Costly Turnovers Doom Wolfpack in Loss to Duke

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke handed the Wolfpack its first loss of the season after NC State (3-1, 1-1) fell 45-33 on Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Wide receiver Terrell Anderson led the Wolfpack offense after hauling in six catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns on the day. It was the most receiving yards by a Wolfpack receiver since 2018, when Kelvin Harmon put up 247 yards against Syracuse.

The Wolfpack totaled 535 yards of offense, including CJ Bailey's 364 passing yards, setting a career best. Running back Hollywood Smothers had his third straight 100-plus rushing game, totaling 123 yards on the ground. NC State finished the game leading in most offensive categories, but four turnovers, a missed extra point, and a blocked field goal ultimately made the deficit too difficult to overcome.

True freshman quarterback Will Wilson came into the game with four touches on the season and added to that total with two on the day, both being converted for touchdowns; his first collegiate score came in the second quarter, giving the Wolfpack a two-score lead.

Linebacker Caden Fordham had 11 total tackles, leading the defense for the third game this season—the Wolfpack defense combined for three sacks on the night and eight tackles for a loss.

The Wolfpack offense came out firing with a 75-yard touchdown reception by Anderson on the third play of the game. He only needed the first half to reach career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.

Duke matched the score on the next drive after converting on a fourth-and-four earlier in the series. They would then pick off Bailey on the next drive, ending the Wolfpack's streak of ten quarters without a turnover. Duke finished 2-2 on fourth downs while NC State was just 1-4.

The next wolfpack possession was a 16-play, 99-yard marathon capped off by Anderson's second touchdown reception of the game. It marked the first 99-yard touchdown drive by the Pack since Ryan Finley led the offense against Louisville in 2018 on their way to a 52-10 victory.

NC State would extend its lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Wilson. It was just the fifth snap of the season for the short-yardage specialist and the first touchdown of his young collegiate career. The score was set up by a fake punt run converted by tight end Cody Hardy earlier in the drive. The missed PAT kept the lead at 20-7.

Duke would then strike back, scoring a touchdown on the following possession. They would then secure their second interception of the game, setting up Anderson Castle's second touchdown run with 14 seconds left in the half to make it 21-20. Despite outgaining Duke 304 to 149 yards of total offense in the first half, NC State trailed for the third straight game heading into the locker room.

Duke continued their momentum into the second half, scoring in just 1:30 on a 4-play 75-yard touchdown drive. The Wolfpack would quickly respond with a four-play 75-yard touchdown drive of their own courtesy of a 51-yard score from Smothers. The Pack were unsuccessful on a two-point attempt that would have tied the game at 28. It was Smothers' second rush of 50 or more yards this season.

The Wolfpack defense could not continue its season trend of slowing down the opposing offense's second-half efforts, as Duke would turn a 4th & 1 into a 37-yard touchdown reception on the following possession. The special teams struggles continued for the Pack, with a 25-yard field goal attempt being blocked after a 42-yard Smothers run got the offense to the six-yard line.

Wilson got the Pack within five points on another one-yard touchdown run before the Blue Devils' Castle ripped off a 66-yard touchdown run with 2:19 left in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 12 and put the game out of reach.

The Wolfpack's desperate attempt in the final minutes was cut short by a Blue Devil interception that allowed them to kneel out the clock.

NC State's loss moves the all-time series to 37-44-5 and 1-4 under Dave Doeren. NC State will next face off against Virginia Tech at home on Saturday, September 27, at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on the CW Network.

Next Event

Team Stats

CJ Bailey

Players Mentioned

Terrell Anderson

CJ Bailey

Caden Fordham

Cody Hardy

Hollywood Smothers

Will Wilson