RALEIGH – NC State's offense proved too much for No. 8 Georgia Tech on Saturday night, as the Wolfpack scored touchdowns on five of their first seven possessions to build a commanding lead before holding on for a 48-36 victory at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets fell to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play, while NC State improved to 5-4 and 2-3 in ACC action.
Jayden "Duke" Scott powered NC State's ground game with a career performance, rushing for 196 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries. His 69-yard burst in the third quarter set up a quick scoring drive that extended the Wolfpack's lead to 31-20. Scott's ability to break tackles and find running lanes kept Georgia Tech's defense on its heels for most of the night, as NC State averaged 7.1 yards per carry as a team.
Quarterback CJ Bailey completed 24 of 32 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns without an interception for the Wolfpack. Bailey also contributed 34 yards and a score on the ground. His 55-yard touchdown strike to Teddy Hoffmann in the third quarter gave NC State a 38-23 advantage and provided crucial breathing room after Georgia Tech had closed within eight points.
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King accounted for four touchdowns in the losing effort, throwing for 408 yards on 25-of-37 passing while adding 103 yards and two scores on the ground. King's dual-threat ability kept the Yellow Jackets competitive throughout, particularly during a furious fourth-quarter rally that saw them score twice in the final five minutes.
The game's turning point came late in the second quarter. After Georgia Tech had taken a 17-14 lead on a two-yard touchdown pass from King to J.T. Byrne, NC State responded with a methodical drive. Will Wilson's nine-yard run resulted in a fumble at the one-yard line that was recovered by Cody Hardy in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Wolfpack a 21-17 halftime lead they would not relinquish.
NC State's Noah Rogers led all receivers with seven catches for 72 yards, while Jordan Allen paced Georgia Tech with five receptions for 110 yards. Brett Seither added 73 yards on four catches for the Yellow Jackets, and Eric Rivers contributed 97 yards on three receptions, including a 68-yard completion in the third quarter that represented Georgia Tech's longest play from scrimmage.
Georgia Tech's defense struggled to contain NC State's running game all evening. Beyond Scott's big night, Wilson added 14 yards and a touchdown on four carries, while Bailey's rushing contributions kept drives alive on several key third downs. The Wolfpack totaled 243 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 34 attempts.
Special teams proved critical in several exchanges. Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr converted three of four field goal attempts, including kicks from 43, 23, and 29 yards, while missing a 54-yarder just before halftime that could have narrowed NC State's lead to one point. Kanoah Vinesett connected on both of his field goal tries for the Wolfpack from 34 and 37 yards.
The third quarter belonged to NC State, which outscored Georgia Tech 14-13 during the period to build a 38-30 lead entering the final quarter. After King's third rushing touchdown pulled the Yellow Jackets within eight points at 38-30 with eight seconds remaining in the third, NC State extended its lead with an 11-play, 55-yard drive that culminated in Vinesett's 37-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Scott sealed the victory with a 30-yard touchdown run with 4:07 remaining, breaking multiple tackles to reach the end zone and push the Wolfpack's advantage to 48-30. The score capped a nine-play, 76-yard drive that consumed more than four minutes and answered Georgia Tech's persistent pressure.
Georgia Tech refused to surrender, however. King orchestrated an eight-play, 76-yard drive that concluded with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Zion Taylor with 2:22 left on the clock. The Yellow Jackets attempted an onside kick that traveled only 11 yards, giving NC State possession at midfield.
After forcing a three-and-out, Georgia Tech got the ball back at its own 12-yard line with 1:09 remaining. King completed five consecutive passes to move the Yellow Jackets into NC State territory, but his final throw was intercepted by Caden Fordham in the end zone with five seconds left, ending any hope of a miraculous comeback.
Defensively, Fordham led NC State with 15 total tackles, including six solo stops, while also recording the game-sealing interception. Georgia Tech's Clayton Powell-Lee finished with 12 total tackles to pace the Yellow Jackets. Both defenses combined for just three sacks and seven tackles for loss, indicative of the offensive explosiveness on display.
Key Performers
NC State:
- Jayden "Duke" Scott: 24 rushes, 196 yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 11 yards
- CJ Bailey: 24-of-32 passing, 340 yards, 2 TDs; 5 rushes, 34 yards, 1 TD
- Noah Rogers: 7 receptions, 72 yards
- Caden Fordham: 15 tackles, 1 interception
Georgia Tech:
- Haynes King: 25-of-35 passing, 408 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 20 rushes, 103 yards, 2 TDs
- Jordan Allen: 5 receptions, 110 yards
- Brett Seither: 4 receptions, 73 yards
- Clayton Powell-Lee: 12 tackles
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