opportunity to finish their year on a high note.

“It’s how you finish. That’s what we’ve been talking about,” North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren said. “You’ve got two opportunities, and you need at least one to be in a bowl situation. How we finish matters, and now we’ve got to do it against a team that’s peaking.”

Bailey, who took over for injured starter Grayson McCall, leads the team with 1,794 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, while sixth-year running back Jordan Waters has rushed for 400 yards and four scores.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarter back CJ Bailey (16) drops the ball back for a pass during the second quarter against Stanford Cardinals at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

NC State racks up 527 yards, demolishes Stanford 59-28

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Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers each rushed for two touchdowns and 100 yards apiece as North Carolina State rolled to a 59-28 home victory over Stanford on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

NC State (5-4, 2-3 ACC) has won consecutive games for the first time this season, while Stanford (2-7, 1-5) lost its sixth in a row.

Smothers reached a career-high 100 yards rushing on 16 carries, while Waters totaled 115 yards on just five touches. One of Waters’ two touchdown runs came on a 94-yard breakaway in the third quarter, which followed Smothers’ 52-yard sprint to the end zone. It was a banner day for NC State’s running game, which piled up a season-high 281 yards.

Complementing the ground attack was the steady play of true freshman CJ Bailey, as he completed 18-of-20 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns. KC Concepcion caught and ran for touchdowns, totaling 46 yards on total offense on seven touches, as the Wolfpack totaled 527 offensive yards.

Stanford was paced by Ashton Daniels, who threw for 70 yards while completing 6-of-8 attempts and rushed for a game-high 129 yards and two touchdowns.

NC State scored touchdowns on four of its five first-half possessions — settling for a field goal on the other — helping it jump out to a 31-14 lead at the break. The Wolfpack kept clicking on offense in the second half, with touchdowns on each of their first four possessions after intermission.

Stanford was a combined 4-of-12 on third and fourth downs, while NC State was 7-of-11.

It was the Wolfpack’s highest scoring total of the season.

Defensively, NC State came up with three sacks, 13 tackles for losses and two turnovers.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (16) warms up during the first quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

CJ Bailey, NC State hope to pick on Stanford’s pass defense

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Stanford will aim to snap a five-game losing streak on Saturday when it travels to Raleigh, N.C., for its first-ever meeting with North Carolina State, which is coming off a bye.

The last time NC State (4-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) was in action was Oct. 19, when it went to the West Coast and beat Cal 24-23. That game was the fourth start for true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns in the first conference win for the Wolfpack this season.

Bailey entered the year backing up graduate transfer Grayson McCall, but the former three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year announced last week that his football career is over. McCall, who played parts of five seasons at Coastal Carolina before joining NC State, was carted off the field on Oct. 5 after a play in which his helmet popped off while being hit by three Wake Forest defenders. It was the second concussion McCall suffered this season.

“I have battled injuries my whole career, but this is one that I cannot come back from,” McCall wrote in a post on his Instagram, adding that “brain specialists” suggested he “hang the cleats up.”

Even though he is no longer playing, McCall aims to be a coach someday and still is spending time with NC State’s football team every day, filling a role as a valuable mentor to Bailey.

“I’ve been better because of him. I feel like I’ve grown out of my title as a freshman because of him,” Bailey said of McCall. “He’s been a great leader. I try to mimic everything. I’ve been watching him and observing. He’s been in my ear and helping me out.”

Bailey passed for at least 300 yards passing in each of his past two games, making him the first NC State freshman to do that since Philip Rivers.

It’s likely that Bailey could have another impressive day under center, as he and the Wolfpack face a Stanford team that ranks 112th out of 133 FBS teams in scoring defense — allowing 31.5 points per game. The Cardinal (2-6, 1-4) also have the 12th worst passing defense in the country, as they are allowing 270.9 yards per game through the air.

Stanford is coming off a 27-24 home loss to Wake Forest in which the Demon Deacons connected on the go-ahead field goal with less than two minutes to play. A potential game-winning drive by the Cardinal was ended by an interception with 22 seconds left.

Quarterback Ashton Daniels led Stanford in rushing and passing that game with 268 yards of total offense.

Stanford’s struggles are not for a lack of aggression and experimentation. The Cardinal has gone for it on fourth down 25 times, tied for the fifth most in the FBS.

“When you’re trying to build a program, all the losses hurt, but you have to respond and be resilient,” second-year Stanford coach Troy Taylor said.

–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 (concussions) retires from football

Posted on | by Field Level Media

North Carolina State quarterback Grayson McCall said Wednesday night that he is retiring from football after his latest head injury.

McCall sustained two concussions this season and hasn’t played since being carted off the field against Wake Forest on Oct. 5. His helmet flew off from the hit and he was briefly unconscious before taken to a hospital for evaluation. He was released later that night.

Last season, while playing for Coastal Carolina, McCall sustained a season-ending concussion in an Oct. 21 game at Arkansas State. On that occasion, he was taken off the field via ambulance and hospitalized overnight.

“Unfortunately, my dream has been cut just short,” McCall wrote on Instagram. “As you all know, I have battled injuries my whole career, but this is one that I cannot come back from.

“I have done everything I can to continue, but this is where the good Lord has called me to serve in a different space. Brain specialists, my family, and I have come to the conclusion that it is in my best interest to hang the cleats up.”

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

He passed for 518 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in four games for NC State. McCall sustained his first concussion of this season against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 14 and missed two games before returning against Wake Forest.

Overall, McCall passed for 10,523 yards and 91 touchdowns against just 16 interceptions in 46 games over parts of six college seasons. He completed 69.6 percent of his passes and is the most decorated player in Coastal Carolina history.

“Every time my feet hit the grass, I left every single ounce of myself on that field,” McCall said. “I always played my hardest and to the best of my ability because I never knew what play would be my last. I have no regrets throughout my career and that is something I can be proud of.”

McCall will remain an active player with the team for the rest of the season. The Wolfpack (4-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) are next in action against visiting Stanford on Nov. 2.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack saftey DK Kaufman (5) is brought down by Syracuse Orange defensive line during the first quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Syracuse holds off NC State, 24-17

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Kyle McCord threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns as Syracuse topped North Carolina State 24-17 on Saturday evening in Raleigh, N.C.

Jackson Meeks caught 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, while LeQuint Allen chipped in 91 rushing yards and a score for the Orange (5-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Justin Barron had eight tackles, an interception, a sack and a fumble recovery to headline the defensive effort for Syracuse.

NC State’s CJ Bailey finished 17-of-24 passing for 329 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and a fumble. Noah Rogers caught four balls for 95 yards and a TD for the Wolfpack (3-4, 0-3), who have dropped three of their past four games.

Syracuse opened the scoring on Jayden Oh’s 32-yard field goal with 8:13 left in the first quarter. NC State answered with a long drive of its own, but Kanoah Vinesett’s 41-yard field-goal attempt was no good.

Oh missed a field-goal attempt of his own just about midway through the second quarter, but the Orange got the ball back about 2 1/2 minutes later when Kendrick Raphael fumbled and Barron recovered. On the ensuing drive, McCord hooked up with Umari Hatcher for a 28-yard score down the left side.

Yet, the Wolfpack responded quickly, as Bailey found Justin Joly for a 14-yard TD with 31 seconds remaining in the first half.

On the opening possession of the second half, Devin Grant drilled Bailey, who lost a fumble on the play. The Orange then drove 73 yards to the end zone, a march punctuated by Allen’s 4-yard TD run in which he was briefly stood up at the 1 before getting pushed into the end zone.

Now trailing 17-7, NC State drove inside the Syracuse 30 before Bailey was intercepted by Barron, who returned the pick 41 yards. That set up McCord’s 2-yard TD pass to Meeks on fourth-and-goal, making it 24-7.

The Wolfpack stayed close down the stretch thanks to two big plays. First, Bailey found Rogers for a 75-yard touchdown with about 9 1/2 minutes left. Then with 3:09 to play, Bailey connected with Hollywood Smothers for 72 yards, setting up Vinesett’s field goal that made it 24-17 with 1:32 remaining.

However, the Orange recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.

–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

Oct 5, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive lineman Justin Cody (11) and players tackle North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (10) during the first half of the game against at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Demond Claiborne (3 TDs), Wake Forest rally past NC State

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Demond Claiborne’s third touchdown of the game came on a 3-yard run with 1:01 remaining and Wake Forest rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat host North Carolina State 34-30 in an Atlantic Coast Conference game Saturday afternoon at Raleigh, N.C.

Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1 ACC) converted two fourth-down plays on the 13-play, 65-yard winning drive, ending a three-game losing streak.

CJ Bailey threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns in a backup role, but NC State (3-3) remained without back-to-back victories this year.

NC State quarterback Grayson McCall left in the first quarter after a scary hit that resulted in him strapped to a board and carted off the field. He raised his hand slightly to acknowledge the crowd as he was leaving the field.

Hank Bachmeier threw for two touchdowns and 154 yards for Wake Forest. Clairborne gained 136 yards on 20 carries with two rushing touchdowns and a TD catch.

Bailey was intercepted by Branson Combs on the first play after Wake Forest went ahead in the fourth.

Wake Forst committed turnovers on its first two second-half possessions, but the Wolfpack failed to capitalize. The Demon Deacons went up 20-16 on Matthew Dennis’ 41-yard field goal in the third quarter.

NC State’s Kendrick Raphael ran 20 yards for a go-ahead touchdown later in the third. Less than two minutes into the fourth, Bailey’s 22-yard pass to Justin Joly gave the Wolfpack a two-possession lead for the first time.

McCall, in his first game after a 2 1/2-game injury absence, exited after absorbing a vicious hit as he scrambled on the Wolfpack’s first possession. Multiple Demon Deacons converged on McCall, with his helmet and the fumble popping loose. Wake Forest’s Evan Slocum made an 88-yard return on the fumble to the Wolfpack 2-yard line as NC State medical staff rushed onto the field to tend to McCall.

McCall is in his first Wolfpack season after a record-setting career with Coastal Carolina, where he experienced a history of concussions.

Wake Forest converted the game’s first turnover into Claiborne’s 3-yard touchdown catch from Bachmeier and a 10-0 lead.

NC State recovered to take the lead with two 35-yard field goals from Kanoah Vinesett and Bailey’s 9-yard pass to Keenan Jackson.

The Demon Deacons were back in front on Horatio Fields’ 23-yard touchdown grab from Bachmeier and held a 17-16 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media