Courtesy GoPack.com
CHAPEL HILL, NC – The 114th meeting between NC State and UNC came down to the wire, but NC State came out victorious with a 35-30 win over in-state rival UNC Saturday afternoon from Kenan Stadium.
The Wolfpack (6-6) was in a one-score game for the second straight week with under two minutes left. This time, the Pack sealed the deal in part thanks to a two-yard touchdown run by Hollywood Smothers with 25 seconds left.
UNC took a 30-29 lead with 1:51 left on the clock after scoring in 46 seconds. With the ball on their own 25-yard line, NC State drove down the field in a minute and 26 seconds to secure the win. The big play came from Noah Rogers as he hauled in a 44-yard catch, setting up NC State at the UNC 17-yard line.
Smothers would finish the drive off and send NC State bowling for the 10th time in the past 11 seasons. There were multiple times the Wolfpack found themselves trailing throughout the game, but 22 points in the fourth quarter for the second straight week propelled NC State to victory.
It was the fourth straight victory over UNC, and head coach Dave Doeren is now 8-4 during his tenure against UNC.
For the first time since 1986, the Wolfpack scored 20+ points in the fourth quarter in back-to-back ACC games.
Quarterback CJ Bailey had another efficient game, going 14-20 for 242 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. For the fourth time this season, the Wolfpack’s ground game totaled over 200 yards rushing. Smothers led the way with 83 yards and two touchdowns. Bailey finished with 54, Kendrick Raphael ran it nine times for 48 yards, and Jordan Waters finished with 35 yards.
After a slow first half, the Wolfpack receiving core came to life, finishing the game with 242 yards between six receivers. Dacari Collins had three catches for 62 yards, KC Concepcion scored a touchdown, and finished with 44 receiving yards. Justin Joly had 44 receiving yards, and Rogers had 44 yards, all came on one catch at the most significant point of the game.
Missing three starters on defense due to injury, the Wolfpack defense held UNC to 3-14 on third down, forced two fumbles, six tackles for a loss, and racked up four sacks.
It was the Wolfpack defense setting up the Wolfpack’s first offensive score. Davin Vann got to the quarterback and forced a fumble, which Sean Brown recovered at the North Carolina 11-yard-line.
It was the sixth forced fumble Vann had caused this season, which ties the program record for most in the season with Corey Smith (2001) and Jesse Campbell (1989).
After the fumble recovery, Smothers found the endzone for the game’s first touchdown. The Wolfpack took a 7-6 lead at the halftime break as the Tar Heels missed the extra point following their first score of the game.
It wasn’t offensively pretty for either team in the first half, as NC State only had eight passing yards on three completions, and UNC had 18 yards on 10 completions. The Wolfpack looked to establish the run in the first half, running it 20 times for 70 yards.
Points opened the second half as NC State took their first drive down the field, setting up Kanaoh Vinesett for a 41-yard field goal, which he converted to make it 10-6. The Wolfpack used an eight-play series without attempting a pass.
The NC State lead didn’t last long as the hosts took the lead on the ensuing drive, with Omarion Hampton going 75 yards to the end zone on the drive’s first play to put UNC up 13-10. It was Hampton’s longest rush of the season and his career.
The leg of Vinesett tied the game at 13-13 in the middle of the third quarter when he connected for a 40-yard field goal. The Pack was set up in Tar Heel territory in part to a Joly 37-yard catch and run.
After converting a third and 17, UNC connected for a 50-yard touchdown to again take a touchdown advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Just as they had all game, the Wolfpack responded with a touchdown as Dante Daniels found the end zone for the first time this season and his first career score to tie the game at 20-20 after a 14-yard reception. It was only his third reception of the year.
With the Wolfpack trailing 23-20, Concepcion scored his first touchdown in three weeks as he shook off his defender to be wide open in the end zone to give the Wolfpack a 26-23 lead. The Wolfpack would miss the extra point, their first since 2017.
Vinesett regrouped and nailed his third field goal of the game, following a defensive stand from the NC State defense, putting the Wolfpack up 29-23 with 2:37 left in the game.
Up Next: The Wolfpack now awaits their bowl game destination.
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