Wolfpack Secures Victory Over Louisiana Tech

RALEIGH, NC – The Wolfpack got back in the win column Saturday afternoon after beating Louisiana Tech by a score of 30-20 from Carter-Finley Stadium.

With starting quarterback Grayson McCall leaving the game with an injury in the second quarter, true freshman CJ Bailey came in and led NC State to victory, finishing with 156 yards on 13-20 passing and running it for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Seven different Wolfpack receivers got their hands on the ball, with Dacari Collins leading the way with three receptions for 55 yards. Justin Joly hauled in two catches for 48 yards, and Noah Rogers had three receptions for 37 yards.

The run game found their rhythm as NC State totaled 151 yards on the ground on 36 attempts and two touchdowns. Kendrick Raphael, who had 63 yards and a score, led the way and was followed by Jordan Waters with 36 yards.

Defensively, Wolfpack linebacker Caden Fordham recorded 11 total tackles and recovered a fumble that he nearly returned for a touchdown.

The Wolfpack took advantage of a Louisiana Tech turnover as Fordham picked up and recovered a muffed snap, setting up the NC State offense in Bulldog territory. NC State capitalized on the game's first points with a 39-yard field goal from Kanoah Vinesett.

Vinesett would convert his second field goal of the game, a 35-yard field goal, to give the Wolfpack a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs responded with a touchdown drive to take a 7-6 lead.

Louisiana Tech extended its lead in one play after forcing NC State off the field with a 71-yard strike from Jack Turner to Tru Edwards, making it 14-6. An interception from Bailey gave the ball back to the Bulldogs, who capitalized with a 57-yard field goal just before halftime to make it 17-6.

The Wolfpack defense came out of the halftime break, causing havoc, as Davin Vann got to the quarterback, forcing a throw right to DK Kaufman, who returned it for a touchdown to put the Pack within four points.

It was the first time since 2011 that the Wolfpack had interceptions returned for touchdowns in back-to-back games, with Aydan White returning a pick against Tennessee last week.

With the Bulldogs on the NC State two-yard line, the Wolfpack defense stood tall in the third quarter, holding the visitors to a field goal, which tied the game at 20-20.

Vinesett gave the Wolfpack a 23-20 lead with a career-long 52-yard field goal with 12:32 left in the game, and the Wolfpack would not allow Louisiana to score the rest of the way.

Scoring his first touchdown in a Wolfpack uniform was Bailey from one yard out to put NC State up double digits and seal the victory. The Wolfpack moves to 3-0 all-time against Louisiana Tech.

From NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren
"I'm very proud of how our guys came back, and that's what I'm used to seeing. It was not a great first half, to say the least, but it was a great response in the second half. Players rallied around each other; in the locker room, the defense talked about what they needed to do and what the offense needed to do. CJ played very poised, and I am proud of him for how the guys played for him, catching the football and protecting better. We did some good things, but we still need to correct some.

"I thought we showed a lot of heart. I mean, I really do. It was with a lot of heart and just gritty win."

"The team said a lot for me, and when they were done, it was just that it was time to do what we were supposed to do. Just do your job, play together, and overcome adversity. We've been in this place before. And I said, just quit thinking about the scoreboard; think about playing physically and together, and if you do that, we'll win. And that's what the guys did. They did a great job listening, being in it, responding, cheering each other on the sideline, and demanding more. It was a really, really good response."

From Louisiana Tech Head Coach Sonny Cumbie
"Our players are very proud of their effort. I think they played with a physical style of football. I thought we competed hard. I think we spent the first quarter on offense, not executing and seeing things we needed to see to give ourselves explosive plays. We saw those in the second quarter, and we had momentum. And I think we fed off each other on all three sides of the football: offense, defense, and special teams in the second quarter. You know, I think that that was a testament to our kids and their resiliency. We knew that NC State was not going to make it easy.

"Tony Gibson does a great job and has, for a very long time on defense, a very aggressive style of defense that creates takeaways. I think, over the last three years you mentioned it, they had the most interceptions in the country, and it's back-to-back weeks that they've had a pick-six. They had one last week and had one this week. I think, from a protection standpoint, we didn't get the protection. We didn't pick it up, and then they hit Jack as he was going to throw. And you know, that was the one thing we needed to avoid happening starting in the second half. Our defense played well. I thought our defense just did a tremendous job. And I think we felt good about how the game was going from a defensive standpoint, and at times on offense as well."

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Team Stats

CJ Bailey

Grayson McCall

Players Mentioned

CJ Bailey

Dacari Collins

Caden Fordham

Justin Joly

DK Kaufman

Grayson McCall

Kendrick Raphael

Noah Rogers

Davin Vann

Kanoah Vinesett

Jordan Waters

Aydan White