Sep 14, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack running back Kendrick Raphael (0) jumps over Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defensive back Demarcus Griffin-Taylor (8) during the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Freshman CJ Bailey threw for 156 yards and ran for a score after replacing the injured Grayson McCall, propelling North Carolina State to a 30-20 comeback victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday afternoon in nonconference action in Raleigh, North Carolina.
DK Kaufman sparked a comeback from an 11-point deficit with an interception returned for a touchdown for the Wolfpack (2-1). Kendrick Raphael added a rushing score for North Carolina State.
Jack Turner completed 19 of 36 passes for 281 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Louisiana Tech (1-1). Tru Edwards caught four passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, and Donerio Davenport added a rushing score.
North Carolina State took a 23-20 lead on Kanoah Vinesett’s 52-yard field goal with 12:32 remaining. Bailey added a 1-yard run to extend the lead to 10 points with 7:21 remaining as the Wolfpack avoided an upset.
Bailey completed 13 of 20 passes and was intercepted once in his second college appearance.
McCall completed 9 of 13 passes for 54 yards and ran four times for 22 yards before leaving with just over 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury.
McCall was hit by Louisiana Tech linebacker Zach Zimos and was slow to get up. He walked off the field after the incomplete pass on third down and soon headed to the locker room with team trainers.
Louisiana Tech maintained momentum with an 11-point lead at halftime, but NC State quickly took advantage in the first minute of the third quarter.
Turner dropped back to throw and Davin Vann charged hard and hit Turner as he started to throw. The ball sailed to Kaufman, who grabbed it and ran it 33 yards for a touchdown to bring the Wolfpack within 17-13.
Later in the quarter, Raphael capped a 13-play, 76-yard drive with a 3-yard run and NC State took a 20-17 lead with 4:23 left in the quarter. Louisiana Tech tied the score on Buck Buchanan’s 20-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining.
On the play after McCall was injured, Vinesett kicked a 35-yard field goal to give NC State a 6-0 lead. Louisiana Tech scored 17 unanswered points over the final 2:41 of the quarter for a 17-6 halftime lead.
Davenport started the scoring drive on a 5-yard run. Edwards then caught a short pass from Turner and turned it into a 71-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 14-6 lead with 1:19 left.
Buchanan kicked a 57-yard field goal with 13 seconds left. The goal tied the school record held by Matt Stover (1987), who went on to play in the NFL for 19 seasons.
–Field level media
