An ACC “After Dark” game at Stanford wasn’t kind to an injury depleted NC State football team on Friday night. The Wolfpack fell behind 14-0 and lost to the Cardinal 31-28 in a game that started at 10:30 p.m. ET and ended shortly after 2 a.m.
Will Wilson rushed for two scores for the Wolfpack. CJ Bailey threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a 58-yarder to Deandre Desinor in the first half and a 16-yarder to Keenan Jackson with 1:20 left in the fourth quarter.
But the Wolfpack failed to cover the onside kick after its final touchdown, and Stanford ran out the clock to improve to 4-4, 2-3 in ACC play. The Pack dropped to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play.
NC State played without multiple offensive linemen as well as leading rusher Jayden “Duke” Scott on Friday. The Wolfpack lost another lineman during game play, reverting to a fourth-string center by the end of the contest.
Stanford enjoyed a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in the winning effort.
Quarterback Davis Warren completed 22 of 37 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns. Micah Ford rushed for 150 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt on 22 carries. Caden High made nine catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Nico Brown hauled in two of Warren’s TD throws, while Sedrick Irvin had the other.
Stanford led 21-14 at halftime and padded their lead with a 5-yard Warren-to-Brown TD toss with 9:20 left in the third. NC State held the ball the rest of the quarter, grinding out an 18-play, 86-yard scoring drive that ended with a Will Wilson 2-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth period. That pulled NC State within 28-21.
Stanford tacked on an important field goal to make the score 31-21. NC State went on another long scoring march – 14 plays, 89 yards – and Bailey’s second TD throw pulled the Wolfpack within 31-28 with 1:20 to play.
But the Pack only had one timeout and couldn’t stop the clock enough times after Stanford covered the onsides kick.
Notable Names and Numbers
- CJ Bailey finished 17-of-30 for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Bailey also was the Pack’s leading rusher, picking up 59 yards on nine attempts.
- Deandre Desinor led NCSU receivers with three catches for 79 yards.
- Stanford outgained NC State 477-381, piling up 27 first downs.
- The Cardinal averaged 5.3 yards per rushing play, while NC State managed to gain just 3.8 yards per rush.
- Both teams were perfect in the red zone – Stanford 4-4 and NC State 3-3.
- Neither team turned the ball over.
- Ronnie Royal III led NC State in tackles with 10, including seven solo stops. Popo Aguirre added six solo tackles.
What’s Next?
NC State will face another team from the West Coast in Week 9, but this time the Wolfpack will get to play at home, welcoming the Cal Bears for a noon start on Oct. 31.
Stanford will play the first of three consecutive road games at Louisville on Oct. 31.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
STAN – Nico Brown 8-yard pass from Davis Warren (Emmet Kenney kick), 10:34
STAN – Sedrick Irvin 17-yard pass from Davis Warren (Emmet Kenney kick), 3:40
NCSU – Deandre Desinor 58-yard pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett kick), 2:12
(Stanford 14, NC State 7)
2nd Quarter
NCSU – Will Wilson 2-yard rush (Kanoah Vinesett kick), 7:26
STAN – Caden High 26-yard pass from Davis Warren (Emmet Kenney kick), 0:25
(Stanford 21, NC State 14)
Third Quarter
STAN – Nico Brown 5-yard pass from Davis Warren (Emmet Kenney kick), 9:20
(Stanford 28, NC State 14)
Fourth Quarter
NCSU – Will Wilson 2-yard run (Kanoah Vinesett kick), 14:50
STAN – Emmet Kenney 31-yard field goal, 8:27
Final – Stanford 31, NC State 28
