South Raleigh News

In a thrilling conclusion to their 114th meeting, NC State triumphed over in-state rival UNC with a narrow 35-30 victory at Kenan Stadium. This win secured the Wolfpack's eligibility for a bowl game, marking the tenth time in eleven seasons they have achieved this feat.

The match was tightly contested, with NC State trailing multiple times throughout. However, they managed to score 22 points in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive week, ultimately securing the win. The decisive moment came when Hollywood Smothers executed a two-yard touchdown run with just 25 seconds remaining on the clock.

UNC briefly held a lead at 30-29 after scoring swiftly with under two minutes left. Yet, NC State responded effectively from their own 25-yard line. A crucial play by Noah Rogers, who caught a 44-yard pass, set up Smothers' winning touchdown.

Head coach Dave Doeren now boasts an 8-4 record against UNC during his tenure and celebrated the team's fourth consecutive victory over their rivals. "It was the fourth straight victory over UNC," he noted.

Quarterback CJ Bailey contributed significantly to the win by completing 14 of his 20 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns despite throwing one interception. The Wolfpack's running game also proved formidable, surpassing 200 rushing yards for the fourth time this season. Smothers led with 83 yards and two touchdowns.

NC State's defense played a pivotal role by holding UNC to just three successful third-down conversions out of fourteen attempts and forcing two fumbles. They also recorded six tackles for loss and four sacks despite missing three starters due to injury.

Davin Vann's forced fumble early in the game allowed Sean Brown to recover it at North Carolina's 11-yard line, setting up Smothers' first touchdown of the day. This marked Vann's sixth forced fumble of the season, tying him with Corey Smith (2001) and Jesse Campbell (1989) for most in program history.

The first half saw limited offensive success from both teams; however, NC State established their ground game early on with 70 rushing yards from twenty attempts before halftime.

As they await their bowl game destination following this significant victory over UNC, NC State reflects on another successful season under Coach Doeren’s leadership.