RALEIGH – NC State left no doubt in its regular-season finale, overpowering North Carolina 42-19 at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack scored touchdowns on their first four possessions, built a 28-10 halftime lead, and never looked back, finishing 7-5 overall and 4-4 in ACC play. The Tar Heels closed their season at 4-8 (2-6).

Running back Will Wilson was the difference-maker, scoring four rushing touchdowns on just 12 carries. Quarterback CJ Bailey added balance with 201 passing yards and two scores, plus 65 rushing yards. Together, they gave NC State the kind of offensive rhythm that UNC never matched.

First-Half Control

NC State’s opening drives set the tone. Bailey capped the first with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Wesley Grimes, then Wilson finished the next with a 7-yard run. UNC answered briefly with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Gio Lopez to Jordan Shipp, but the Wolfpack responded with two more scores before halftime, including Bailey’s quick-strike drive to Justin Joly in the final minute. 

By intermission, NC State led 28-10, having scored on every possession.

Second-Half Push

UNC managed two field goals from Rece Verhoff, from 49 and 29 yards, but Lopez exited in the third quarter with an injury. Backups Max Johnson and Au’Tori Newkirk split time, with Newkirk adding a late touchdown pass to Jordan Owens. 

Wilson’s fourth-quarter touchdowns sealed the outcome, one on a 15-yard run and another after a fumble recovery set up a short field.

Defensive Edge

NC State’s defense registered four sacks and held UNC to 265 total yards. Caden Fordham led with 12 tackles and a sack. The Wolfpack also converted all four of their fourth-down attempts, underscoring their aggressive approach. 

UNC’s offense was hampered by penalties (11 flags for 129 yards) and a ground game limited to 70 yards on 24 carries.

Rivalry and Records

The win marked NC State’s fifth straight victory in the rivalry, reinforcing its recent dominance over the Tar Heels. It also secured a winning season and bowl eligibility, giving the Wolfpack momentum heading into December. 

For UNC, the loss capped a frustrating campaign defined by inconsistency. Shipp’s 90 receiving yards stood out, but the team managed just two offensive touchdowns and struggled to sustain drives.

Top Performers

NC State 

• Will Wilson: 12 carries, 54 yards, 4 TD 
• CJ Bailey: 21/30, 201 yards, 2 TD; 65 rush yards 
• Wesley Grimes: 5 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD 
• Caden Fordham: 12 tackles, 1 sack 

North Carolina 

• Jordan Shipp: 8 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD 
• Rece Verhoff: 2 FGs (49, 29 yards) 

The Takeaway

NC State didn’t just win – It controlled every phase of the game. Behind Wilson’s scoring, Bailey’s efficiency, and a defense that kept UNC off balance, the Wolfpack turned a rivalry clash into a statement. For the Tar Heels, the season ended with disappointment, while NC State heads into bowl season with confidence and momentum.

RALEIGH – NC State put together a comprehensive performance Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium, defeating in-state FCS foe Campbell 56-10. The Wolfpack improved to 4-2 overall while the Fighting Camels fell to 1-5.

Quarterback CJ Bailey orchestrated the offensive showcase, completing 20 of 23 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns. His efficient afternoon included scoring strikes to four different receivers and helped NC State pile up 607 total yards of offense.

The game began competitively enough. After NC State's opening touchdown drive, Campbell responded immediately when Kamden Sixkiller found Mike Chandler II for a 13-yard touchdown pass at the 8:54 mark of the first quarter, knotting the score at 7-7. The two-play, 14-yard drive took just 46 seconds after Campbell recovered a muffed punt at the NC State 14-yard line.

That would be Campbell's final trip to the end zone. NC State answered on the very next play from scrimmage when Hollywood Smothers broke through the middle and raced 59 yards for a touchdown just 41 seconds later, putting the Wolfpack ahead for good at 14-7.

The Wolfpack scored on seven consecutive possessions spanning from late in the first quarter through the middle of the third. Bailey connected with Cody Hardy from 37 yards out to close the first quarter scoring at 21-7. The second quarter turned into a sustained offensive clinic, with NC State adding four more touchdowns.

Smothers caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Bailey at 13:45 of the second quarter. Terrell Anderson hauled in a 34-yard scoring strike at 8:33. Running back Jayden "Duke" Scott punched in a 14-yard touchdown run at 2:28, and Justin Joly capped the first-half barrage with a 10-yard reception in the final minute before halftime. The Wolfpack took a 49-7 lead into the break.

The ground game complemented the passing attack effectively. Smothers finished with 123 yards on just four carries, averaging 30.8 yards per attempt. Scott added 89 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts. As a team, NC State rushed for 236 yards on 26 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt.

Campbell's offense struggled to generate sustained momentum after the opening quarter. The Fighting Camels managed just 188 total yards, 67 rushing and 121 passing. They converted only four of 16 third-down attempts and failed on both fourth-down tries. Campbell's time of possession advantage (33:00 to 27:00) reflected the Wolfpack's efficiency rather than any sustained offensive success from the visitors.

JJ Cowan led Campbell's rushing attack with 48 yards on 12 carries. Sixkiller completed 12 of 22 passes for 87 yards and the lone touchdown before giving way to backup quarterbacks Jalen Ferguson and Mike Chandler II. Trevor Wilson caught four passes for 18 yards to lead the receiving corps.

Scott added his second and third touchdowns in the third quarter, the latter a two-yard run at 6:06 that extended the lead to 56-7. With the outcome decided, both teams emptied their benches. NC State quarterbacks Lex Thomas and Will Wilson saw action in relief of Bailey, combining to complete five of 11 passes for 34 yards.

Campbell's only points of the second half came on a 46-yard field goal by Alex Crabb with 4:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, capping a four-play, 12-yard drive that began after Ravel Cato's interception gave the Fighting Camels possession at the NC State 41.

Defensively, NC State recorded two sacks for 18 yards and seven tackles for loss totaling 28 yards. Sabastian Harsh led the pass rush with 1.5 sacks for 12 yards. Kenny Soares Jr. paced the defense with nine total tackles (two solo, seven assists). The Wolfpack held Campbell to an average of 2.9 yards per play.

Campbell's defense forced two fumbles but recovered only one. The Fighting Camels recorded two tackles for loss and intercepted one pass, Cato's fourth-quarter pick that he returned 33 yards to set up the field goal. Tyrek Brown and Jojo Pace each finished with six tackles to lead the unit.

NC State's offensive balance proved overwhelming. The Wolfpack averaged 10.9 yards per pass attempt and 14.8 yards per completion. Bailey's touchdown passes covered 37, 16, 34, and 10 yards, spreading the scoring opportunities across the receiving corps. Anderson (50 yards), Noah Rogers (62 yards), and Keenan Jackson (43 yards) provided downfield threats that kept Campbell's defense stretched thin.

Campbell showed some resilience with a 10-play drive to open the second half, reaching the NC State 43, but turned the ball over on downs. Another eight-play, 34-yard possession in the third quarter also ended with a punt. But the Fighting Camels never seriously threatened after falling behind 14-7 early in the first quarter.

The victory gave NC State its fourth win of the season and snapped a two-game conference losing streak. For Campbell, the loss continued a difficult stretch that has seen the Fighting Camels drop four of their last five games since opening the season with a conference win.

Key Performers

NC State:

• CJ Bailey: 20-of-23 passing, 337 yards, 4 TDs
• Hollywood Smothers: 4 rushes, 123 yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 30 yards, 1 TD
• Jayden "Duke" Scott: 10 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TDs
• Noah Rogers: 3 receptions, 62 yards
• Terrell Anderson: 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

Campbell:

• JJ Cowan: 12 rushes, 48 yards
• Mike Chandler II: 2 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TD
• Kamden Sixkiller: 12-of-22 passing, 87 yards, 1 TD
• Kenny Soares Jr. (NC State): 9 tackles

RALEIGH – Hollywood Smothers rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, and Cian Slone's late interception sealed NC State's 35-31 victory over Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The game featured 457 rushing yards between the two teams and seven rushing touchdowns in a back-and-forth affair that saw four lead changes. Smothers became the first NC State player since Reggie Gallaspy II in 2018 to rush for 130-plus yards and score twice on the ground in the same game, averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

Both offenses came out firing in the first quarter, producing four consecutive touchdown drives to open the contest. Virginia struck first when J'Mari Taylor broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-one, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 4:23. The Wolfpack answered immediately as CJ Bailey scampered 30 yards for a touchdown just 2:11 later, evening the score at 7-7.

Virginia regained the lead when Taylor punched in a 9-yard touchdown run, but NC State responded with Bailey connecting with Noah Rogers for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Rogers, playing his first full game after missing time last week with an injury, hauled in two passes for 38 yards and the score.

The Cavaliers seized control in the second quarter through precision and field position. Virginia converted 10 of 13 third-down attempts in the first half while NC State struggled mightily, going 0-for-6 on third downs before the break. Will Bettridge added a 29-yard field goal, then Virginia extended their lead to 24-14 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Morris to Sage Ennis with 17 seconds remaining in the half.

That late score came after Cam Ross returned a punt 48 yards to set up excellent field position for the Cavaliers, who entered halftime controlling possession time 20:04 to 9:56.

NC State's offense awakened in the third quarter, scoring on all three of its possessions to flip the game. Smothers opened the half with a 14-yard touchdown run, then Bailey added a 12-yard rushing touchdown to give the Wolfpack their first lead at 28-24.

Virginia answered with Taylor's most explosive play of the day — a 66-yard touchdown run that required just three plays and 1:28 to restore their advantage at 31-28. Taylor finished with 150 rushing yards on 17 carries, adding 13 receiving yards.

But NC State had the final answer in the third quarter when Smothers capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, putting the Wolfpack ahead 35-31 entering the final period.

The fourth quarter became a defensive struggle, with both offenses failing to reach the end zone. Virginia's best opportunity came with 13:20 remaining when Bettridge attempted a 47-yard field goal that struck the left upright, keeping the deficit at four points.

Bailey finished 16-of-23 passing for 200 yards and one touchdown, distributing the ball to seven different receivers. His 44 rushing yards on six carries gave him two touchdowns on the ground. The sophomore quarterback completed 70 percent of his passes while avoiding turnovers.

Morris completed 30 of 43 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown for Virginia, also adding 56 rushing yards. Jahmal Edrine led Virginia receivers with 68 yards on six catches, while Trell Harris caught seven passes for 52 yards.

The Cavaliers' final drive began at their own 19-yard line with 2:12 remaining. Morris moved the team downfield efficiently, completing passes to multiple receivers to reach the NC State 12-yard line. However, Slone stepped in front of an intended receiver to secure the interception with 1:02 remaining, ending Virginia's comeback hopes.

Defensively, NC State made crucial adjustments after halftime. The Wolfpack allowed just seven points in the final two quarters after surrendering 24 in the first half. Caden Fordham led NC State with nine tackles, while Sean Brown added nine tackles and one tackle for loss.

Virginia's James Jackson recorded eight tackles to pace the Cavaliers' defense, while Devin Neal contributed six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup. Neither team recorded a sack, with both offensive lines providing excellent protection throughout the contest.

The Wolfpack controlled time of possession 27:35 to 32:25 but made their drives count when necessary. NC State converted 2-of-2 fourth-down attempts, including a crucial fourth-and-one conversion that set up an early touchdown. Virginia managed 1-of-2 on fourth down but couldn't convert when trailing in the fourth quarter.

Special teams played a significant role, particularly Virginia's return game. Ross averaged 20.3 yards on four punt returns, including the 48-yard return that set up a second-quarter touchdown. Both teams handled kickoffs efficiently, with NC State's Charlie Birtwistle averaging 64.3 yards on six attempts and Virginia's Daniel Sparks averaging 65.0 yards.

The victory improved NC State to 2-0 on the season and moved the all-time series record to 38-22-1 in favor of the Wolfpack. Under Dave Doeren, NC State improved to 4-0 against Virginia.

NC State finished with 416 total yards of offense compared to Virginia's 514, but the Wolfpack's ability to score in the red zone proved decisive. NC State converted all three of its red zone opportunities into touchdowns, while Virginia managed three touchdowns and one field goal on five red zone trips.

Key Performers

• Hollywood Smothers (NC State): 140 rushing yards, 2 TDs on 17 carries
• J'Mari Taylor (Virginia): 150 rushing yards, 3 TDs on 17 carries  
• CJ Bailey (NC State): 200 passing yards, 44 rushing yards, 3 total TDs
• Chandler Morris (Virginia): 257 passing yards, 56 rushing yards
• Cian Slone (NC State): Game-sealing interception

RALEIGH – On a chilly Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium, the West Charlotte Lions captured the NCHSAA 3A state championship with a hard-fought 14-7 victory over Seventy-First, riding an efficient passing attack and stalwart defensive effort to secure the title.

In a game where offensive opportunities proved scarce, West Charlotte quarterback Jamouri Nichols delivered a masterful performance, completing 12 of 13 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns. His precision through the air proved to be the difference in a defensive struggle that saw both teams battle for every yard.

The Lions struck first, establishing their passing attack early when Nichols connected with KD Cotton on a 6-yard touchdown strike in the opening quarter. That early score would stand as the game's only points until late in the second quarter, as both defenses settled in and refused to yield ground.

Seventy-First, playing without starting quarterback Deandre Nance due to a knee injury suffered the previous week, showed remarkable resilience. The Falcons mounted an impressive seven-minute drive before halftime, culminating in Jayson Franklin's 5-yard touchdown run that knotted the score at 7-7.

The third quarter evolved into a tactical chess match, with field position proving crucial. West Charlotte appeared poised to break the deadlock when they drove deep into Falcons territory, but a touchdown run by Nichols was nullified by a penalty. The Lions' frustration mounted as they turned the ball over on downs at the 6-yard line.

The decisive moment finally arrived early in the fourth quarter when Nichols found Donte Nicholson for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. The 10-yard scoring strike capped a methodical drive that started at the game's most critical juncture.

Seventy-First mounted two late challenges, recovering a fumble in Lions territory with 6:53 remaining, but the West Charlotte defense stood firm. The Falcons' final desperate drive ended on a botched spike attempt as time expired, setting off a celebration on the Lions' sideline.

The defensive nature of the contest was reflected in the statistics, with both teams finding rushing yards at a premium. West Charlotte's Emory McClain Jr. led all rushers with 47 yards on 14 carries, while the Lions' defense limited Seventy-First to just 46 total rushing yards on 26 attempts.

Davion Jones proved to be Nichols' favorite target, hauling in 8 receptions for 55 yards as the Lions consistently moved the chains through the air. The Falcons' Jytavius Whitted provided several explosive plays in defeat, including a 50-yard reception that set up their lone touchdown.

The victory marked a triumphant culmination for West Charlotte, whose defense proved championship-worthy by holding Seventy-First to just seven points. The Falcons entered the contest averaging significantly more points per game but found themselves stymied by a Lions defensive unit that recorded eight tackles for loss.

For Seventy-First, the loss was particularly bitter given their late opportunities. Despite the absence of their starting quarterback, the Falcons remained within striking distance throughout, a testament to their defensive unit led by Kaiveon Gear and Hector Bautista, who combined for 19 tackles.

The championship represents a crowning achievement for West Charlotte's program, which demonstrated championship mettle in the season's biggest moment. Their blend of efficient offense and suffocating defense proved to be the perfect formula for capturing the 3A crown on a memorable December afternoon in Raleigh.