How NC State RB Hollywood Smothers rushed for a career-best 164 yards in win at Wake Forest

by: Noah Fleischman5 hours agofleischman_noah

Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack running back Hollywood Smothers (3) runs the ball in the first half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images

After walking off Wake Forest’s artificial turf field inside Allegacy Stadium, a place that haunted Dave Doeren through his first dozen seasons, NC State's 13th-year coach found redshirt sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers in the locker room. The two shared an embrace before Doeren went to congratulate his tailback on a career-best performance. But as the 53-year-old told Smothers, who rushed for 164 yards on 24 attempts in the 34-24 win over the Demon Deacons on Thursday night, the former Oklahoma transfer wasn’t tracking his statistics throughout the night. Instead, the only numbers that mattered to Smothers were the scoreboard. And on this September night, they were in the Wolfpack’s favor. “I don’t care about that,” Smothers told Doeren as he praised his running back. “We won.”