NC State Drops Heartbreaker at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, Ga. – Despite NC State taking a 29-23 lead with 1:30 left in the game, the Wolfpack could not hold onto the lead as Georgia Tech scored with 22 seconds remaining and went on to win 30-29, Saturday night.

The Wolfpack overcame three interceptions and was down as many as nine points as Hollywood Smothers had a 53-yard touchdown run to give NC State their first lead of the night at 29-23 late in the fourth quarter.

The Yellow Jackets drove down the field and scored a rushing touchdown of their own with an 18-yard rush from quarterback Aaron Philo for the game-winning score.

The Wolfpack looked for one more opportunity to win the game, as they got as far as Georgia Tech's 41-yard line, as Collin Smith lined up for a 58-yard field goal that narrowly missed by inches to the left as the clock expired.

Turnovers hurt NC State as Georgia Tech forced three Wolfpack Interceptions, which they converted to 14 points. The Yellow Jackets only had three interceptions coming into the game all season but matched that, which included a pick-six to open the game and one in the fourth quarter, setting them up on the three-yard line.

Quarterback CJ Bailey ran it eight times for 83 yards and three touchdowns. NC State is racked up 253 yards of rushing. Smothers finished with 79 yards, and Kendrick Raphael ran it nine times for 78 yards. Bailey is the first Wolfpack Player with three rushing TDs in a game since Reggie Gallaspy against UNC in 2018.

Bailey also becomes the first Wolfpack play-caller since Russel Wilson to rush for three touchdowns. Wilson last did it in 2010 against #16 Florida State.

Jordan Waters led NC State receivers with 45 yards, with eight different receivers recording a catch.

Georgia Tech used an interception that bounced around in the air and returned it for a pick-six to take a 7-0 lead in the middle of the first quarter.

The Pack got on the board and evened the score in the first frame as Bailey used his legs to scramble 16 yards, finding the endzone for his third rushing touchdown of the season.

The defense held the Yellow Jackets to back-to-back drives with an FG in the second quarter, giving them a 13-7 lead. A fourth-down stop in Wolfpack territory kept the game at one score going into halftime.

Field goals continued to be a theme in the second half, with Georgia Tech kicking their third to make a nine-point game late in the third quarter.

Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr was two for seven from 40 yards or more this season coming into tonight. Birr was 3-3 and hit more 40+ yard field goals tonight than he had in his first 10 games this year.

A seven-play 75-yard drive got the Wolfpack within two points after CJ Bailey once again took it upon himself with his legs for a 28-yard score to make it 14-16. Sixty-six yards of the touchdown drive came on the ground.

With the Yellow Jackets driving deep in the red zone, Bishop Fitzgerald got his second interception of the season, but the Wolfpack gave it right back with Bailey's third interception shortly after.

With the ball on the three-yard line, the home team scored its first offensive touchdown of the evening. Haynes King kept the ball, making it 23-14.

The Wolfpack battled back and scored quickly, with Bailey scoring from one yard out to start the comeback.

UP NEXT: NC State wraps up the regular season and looks to become bowl eligible with their final game coming on Saturday, Nov. 30^th, against in-state rival North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network.

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Team Stats

CJ Bailey

Players Mentioned

CJ Bailey

Bishop Fitzgerald

Kendrick Raphael

Collin Smith

Hollywood Smothers

Jordan Waters