An abysmal start led quickly to a feeling of dread that all too often has come with trips to Winston-Salem, as NC State wasted absolutely no time getting itself into a hole. No time as in giving-up-a-touchdown-on-the-opening-kickoff, just really getting right to it.
Wake Forest was ahead 14-0 barely halfway through the first quarter, but just as it did when faced with a two-score deficit against Virginia the week prior, NC State kept after it and turned its fortunes around with a 4th down touchdown
pass to Justin Joly followed almost immediately by Isaiah Shirley’s pick-six to knot the score.
There was a second quarter letdown to follow, which isn’t terribly surprising anymore—but State hit the locker room, ate their Wheaties, and came out in the second half ready to dominate. The Pack thoroughly shut down the Wake offense and kept the Deacs off the scoreboard in the second half, leaving more than enough room for State’s offense to seize control. This one didn’t even have to come down to the final possession! (Appreciate that, team.)
CJ Bailey found Justin Joly for a game-tying score as Wake sent the house on a third-and-goal and paid the price. Actually all three of Bailey’s touchdown passes were remarkably easy. The last of them, a 12-yarder to Kenan Jackson, put NC State ahead for good early in the fourth quarter. By that point, Wake had gone three-and-out on four consecutive possessions going back to the second quarter.
The Deacs would make it five in a row, and State subsequently added breathing room with a short field goal. Ronnie Royal’s interception on the next Wake possession left the Deacs thoroughly cooked. NC State’s defense stopped surrendering big plays in the second half, and Wake couldn’t find any rhythm.
All due credit to the guys not just for hanging in and making some clutch plays to do it, but for completely turning around their performance and owning the last 30 minutes. That was satisfying to watch. They haven’t let two-score deficits put them on tilt these last two weeks, and with CJ Bailey playing the way he is, you can see why the belief is still there even through difficult circumstances.
Always nice to beat the Deacs. And to be 3-0.
