NC State hands Georgia Tech its first loss. What we learned in the Wolfpack win

N.C. State is going to owe the ACC some money this week after its students rushed the field following the Wolfpack’s game against Georgia Tech, but the reason for the fine will likely take the sting out of the financial burden.

N.C. State had some hiccups in its homecoming outing, for sure, but it played arguably its most complete game of the season against No. 8 Georgia Tech at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, and handed the Yellow Jackets their first loss of the season, earning a 48-36 home win.

“It’s special when you have a top 10 win at home,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “Night games in the Carter are so special. Just proud of them, proud of our staff.

“Resiliency is what this place is about. It’s why I’ve always loved N.C. State. It’s definitely a part of my DNA, and the harder it gets, sometimes I think the better we are. We’re going to enjoy this one tonight.”

The offense rolled all night, the defense bent but didn’t break, and special teams did not make any major errors.

N.C. State’s win snaps its two-game losing streak and is the Pack’s first victory over a ranked team since Nov. 25, 2022, when the Wolfpack upset then-No. 18 North Carolina, 30-27, in double overtime at Kenan Stadium. It was also the first time N.C. State (5-4, 2-3 ACC) hosted a top 10 team since 2021 (a game against Clemson, which the Pack incidentally also won).

The term “complementary football” or some form of the phrase has been used by a member of the N.C. State football program roughly a dozen times in the team’s past four organized news conferences. It wasn’t something the Wolfpack has seen this season.

The biggest beneficiary of that philosophy Saturday? Running back Duke Scott. With the ACC’s leading rusher, Hollywood Smothers, out with an injury, Scott, a redshirt freshman, put on a historic performance, posting 196 yards on the ground, the 11th-most rushing yards in a game in program history.

Quarterback CJ Bailey also got out to a hot start for the Wolfpack. He went 10 for 10 passing for 104 yards and one touchdown in the first quarter and added 35 yards on the ground, including an 11-yard touchdown. The sophomore finished 24-for-32 with 340 yards and two touchdowns.

In another “next man up” situation, with starter Justin Joly sidelined, tight ends Dante Daniels and Cody Hardy both made significant plays early, with Hardy scoring his second touchdown as a Wolfpack player to put the team up 7-0.

The Pack added a second score on its second drive of the night, to maintain a one-possession lead.

N.C. State’s defense struggled at times against the high-octane Georgia Tech offense and allowed the Yellow Jackets to record five explosive plays in the first two drives. However, it held Georgia Tech to a 43-yard field goal on the second drive.

Later in the game, the Wolfpack defense looked poised to force another field goal. However, officials called true freshman safety Tristan Teasdell for pass interference in the end zone and gave the Yellow Jackets a fresh set of downs. Georgia Tech scored to take its first lead of the game.

N.C. State responded. Hardy once again made a big play late in the second quarter. Freshman quarterback Will Wilson jumped over multiple Georgia Tech defenders for what looked like a 9-yard rushing touchdown prior to losing possession. Officials ruled it a fumble, despite the ball appearing to break the plane during Wilson’s run, but Hardy recovered it and ensured the points went on the board.

On the following drive, N.C. State kicker Kanoah Vinesett made a 34-yard field goal to regain a seven-point advantage.

N.C. State’s defense ended the first half and started the second with two significant drives, holding the Yellow Jackets to a pair of field goal attempts. Georgia Tech made one of the two.

Georgia Tech added another two touchdowns. It finished with 15 explosive plays, but the Wolfpack stole the show.

Six receivers finished with at least 30 yards. Teddy Hoffmann and Noah Rogers surpassed 70 yards apiece.

The Wolfpack defense had four players with at least 10 tackles, too.

“I’ve been telling them that it’d be really fun to see how good we are if we could play four quarters of complementary football,” Doeren said. “I don’t think anyone can beat us when we play like that. Tonight, it’s nice to have an illustration of what that looks like.”

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King ended the night 25 of 39 passing for 408 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He added 103 yards on the ground and found the end zone twice.

“You’re not going to completely stop Haynes King,” Doeren said. “He’s a really good player, and my hat’s off to him. I’ve always enjoyed watching him. He’s a tough kid, but the defense did enough to give our offense possessions and field position where they could go score.”

Here’s what else we learned in the Wolfpack’s win:

Red zone remains key for offensive success

N.C. State entered the game ranked No. 3 in the ACC for red zone offense, converting on 23 of 25 (92%) of its opportunities inside the 20. Of those chances, the team scored 20 touchdowns.

The team has lost two straight games, and its inability to find the red zone was one of the common denominators. It never reached that part of the field in its 36-7 loss at Notre Dame. N.C. State went 1 for 1 in the red zone during its 53-34 loss to Pittsburgh last week.

The Wolfpack found the red zone on its first two drives against Georgia Tech, punching it in for a touchdown on both trips. It added a third touchdown and field goal in the first half, going 4 for 4.

In the second half, the Wolfpack offense was perfect in the red zone. It finished the night 6-6.

Fordham adds fire on defense

Caden Fordham missed half of last season after tearing his ACL in practice and was officially cleared for contact practice shortly before fall camp. The linebacker, however, hasn’t looked like his pre-injury self for most of the fall, despite having several strong outings. It finally felt like he was a real threat.

One of Fordham’s biggest plays came on Georgia Tech’s final drive before the half. He and defensive end Chase Bonds wrapped up King for a loss of nine yards and pushed the offense back to midfield. That play helped the defense hold the Yellow Jackets to the missed 54-yard field goal attempt.

The team captain also recorded nine tackles, three solo, and a quarterback hurry all before the break. Doeren said it was Fordham’s best game.

“I told the guys before the game, we gotta go out there. We can’t play tentative,” Fordham said. “We gotta go play fast and whatever you see, believe in it and go attack. That’s what everyone did tonight, and it worked out.”

He finished with 15 tackles, tying his season high, one tackle for loss, half a sack and the lone QB pressure. Oh, and Fordham grabbed the interception — his first career pick — to end the game.

It was good to have him back in full force.

Bailey is more decisive on his feet

Doeren said last week he wanted to see more rushing plays from Bailey.

“I told him after the game, ‘You can run, man. If things aren’t there, run the football,’” Doeren told reporters after the loss at Pitt. “Get us first downs in the legs.”

Bailey threw for more than 300 yards, but he still made a handful of plays on the ground and looked decisive when doing so — despite being clearly injured.

In the first quarter, he gained 19 yards with a rush up the middle and put his team across midfield. He added an 11-yard rushing touchdown on the second drive of the game, scampering to the end zone.

With 4:48 remaining in the game, Bailey once again found a seam and picked up a gain of six yards for a first down. He finished with 34 rushing yards.

This story was originally published November 1, 2025 at 11:25 PM.