Second Half Shutout Propels Wolfpack to 34-24 Victory Over Wake Forest

Winston-Salem, N.C. - After allowing 24 first-half points, the NC State defense flipped the script in the second half, holding Wake Forest to zero points, allowing CJ Bailey and company to score 17 unanswered points and see the Wolfpack secure a 34-24 victory Thursday night and open ACC play 1-0.

With it being the longest continuous rivalry in the ACC, the win marked the first time the Pack won back-to-back games in Winston-Salem since 1993 and 1995 and just the fourth road win against the Deacs since 2000.

Down 24-17 at the half, the Wolfpack (3-0,1-0) defense held the Demon Deacons to just 44 yards and two first downs in the second half. The win marks the fourth time in the last two seasons that NC State has trailed by 10 points or more and gone on to win. That is tied for most in the FBS with Iowa State and Missouri.

Running back Hollywood Smothers had another career night, rushing for a career-high 164 yards, marking the most by a NC State running back since Reggie Gallaspy ran for 220 yards in 2018. It is the fourth 100-yard game of Smothers' career with the Wolfpack.

It was another efficient night for Bailey, throwing for three touchdowns and 201 yards with no interceptions. Tight end Justin Joly had his first multi-touchdown game on the night, catching two, while Noah Rogers led the receiving core with 52 yards on four receptions.

The game opened with a wild 28-point first quarter, featuring a 98-yard return touchdown on the opening kickoff by the Deacons. Then the Wolfpack defense got in on the scoring after a 41-yard pick-six by NC State's 280-pound defensive tackle, Isaiah Shirley.

It was the first interception returned for a touchdown by a Wolfpack defensive lineman since Alim McNeill in 2020. Along with McNeill, Shirley joins Alan Halloway, Darian Roseboro, Pharaoh McKever, and Willie Young as the only defensive linemen in program history to return an interception for a touchdown.

In a smoke-filled end zone due to a food truck catching fire outside the stadium, and the Wolfpack down 14-0, NC State's first score of the game came courtesy of a five-yard touchdown pass to Joly on a fourth-and-one play. It was Joly's first score of the season. The touchdown capped off an eight-play 75-yard drive.

The first half came to a close with both defenses making red zone stands, and the offenses trading field goals to give the Deacons a 24-17 lead at the break. Kanoah Vinesett was perfect on the night, converting field goals from 24 and 38 yards.

After both teams traded punts to open the second half, Joly's second score of the game tied it at 24-24. The Wolfpack took their first lead of the game when Bailey found wide receiver Keenan Jackson in the end zone from 12 yards out to put the Pack ahead 31-24, a lead they would see until the final whistle.

While Wake Forest tried to regain momentum and put points on the board, the Wolfpack faithful, who had made the 103-mile trip, drowned out the home crowd with a Wolf-Pack chant, energizing the defense, leading to defensive back Ronnie Royal, III, coming away with his first career interception with five minutes left in the ball game.

The Wolfpack's win moves the all-time series to 70-43-6 and 7-6 under Dave Doeren. NC State will next face off against Duke in Durham on Saturday, September 20th, at 4:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN 2.

Second Half Shutout Propels Wolfpack to 34-24 Victory Over Wake Forest

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Team Stats

CJ Bailey

Players Mentioned

CJ Bailey

Keenan Jackson

Justin Joly

Noah Rogers

Ronnie Royal, III

Isaiah Shirley

Hollywood Smothers

Kanoah Vinesett