NCAAF

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at NC State Wolfpack

· NCAA - Football
Final
20 - 30
2-1, 2-0 Home

Backup QB Bailey helps NC State overcome Louisiana Tech, 30-20

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. NC State Wolfpack: Full Highlights

Bailey, a true freshman summoned when starter Grayson McCall departed with an injury, ran for a 1-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Wolfpack finally gained command of the game.

“I had to step in and make plays,” Bailey said. “I had to learn.”

Bailey threw for 156 yards in two-plus quarters.

“Going into the half, everybody was having that ‘I’ve got your back’ mentality,” he said.

Kaufman sparked the comeback by going 33 yards for a touchdown on an interception in the opening minute of the second half. Kanoah Vinesett kicked field goals of 39, 35 and 52 yards for NC State (2-1), which eventually bounced back from a lopsided loss a week earlier to then-No. 14 Tennessee.

“Right place, right time,” said Kaufman, who’s in his first year with the Wolfpack after playing for Southeastern Conference teams Vanderbilt (2020) and Auburn (2021-23). “I was just doing what I had to do. … You really want to own the second half.”

The Wolfpack went ahead on Kendrick Raphael’s 3-yard run to complete an 8-minute, 11-second drive in the third quarter. The Bulldogs pulled even on Buck Buchanan’s 20-yard field goal before Vinesett’s long boot and Bailey’s TD run.

“It was a great response in the second (half),” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “The players rallied around each other.”

Louisiana Tech quarterback Jack Turner completed 19 of 36 passes for 281 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tru Edwards had 148 receiving yards on four catches.

“We did what we couldn’t do on our first drive (of the second half),” Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie said of the pick-6.

The Bulldogs (1-1) scored 17 points in the final three minutes of the first half. It began with Donerio Davenport’s 5-yard run and Edwards’ 75-yard catch-and-run from Turner.

Then Bailey was picked off by Kolbe Fields, and the Bulldogs ended up with Buchanan’s career-long 57-yard field goal for a 17-6 halftime lead.

“We felt good about how the game was going from a defensive standpoint,” Cumbie said.

NC State scored first shortly after linebacker Caden Fordham’s fumble recovery.

The Bulldogs were denied their first 2-0 start to a season since 2020. They also fell to 0-8 all-time in games in the state of North Carolina.

McCall’s injury McCall left the game in the second quarter. Doeren declined to provide information on the nature of the injury.

Louisiana Tech was leading 7-6 shortly before halftime when the announcement came about McCall’s status. He was 9-for-13 for 54 passing yards and posted a team-high 22 rushing yards at the time of his exit.

McCall was considered one of the country’s top pick-ups in the transfer portal during the last offseason after playing parts of five seasons for Coastal Carolina.

The takeaway Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs looked strong at times in seeking to defeat a power-conference opponent for the first time since toppling Miami in the 2019 Independence Bowl. The offense, with only 12 first downs, stalled too often.

NC State: The Wolfpack pulled away in both home games, but the results against Western Carolina and Louisiana Tech probably delivered as many questions as answers. With McCall’s status in question, there’s bound to be adjustments.

Poll implications NC State had been ranked since the preseason until losing to Tennessee. This result isn’t likely to catapult the Wolfpack back into the Top 25.

Up next Louisiana Tech: Home vs. Tulsa on Saturday.

N.C. State: At No. 22 Clemson on Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

How To Watch

How can I watch Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. NC State Wolfpack?
  • TV Channel: Bulldogs at Wolfpack 2021 College Football, week 3, is broadcasted on ACC Network.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Wolfpack: 80.1%
Bulldogs: 19.9%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

NCSU FG 1st Period 5:04 Kanoah Vinesett 39 Yd Field Goal
NCSU FG 2nd Period 5:29 Kanoah Vinesett 35 Yd Field Goal
LT TD 2nd Period 2:41 Donerio Davenport 5 Yd Run (Buck Buchanan Kick)
LT TD 2nd Period 1:19 Tru Edwards 71 Yd pass from Jack Turner (Buck Buchanan Kick)
LT FG 2nd Period 0:13 Buck Buchanan 57 Yd Field Goal
NCSU TD 3rd Period 14:03 DK Kaufman 33 Yd Interception Return (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
NCSU TD 3rd Period 4:23 Kendrick Raphael 3 Yd Run (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)
LT FG 3rd Period 0:36 Buck Buchanan 20 Yd Field Goal
NCSU FG 4th Period 12:32 Kanoah Vinesett 52 Yd Field Goal
NCSU TD 4th Period 7:21 CJ Bailey 1 Yd Run (Kanoah Vinesett Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2348.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLT https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/152.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originNCSU
12 1st Downs 20
7-16 3rd down efficiency 7-13
0-1 4th down efficiency 0-0
324 Total Yards 361
281 Passing 210
19/36 Comp/Att 22/33
7.8 Yards per pass 6.4
43 Rushing 151
19 Rushing Attempts 36
2.3 Yards per rush 4.2
2-20 Penalties 4-40
2 Turnovers 1
1 Fumbles lost 0
1 Interceptions thrown 1
23:24 Possession 36:36

Game Information

Carter-Finley Stadium

Location: Raleigh, NC
Attendance: 56,919 · Capacity:
Full Standings

College Football News

College football conferences with the best bowl game records

College football conferences with the best bowl game records

The SEC is a dominant college football powerhouse, especially when it comes to bowl games. See which other conferences also have bowl success.

Sources: Steve Belichick expected to join North Carolina as DC

Sources: Steve Belichick expected to join North Carolina as DC

Steve Belichick is expected to join father Bill Belichick's North Carolina staff as the Tar Heels' defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN.

Mason Rudolph evades pressure, fires TD pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Mason Rudolph evades pressure, fires TD pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Mason Rudolph avoids getting sacked and throws a short touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

Heupel speaks on Vols' first CFP appearance, where to go from here

Heupel speaks on Vols' first CFP appearance, where to go from here

Josh Heupel discusses what No. 7 Tennessee needed to improve on for a better result in the first round of the CFP and outlines his vision for the future of the program.

College football SP+ rankings after first-round CFP games

College football SP+ rankings after first-round CFP games

After the first round of the College Football Playoff, the championship odds are more bunched than ever.