What they’re saying after NC State’s blowout win over Campbell

NC State didn’t have to worry about the result in the fourth quarter for the first time this season. That appeared to be a much-needed feeling as the Wolfpack beat Campbell 56-10 on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Here is what those who covered the game, including TheWolfpacker.com, are saying about the team’s fourth win of the season.

Noah Fleischman, The Wolfpacker — NC State QB CJ Bailey continues to play with confidence, shows in romp over Campbell

Bailey started 9-for-12 passing, his least-accurate beginning of a game this fall, but he finished his outing 11-for-11 through the air. The quarterback would have been on a hot streak if this were any video game, and against the Camels defense, it seemed as if one completion led to the next.

“Once you get that first completion, it’s going to keep adding up,” Bailey said. “That’s just the way I operate. When I get a bunch of completions going, it’s going to keep flowing throughout the game.”

In all, Bailey was 20-of-23 passing — a season-best 87 percent completion rate — for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns, the single-game most of his young collegiate career. The Wolfpack offense scored a touchdown on all eight drives that Bailey was in the game before he gave way to backups Lex Thomas and Will Wilson for most of the second half.” 

Jacey Zembal, The Wolfpacker — Reshuffled defense cuts down on mistakes in NC State blowout victory

“NC State reshuffled its defense due to injuries, leading to redshirt freshman Jivan Baly starting his first game at nickel and redshirt junior outside linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. getting his first Wolfpack start.

NC State’s defense gave up an early first-quarter touchdown due to confusion and a well-timed pattern that led to Mike Chandler getting a 13-yard touchdown with 8:54 left in the opening quarter.

NC State held Campbell to a field goal the rest of the game in winning 56-10 on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. NC State improved to 4-2 overall and Campbell fell to 1-5.

Soares was hoping the defense could build off the energy that he brings.

“I kind of pride myself on being the most energetic person on the field,” Soares said. “With me being my first year here, at Northwestern [his former college], we didn’t really pack the stands as much as they do here. There, whenever you have a home game, you always have to bring your own energy. I have that kind of chip on my shoulder.”

Jadyn Watson-Fisher, News & Observer — NC State football dismantles Campbell. What we learned in the Wolfpack win

The Wolfpack’s special teams unit has been consistent the last several years, but the issues for this year’s squad reared their ugly head again. 

N.C. State pulled freshman receiver Teddy Hoffmann as its punt returner after he fumbled two punts before the half. The first mistake put Campbell on the Wolfpack 14-yard line. Miscommunication from the defense allowed the Camels to turn Hoffmann’s error into a touchdown. He bobbled a second punt later in the half, but linebacker Kelvon McBride jumped on the ball to prevent another possession change. 

Hoffmann muffed a punt against Duke, as well, which required N.C. State to march down the field for a 99-yard touchdown. The rookie was replaced on Saturday by Terrell Anderson, a receiver who entered the game leading the team in receiving yards. 

Anderson’s first return was a 78-yard touchdown run, but a holding penalty wiped his effort from the board. 

“Disappointed that catching a punt is so hard, but I think out of this, we found our punt returner in Terrell Anderson, so that might be the thing I’m most excited about coming out of the game,” Doeren said. “We finally got a guy back there who knows what to do. What you do in practice has got to show up in games. The special teams area continues to be a sore spot for me with our performance.”

Daniel Susann, Technician — NC State football gets right with 56-10 rout of Campbell

“NC State (4-2) dominated all three phases, despite a few early miscues. Freshman wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann muffed the first punt of the game, giving Campbell (1-5) prime field position at the Wolfpack 14-yard line. Two plays later, the Camels pushed down the field with a 13-yard passing play to punch it in, tying the game at seven.

But from there, it was all Wolfpack, as NC State scored 48 unanswered.

“We needed to play well today,” said head coach Dave Doeren. “Obviously, [we] didn’t play well a week ago. And offensively, anyway, and we had a lot of ground to make up. You’ve got to get better each week of the season, like we have.”

All of the main characters played their roles — starting with sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey, who posted 292 passing yards and 4 touchdowns by the end of the first half. By the time he sat at the end of the third quarter, he had posted 337 yards in the air, his second biggest game of the year.

Bob Sutton, Associated Press — Bailey throws for four TDs as N.C. State rolls Campbell 56-10

N.C. State’s 482 first-half yards of total offense marked the most for a Football Bowl Championship team this season. The Wolfpack led 49-7 at the half.

“When we don’t do our job, really good football teams make you pay,” Campbell coach Braxton Harris said. “And that’s what the first half was.”

Bailey finished 20-for-23 for 337 yards in 2½ quarters of action, with scoring throws to Cody Hardy, Terrell Anderson, Justin Jolly and Smothers giving the sophomore a single-game career-high for TD passes. Jayden Scott, who finished with 89 yards on the ground, ran for two touchdowns and Will Wilson scored the game’s first points on a 2-yard run.

Even with a comfortable lead, Doeren wanted more in the second half.

“We haven’t been a team that has finished people this year,” he said of keeping starters in the game for a chunk of the third quarter. “There’s risk in that, but I wanted starters in there to start the second half on both sides.”