What they’re saying after NC State’s ACC-opening win at Wake Forest

WINSTON-SALEM — NC State completed its second straight comeback victory to down Wake Forest 34-24 on Thursday night at Allegacy Stadium, using 17 unanswered points in the final 30 minutes to skate past the Demon Deacons.

Here is what those who covered the game, including TheWolfpacker.com, are saying about the Pack’s third victory of the fall.

Noah Fleischman, The Wolfpacker — NC State’s buy-in helps boost Wolfpack in another comeback win, this time at Wake Forest to open ACC play

WINSTON-SALEM — When NC State’s players returned to the Murphy Center for fall camp after a couple weeks off following the program’s weight training, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren was ready to challenge his team.

The 13th-year coach was aware of what led to his team’s 2-5 mark in one-possession games: the squad wasn’t as together as he might have liked. That, in turn, left the Wolfpack without a shared identity of being able to finish critical games. 

And in the transfer portal era, where players come and go as if they’re walking through a revolving door, it can be tough to build the chemistry needed to close in crucial situations. 

But that was the exact emphasis that Doeren was ready to instill in his team. And if it was going to work, he was going to need the entire squad to buy in. Sure enough, they did just that, despite having 41 new faces on the roster. 

“I told them when they got back it was going to be the hardest thing they’ve been through, and it’s going to make them the closest team they can be if they fight through it all,” Doeren said. “And they did.”

Jacey Zembal, The Wolfpacker — NC State DE Isaiah Shirley reflects on impressive pick-six in win at Wake Forest

WINSTON-SALEM — NC State redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Shirley helped change the game with a terrific snag for an interception, which he ran 41 yards for a touchdown.

Shirley’s play helped spark the Wolfpack to a crucial 34-24 win at Wake Forest on Thursday, improving to 3-0 on the season.

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Shirley played four games at tight end his freshman year when the Wolfpack were short-handed at the position. He caught eight passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns during his career at Watauga High in Boone, N.C.

Shirley’s pass-catching background was on full display on the interception.

“The ball security for sure,” said Shirley on what his past experiences helped him. “I felt like I just had the ball and run.”

Jadyn Watson-Fisher, News & Observer — NC State football cites chemistry in win over Wake Forest: ‘We’re family here’

CJ Bailey and Justin Joly were roommates when members of the N.C. State football team traveled to Charlotte in July for ACC Kickoff. They spent the majority of the short trip ribbing each other and bickering like brothers, their interactions filled with love and mutual respect.

Except it doesn’t end with those two. Head coach Dave Doeren said the staff emphasized relationship building during fall camp. He knew then they had something special, but it’s hard to truly know how that will manifest until the team steps onto the field. Even Bailey said in July the offense was committed to scoring for the defense.

“If push comes to shove, God forbid another team scores 62 points, we’re gonna score 63,” Bailey said. “That’s our job. We’re never gonna point fingers at our defense or anything, because it’s our job to score points.” 

The time spent together and prioritization of brotherhood has manifested in a big way. 

N.C. State (3-0) defeated Wake Forest (2-1) in a 34-24 comeback win Thursday night, opening ACC play with a victory after erasing a halftime deficit. It was the second comeback win of the season, and the third in as many games to pull out big stops to clinch the victory.”

Michael Cuneo, The Fayetteville Observer — ‘What a terrible start’: How NC State’s defense regroups after rough openings in 2025

N.C. State football coach Dave Doeren didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts on the Wolfpack’s 34-24 Week 3 win over Wake Forest.

“What a terrible start,” Doeren said, referring to the 98-yard kickoff return his team allowed on the game’s opening play.

For the second straight week, N.C. State stumbled out of the gate, giving up 24 first-half points. But just like in Week 2, the unit flipped the script after halftime. The Wolfpack allowed zero points and just 47 total yards in the second half while forcing four punts, grabbing an interception, and stopping the Demon Deacons on a key fourth down.

“The thing you love is we’re tested,” Doeren said of his team’s ability to bounce back. “We’ve been down a couple times, these guys know how to fight back, they believe, they don’t flinch, there’s no division. It’s pretty exciting to go on the road and get your first win and to play the way we did in that second half.”

Aaron Beard, Associated Press — Bailey’s 3 TDs, Shirley’s pick-6 helps NC State rally past Wake Forest 34-24 for 3-0 start

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — CJ Bailey connected with Keenan Jackson for the 12-yard go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter to help N.C. State beat Wake Forest 34-24 on Thursday night.

Bailey threw three TD passes for the Wolfpack (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), two going to Justin Joly. That helped N.C. State rally from a quick 14-0 deficit — the first score coming on a 98-yard kickoff return to open the game — and overcome a second double-digit deficit in as many games.

“What a terrible start, with the kickoff return for a touchdown,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “The thing you love is just, we’re tested. We’ve been down a couple of times. These guys know how to fight back.”

Austin Curtright, USA Today — Food truck catches fire, fills NC State-Wake Forest game with smoke

“For fans tuned in to the Thursday night college football matchup between Wake Forest and NC State, no, that’s not fog overtaking the stadium.

That would be smoke from a food truck, as Choc’s Barbecue Co. and Southern Catering caught on fire just outside Allegacy Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Sept. 11. ESPN’s broadcast even gave viewers a close-up view of the fire, showing a person attempting to extinguish it while inside the truck.

Thankfully, the fire doesn’t appear to be a serious danger to anyone in attendance at the game.”

Conor O’Neill, Deacons Illustrated — Wake Forest’s fast start comes to grinding halt

WINSTON-SALEM – Wake Forest started Thursday night’s game as hot as the food truck that wafted smoke over Allegacy Stadium.

Soon after the smoke cleared, the Deacons’ offense became offensive.

N.C. State scored 20 straight points and Wake Forest had five straight three-and-outs, as the Wolfpack won 34-24 on Thursday night in front of an announced crowd of 29,043.

“Going into halftime, we felt good about all phases of the game,” senior captain Nick Andersen said. “I just think we got out-executed in the second half.”

The Deacons (2-1, 0-1 ACC) had 253 yards on their first 31 plays of this game (8.16 per play).

Wake Forest had 58 yards for the rest of the game, on 26 plays (2.23 per play).