What they’re saying after NC State’s 45-33 loss at Duke

DURHAM — NC State’s comeback luck finally ran out. The Wolfpack squandered a two-score lead and couldn’t recover as it lost 45-33 at Duke on Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Here is what those who covered the game, including TheWolfpacker.com, are saying about the Pack’s first loss of the season.

Noah Fleischman, The Wolfpacker — Why self-inflicted errors with special teams, turnovers cost NC State in loss at Duke

“The most-glaring issue appeared to be NC State’s special teams, which wasn’t able to get out of its own way — a trend that appeared to be brewing through the first three weeks of the year.

Although the Pack was able to weather the storm each time — from a pair of missed field goals in the opener against East Carolina , a 48-yard punt return allowed in Week 2 against Virginia or a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown to open last Thursday’s game at Wake Forest — its unit appeared to stumble on a consistent basis at Duke. 

NC State’s special teams woes included a missed extra point (its second such result in its last 300 point-after attempts), a blocked 25-yard field goal attempt and a punt return offsides that allowed Duke to keep its opening drive going to eventually level the score in the first quarter. 

“I thought our special teams hurt us in that game,” Doeren said. “We’re chasing points after that missed extra point, the blocked kick, the penalty on the first punt of the game where we gave them a chance to convert on fourth-and-three. It’s something we actually worked [on] a lot in practice, but as you can see, we didn’t execute it.”

In addition to the special teams unit creating an 11-point swing with its struggles, the Wolfpack’s turnovers didn’t help either.”

Jacey Zembal, The Wolfpacker — NC State struggled in changing momentum in loss at Duke

“The Blue Devils opened the third quarter receiving the kickoff, and momentum was on the line. Duke redshirt sophomore quarter Darian Mensah guided the Blue Devils right down the field, ending it with a streaking 33-yard touchdown to wide receiver Sahmir Hagans to make it 28-20 with 13:30 left.

“It’s football and it happens,” NCSU senior linebacker Caden Fordham said. “You don’t want it to happen, but you have to respond. That’s part of the game. Obviously, we didn’t do that as much as we needed to.”

NC State responded well to the adversity thanks to redshirt sophomore running back Daylan Smothers gashing the Blue Devils defense for a 51-yard defense, but he defense struggled again in containing Mensah. He found senior wide receiver Cooper Barkate for a 37-yard strike, surging to a 35-26 lead.

Momentum can be difficult to slow down that how it felt toward the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third.

“You’re in there in the locker room, ‘Defense, let’s go get a three and out right here and get the momentum right back.’” Doeren said. “We did the opposite. We call that a two-fer when you score on offense, get the ball back, score again.

“That middle part of the two minutes before the half — two minutes after that — that section of the game is the section that can flip the score. It went the other way on us tonight. So definitely a momentum killer.”

Jadyn Watson-Fisher, News & Observer — Mistakes plague NC State at Duke; Doeren explains plan on 4th down interception

“One of N.C. State’s greatest strengths this season has been the ability to finish games, pulling off three close wins, a far cry from the disappointing outcomes of 2024. That did not ring true against Duke on Saturday. 

The Wolfpack jumped out to a strong start against Duke, taking a 20-7 lead in the second quarter, but “finishing” was not a word that can be used to describe the game or individual drives.

N.C. State’s 45-33 loss to Duke — its third straight against the Blue Devils — was filled with mistakes, miscues and miscommunication. 

“I’ll give Duke credit. Congratulations to them on the win, and they definitely deserve it,” N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said. “They came back. We had a chance with a two score lead to do some things. There’s a lot of mistakes in that game that hurt us.”

Luke DeCock, News & Observer — Down and out, Duke rediscovers what makes it Duke, and leaves NC State behind

“And after Duke scored on the first possession of the third quarter to go up 28-20, now N.C. State was in another one of those games, yet again. 

There was a moment, late, when it looked like another big play would turn the tide. After cutting it to a one-score game with four minutes to go, the Wolfpack had Duke in 3rd-and-1. One stop there and it would have been N.C. State’s game to lose.

Anderson Castle, nominally a short-yardage back, broke through the line and never stopped, running 66 yards right into rivalry history for his third touchdown. And Duke had recaptured, along the way, what it always thought it would be.

“We just wanted to get back to doing what we do best,” Duke receiver Samir Hagans said. “I feel like this game was a good testament to the work we put in this week, showing everybody we are still who we are.” 

N.C. State lost a game it could have won. Duke won a game it could have lost. After being on the other side, they swapped places Saturday night. The Wolfpack still has a cushion. The Blue Devils figured it out just in time.”

Brian Murphy, WRAL — Duke hands mistake-prone NC State its first loss of the season

“NC State’s undefeated season was undone by turnovers, special teams mistakes and a defense that couldn’t stop Duke on Saturday in Durham.

The Blue Devils defeated their rivals from Raleigh 45-33 in a wild affair for their fifth win in their last six games against NC State.

Duke quarterback Darian Mensah had three touchdown passes, defensive end Wesley Williams contributed a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery, and running back Anderson Castle had three touchdowns, including a game-clinching 66-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

“We talked at the hotel [Saturday] about our identity and how Duke football wins, which we thought we had gotten a little bit away from, and that we had to be defined by our mental toughness, our resiliency and our togetherness,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “We had a lot of evidence early on in the game that there would be reason not to believe and to drop our gloves and, to our guys credit, they stayed in the fight, they kept battling.”

Conor O’Neill, Devils Illustrated — Blue Devils revel in identity win

“I feel at peace a little bit,” defensive end Wesley Williams said after Duke’s 45-33 victory against N.C. State on Saturday.

“It feels right.”

To continue that sentiment: This felt like several games Duke won last season. The gaffes made to put the Wolfpack ahead two touchdowns early were a distant memory when the Blue Devils scored two touchdowns in the last three minutes of the first half, and then two more in the first seven minutes of the second half.

Winning plays were made late, capped by Anderson Castle’s 66-yard touchdown run to put the game on ice.

It’s not perfect football; it’s perfectly complementary football.

And it’d been M.I.A. for the past two weekends.

“Coming into today, we wanted to get back to being the Duke football team we’ve been these past couple of years,” fifth-year receiver Sahmir Hagans said. “I feel like this game was a good testament to the work that we put in this week.”