RALEIGH – Quarterback CJ Bailey rushed and threw for a touchdown in the first half as NC State took a 24-14 lead over East Carolina in the fourth quarter of the season opener for both teams.
NC State and East Carolina are in a one-score game in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s season opener at Carter-Finley Stadium.
NC State led 17-0 in the first half, but the Pirates trimmed their deficit to 24-17 in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback CJ Bailey rushed for a score and threw for another one in the first half to give the Wolfpack a 17-0 lead. But ECU cut the deficit to 17-7 at halftime.
Bailey had an 11-yard rushing touchdown early in the second quarter and, on NC State’s next drive, he connected with receiver Wesley Grimes for a 48-yard score. Bailey completed 14 of his first 16 passes in the game for 155 yards. He finished the first half 17-of-23 for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception
NC State dominated the first quarter with 144 total yards to just eight for ECU.
East Carolina finally got on the scoreboard on a 79-yard touchdown pass from Katin Houser to Jayvontay Conner late in the second quarter. Bailey threw an interception late in the first half, but East Carolina couldn’t capitalize on the mistake. Kicker Nick Mazzie came up short on a 53-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half.
NC State extended its lead to 24-7 on a two-yard scoring run by Hollywood Smothers in the third quarter. East Carolina cut the deficit to 24-14 on a four-yard touchdown run by Marlon Gunn, Jr. on the first play of the fourth quarter. Mazzie added a field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 24-17.
It was the first game for the Wolfpack’s new coordinators Kurt Roper (offense) and DJ Eliot (defense).
ECU defeated NC State 26-21 in the 2024 Military Bowl, which was marred by an embarrassing late-game brawl that left an official bloodied and multiple players ejected.
Scoring summary
First quarter
NCSU — Nick Konieczynski 29 field goal, 8:34. Drive: 15 plays, 64 yards, 6:26. Key plays: Two penalties cost the Wolfpack 25 yards and stalled the team’s promising first drive. NC State 3, ECU 0.
Second quarter
NCSU — CJ Bailey 11 run (Konieczynski kick), 13:33. Drive: 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:31. Key plays: Teddy Hoffmann caught four consecutive passes to start the drive, including a 27-yarder from a scrambling Bailey. NC State 10, ECU 0.
NCSU — Wesley Grimes 48 pass from Bailey (Konieczynski kick), 11:03. Drive: 2 plays, 48 yards, :42. Key play: Bailey connected with Grimes deep down the middle of the field. NC State 17, ECU 0.
ECU — Jayvontay Conner 79 pass from Katin Houser (Nick Mazzie kick), 2:21. Drive: 6 plays, 86 yards, 1:43. Key play: ECU caught NC State scrambling to get set on defense, and Conner bounced off a would-be tackler on his way to the end zone. NC State 17, ECU 7.
Third quarter
NCSU — Hollywood Smothers 2 run (Konieczynski kick), 3:43. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:53. Key plays: ECU committed a roughing the passer penalty on third-and-1; ECU committed a pass interference penalty in the end zone on third-and-8, setting up NC State at the 2-yardline. NC State 24, ECU 7.
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