“Wolfpack Roars Back: 3 Key Takeaways from NC State’s Thrilling Victory Over Louisiana Tech!”

As fans began to exit Carter-Finley Stadium late in the fourth quarter, those cheering for N.C. State wore smiles—a sharp contrast to the tension felt early in Saturday’s game. Despite ongoing struggles in Week 3, the Wolfpack pushed through adversity to secure a 30-20 victory over Louisiana Tech in a tough and gritty matchup.

“I’m proud of how our guys bounced back; it’s what I expect from them,” said Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. “The first half wasn’t pretty, but we saw a strong response in the second half, with players supporting one another.” Many challenges arose from a continuing lack of team chemistry, making this game essential for building cohesion.

With 42 new players on the Wolfpack (2-1) roster, the team is still figuring out how to work together effectively. “It’s not something that can be fixed overnight,” Doeren noted earlier in the week. “You need practice and in-game repetitions to really understand how to perform under pressure. Improvement is vital for this team as we move forward.” Despite a third consecutive slow start that tested their confidence, N.C. State finally showed signs of putting the pieces together.

The Wolfpack jumped to an early 6-0 lead thanks to two field goals by place kicker Kanoah Vinesett. However, Louisiana Tech (1-1) quickly came back, scoring two touchdowns in the first half to pull ahead 14-6. They added a 57-yard field goal just before halftime, taking a 17-6 lead into the break. N.C. State managed only 117 yards in the first half. The team’s fortunes changed in the second half when true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey stepped in for the injured starter, Grayson McCall, leading the Wolfpack to victory over Louisiana Tech.

Doeren mentioned that most of the halftime conversation was led by players, but he reminded them that Bailey would give his all and encouraged them to focus on their performance rather than the score. “Defense will make a stop first, and then offense, you’ll score, making it a one-possession game before you know it,” Doeren said. He added, “Just stop worrying about the scoreboard. Play tough and as a team, and we’ll win.” The players embraced this message, displaying great teamwork and support for one another on the sideline.

The Pack ended the game with 361 total yards—210 through the air—and secured 20 first downs. After beginning the game 2 for 7 on third down (29%), they finished with seven conversions out of 13 attempts (53%). Defensively, they tightened up, allowing 202 yards to the Bulldogs in the first half but just 122 in the second. While it wasn’t a flawless performance, the team began to resemble a cohesive unit. “Everyone had that mindset of, ‘I’ve got your back; we’re all in this together,’” Bailey said. “In the second half, we just focused on playing for each other and correcting our first-half mistakes. The key was our brotherhood.”

INJURIES AFFECT PERFORMANCE
N.C. State departed Charlotte after a 51-10 loss to Tennessee feeling relatively healthy, but that changed on Saturday. Just before kickoff, the program announced that starting cornerback Aydan White wouldn’t play due to injury. Corey Coley Jr. stepped in to fill his position alongside Brandon Cisse, who left the game early in the first defensive series and returned to the sideline without his pads.

Doeren mentioned that White’s status is day-to-day but didn’t provide any updates on Cisse. Quarterback Grayson McCall exited the game with 2:41 left in the first half and did not return, completing 9 of 13 passes for 54 yards and rushing for 22 yards, including a 12-yard run. “I won’t comment on his injury until I have more details,” Doeren stated. “You saw him on the sideline after the game congratulating CJ. I’ll update you on his status after my conference on Monday, but I won’t speculate.” Additionally, running back Demarcus Jones left the game early in the first quarter due to an injury on special teams but later returned to the sidelines fully dressed.

DEFENSE SHOWS IMPROVEMENT
During fall camp, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson emphasized the expectations for his players. The Wolfpack committed to maintaining their intensity despite Payton Wilson’s departure. While there’s still progress to be made, they took positive strides against the Bulldogs. DK Kaufman spearheaded the momentum shift early in the second half, intercepting Louisiana Tech quarterback Jack Turner and returning it 33 yards for a touchdown, following a tackle by defensive end Davin Vann. This marked the second consecutive game in which the defense scored off an interception.

With 4:10 remaining, Kaufman almost recovered a fumble for another touchdown, but it was negated when officials deemed Turner’s pass incomplete. Nevertheless, Kaufman’s efforts were a boost for the team. He took responsibility for the touchdowns scored by Louisiana Tech, admitting he missed an assignment, but he redeemed himself. “I just told them, ‘That’s on me,’ and you have to keep fighting,” Kaufman said. “You need a short memory, especially as a DB. You’ve got to let things go quickly.”

Additionally, the Wolfpack defense achieved two three-and-outs, the highest total of the season. A crucial goal-line stand in the third quarter prevented the Bulldogs from regaining the lead, and Sean Brown’s pressure with 3:19 remaining in the fourth quarter led to a turnover on downs. Louisiana Tech managed only three points in the second half, a significant drop from their first half performance. “We always emphasize being a second-half and fourth-quarter team,” Kaufman noted. “While you want to start strong, it’s essential to dominate the second half, especially the fourth quarter. It was great to come out and do that.”

WOLFPACK CONTROLS TIME OF POSSESSION
During N.C. State’s first drive against Tennessee, time of possession was one of the few positive aspects, as they gained 29 yards while controlling the ball for 6:49. “The game plan was to maintain possession, keep their offense off the field, and have long, clock-consuming drives, ideally ending with points,” Doeren explained Monday, referencing Tennessee’s fast-paced offense. Facing a similar challenge with Louisiana Tech—who had 11 drives of under two minutes in their opening game—the Wolfpack managed to possess the ball for four times longer than the Bulldogs over three drives, using 8:07 to Louisiana Tech’s 1:49. Although N.C. State trailed on the scoreboard, they dominated time of possession, leading 17:50 to 12:10 at halftime. They ultimately controlled the ball for 36:36 compared to 23:24. Five scoring drives took over three minutes, with one consuming 8:11. While time of possession doesn’t capture the entire narrative—given that the Bulldogs scored a touchdown in just 13 seconds—having that advantage is certainly beneficial.