NC State didn’t exactly cruise past App State on Saturday night. The Wolfpack built a 21-0 cushion, then watched it nearly disappear when the Mountaineers ripped off 14 points in less than two minutes to tie things at 31 with 9:41 left. But when the game got tight, NC State answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive and held on for a 41-31 win in Raleigh.
That kind of finish usually comes down to a few key players, and NC State had plenty of them. Duke Scott powered the offense, CJ Bailey kept the passing game moving, and the defense got enough stops at the right moments to get the Pack back to .500.
Duke Scott was the biggest difference-maker of the night. He handled 25 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per rush, and his best work came when the pressure was highest.
With the game tied, he helped drive the go-ahead march by gaining 44 yards on that possession alone. That series included a 14-yard run to start it, a 6-yard run on 3rd-and-2, and the 16-yard touchdown that pushed NC State back in front 5:08 remaining.
Scott also sparked the opening scoring chance with a 24-yard run to the App State 5, then finished off a 9-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.
Bailey had a much steadier night after last week’s ending at Vanderbilt. He accounted for three touchdowns, going 24-of-33 for 253 yards and two passing scores while also scoring on a 5-yard run on the opening drive.
He completed 72.7 percent of his throws and connected with 10 different receivers. Ashton Locklear and Keenan Jackson were his touchdown targets, and the offense kept the chains moving by converting 11 of 17 third downs and going a perfect 7-for-7 in the red zone.
The one blemish was a fourth-quarter interception with NC State ahead 31-17, and that turnover handed App State the ball at the Wolfpack 42. That mistake helped fuel the comeback, but Bailey didn’t let it unravel the night for good.
Keenan Jackson continued to look like Bailey’s top target. Fresh off ACC Wide Receiver of the Week honors after a nine-catch, 102-yard, three-touchdown day at Vanderbilt, Jackson led NC State again with four catches for 64 yards and a score.
His 17-yard touchdown with 39 seconds left in the first half made it 28-7, just two plays after he converted a 3rd-and-1. Later, when NC State needed a response after App State tied it, Jackson came through with a 19-yard catch on the first play of the decisive drive.
Through four games, he now has 19 receptions for 295 yards and four touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, Popo Aguirre was the steady hand in a game where App State threw for 317 yards. The Mountaineers managed only 62 rushing yards on 2.8 yards per carry, and Aguirre was central to that effort. He finished with a team-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops, and added a tackle for loss on a Malachi Singleton run in the second quarter on a drive that ended in a turnover on downs.
Jackson Vick also delivered two timely pass breakups that mattered far more than any flashy stat line. On App State’s first possession after Duke Scott’s go-ahead touchdown, Vick knocked away Singleton’s pass to Nate Branch on 4th-and-2 from the Mountaineers’ 33, helping NC State take over on downs and turn that stop into a two-score lead.
He later broke up another first-down throw to Branch on App State’s final drive. After his first career interception against Richmond, Vick keeps making plays when the ball comes his way.
In Other News...
NC State Gets A Wake Forest Setup Fans Are Tired Of Seeing
NC States Week 6 trip to Wake Forest now has a familiar early start, with the ACC setting the game for noon on The CW. Its the kind of kickoff Wolfpack fans have seen far too often in conference play, the sort that turns a league matchup into a morning routine and leaves little room for any buildup once Saturday arrives.
The timing adds another layer to a game that already carries some recent history. NC State has won four of the last six meetings with Wake Forest, but the most recent home game in the series went the other way, and the Demon Deacons come in 3-1 under new coach Jake Dickert. For the Wolfpack, it is another chance to handle a rival that has given them problems in this spot before, even if the television slot is one they would probably rather avoid. [Read more 🡒]
NC States Louisville Game Plan Just Got Much More Complicated
Louisvilles preparation for NC State has taken an immediate turn, with head coach Jeff Brohm saying quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is a game-time decision after suffering an injury in the Cardinals recent loss. Kienholz has been an important part of Louisvilles offense, so his status adds a layer of uncertainty to a matchup the Wolfpack already had reason to study closely.
For NC State, the challenge now is less about one opponent and more about two possible versions of the same offense. If Kienholz cannot go, Louisville could turn to backup Davin Wydner or Briggs Cherry, forcing the Wolfpack to account for a different rhythm, different tendencies and a different kind of preparation right up until kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
NC State May Have Found A Crucial Answer Up Front
Teague Andersens move inside gave NC State exactly the kind of stability it needed in the middle of the line during the Wolfpacks 41-31 win over Appalachian State. After shifting from right tackle to center because of an injury, Andersen earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors, grading out at 92.77 percent while logging five pancake blocks over 82 snaps. He also helped anchor an offensive front that opened the way for 459 total yards, including 206 on the ground.
For a team trying to settle its protection and run game early, Andersens performance offered a promising glimpse of what the Wolfpack might have found up front. The bigger question now is whether that same kind of line play can hold when NC State faces more pressure and has to keep adjusting around personnel changes. [Read more 🡒]