Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons extensive receiver Chris Barnes (10) returns the opening kickoff for a landing within the first half towards North Carolina State Wolfpack at Allegacy Federal Credit score Union Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Photographs CJ Bailey threw three landing passes and Hollywood Smothers ran for 163 yards to assist North Carolina State rally previous Wake Forest for a 34-24 victory in each groups’ Atlantic Coast Convention opener on Thursday in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Tight finish Justin Joly caught two landing passes, and NC State took its first lead on Bailey’s 12-yard go to Keenan Jackson with 12:37 remaining.
NC State (3-0, 1-0 ACC) scored the sport’s remaining 20 factors, capped by Kanoah Vinesett’s 37-yard subject aim with 6:19 remaining. Bailey completed 23 of 32 for 201 yards within the air, whereas Smothers had 24 carries.
Wake Forest’s solely first down of the second half previous to the two-minute timeout got here on an NC State penalty.
Chris Barnes returned a kickoff for a landing and made an extended reception to arrange the sport’s second landing for the Demon Deacons (2-1), who misplaced for the primary time beneath first-year coach Jake Dickert.
Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford went 21-for-35 for 242 yards and two interceptions. Standout working again Demond Claiborne was held to 35 dashing yards and a landing on 12 carries.
Joly’s second landing reception on a 4-yard play within the third quarter allowed the Wolfpack to tug even at 24-24.
After plenty of first-half offense for Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons picked up solely 3 yards complete on their three third-quarter possessions.
Barnes returned the sport’s opening kickoff 98 yards for a landing. Claiborne’s 1-yard run pushed the Demon Deacons to a 14-0 lead lower than eight minutes into the sport.
NC State acquired on the board on its subsequent possession as Bailey’s 5-yard landing toss to Joly on fourth-and-1 accomplished a 75-yard march. The rating was even at 14-14 earlier than the tip of the primary quarter courtesy of 276-pound defensive sort out Isaiah Shirley’s 41-yard interception return for a landing.
Wake Forest wanted 9 performs to retake the lead on Ashford’s 1-yard run. The lead grew to 24-14 on Connor Calvert’s 28-yard subject aim.
The Wolfpack pulled inside 24-17 earlier than halftime on Vinesett’s 24-yard subject aim. Smothers rushed for 81 first-half yards.
–Subject Stage Media
