NC State Stuns Georgia Tech in High-Scoring ACC Battle
Georgia Tech held off a furious NC State comeback to win 30-29 in Week 13 of the 2024 season. The game featured nine lead changes and remained competitive throughout, with NC State covering the 8.5-point spread despite the loss.
Georgia Tech struck first, with E.J. Lightsey returning an interception 21 yards for a touchdown in the opening quarter. The Yellow Jackets built their advantage through the first three quarters, aided by a strong defensive performance that included an Aaron Philo interception return by Bishop Fitzgerald.
NC State exploded in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points to nearly complete the comeback. Hollywood Smothers' 53-yard touchdown run highlighted the offensive surge, though the two-point conversion couldn't ultimately overcome Georgia Tech's lead. The game exceeded the over-under of 51 points, finishing with a combined 59 total points.
Chad Alexander led Georgia Tech's rushing attack with 9 yards, while Haynes King completed 7 passes. For NC State, Daylan Smothers led receivers with 8 receptions. The contest delivered excitement throughout, finishing with an excitement index of 7.97.
AI-generated recap · Sep 2, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NC State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 29 |
 Georgia Tech | 7 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 30 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | NC State | Georgia Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 17-30 | 22-36 |
| Pass Yards | 147 | 272 |
| Rush Yards | 253 | 119 |
| Total Yards | 400 | 391 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 5-12 | 5-14 |
| Penalties | 2-30 | 5-40 |
| Possession | 26:40 | 33:20 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Haynes King pass complete to Malik Rutherford for 5 yds to the GT 30
Jamal Haynes run for 3 yds to the GT 33
Haynes King run for 2 yds to the GT 35 for a 1ST down
Haynes King pass complete to Eric Singleton Jr. for no gain to the GT 35
Jamal Haynes run for 7 yds to the NCSU 42 for a 1ST down NC State Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (15 Yards) to the NCSU 43 for a 1ST down
Haynes King pass complete to Chad Alexander for 2 yds to the NCSU 41
Aaron Philo pass incomplete to Eric Singleton Jr.
Georgia Tech Penalty, Delay of Game (-5 Yards) to the NCSU 46
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
David Shanahan punt for 30 yds, fair catch by Jalen Coit at the NCSU 16
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the NCSU 16
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 8 yds to the NCSU 24
Caden Noonkester punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Bailey Stockton at the GT 36
Eric Singleton Jr. run for a loss of 3 yards to the GT 33
Aaron Philo pass complete to Bailey Stockton for 5 yds to the GT 38
Georgia Tech Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the GT 33
Aaron Philo pass complete to Avery Boyd for 6 yds to the GT 39
David Shanahan punt for 34 yds, downed at the NCSU 27
CJ Bailey pass intercepted E.J. Lightsey return for 21 yds for a TD (Aidan Birr KICK)
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey pass complete to Kevin Concepcion for 6 yds to the NCSU 31
Bailey, CJ pass incomplete, PENALTY GATECH pass interference 15 yards to the NCSU46, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN NCSU.
Kendrick Raphael run for no gain to the NCSU 46
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 3 yds to the NCSU 49
CJ Bailey pass complete to Dacari Collins for 14 yds to the GT 37 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 15 yds to the GT 22 for a 1ST down
Kevin Concepcion run for 3 yds to the GT 19
Jordan Waters run for 3 yds to the GT 16
CJ Bailey run for 16 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
Aaron Philo pass complete to Jackson Hawes for 20 yds to the GT 45 for a 1ST down Georgia Tech Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the GT 35 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 3 yds to the GT 38
Haynes King run for 16 yds to the NCSU 46 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 1 yd to the NCSU 45
Jamal Haynes run for 12 yds to the NCSU 33 for a 1ST down
Eric Singleton Jr. run for a loss of 2 yards to the NCSU 35
Jamal Haynes run for 2 yds to the NCSU 33
Aaron Philo run for 7 yds to the NCSU 26
Aidan Birr 44 yd FG GOOD
Hollywood Smothers run for 7 yds to the NCSU 32
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
Caden Noonkester punt for 37 yds , Bailey Stockton returns for 2 yds to the GT 33
Aaron Philo pass complete to Avery Boyd for 4 yds to the GT 37
Chad Alexander run for 2 yds to the NCSU 39 for a 1ST down NC State Penalty, Illegal Use of Hands (15 Yards) to the NCSU 46 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for 4 yds to the NCSU 42
Aaron Philo pass complete to Bailey Stockton for 3 yds to the NCSU 39
Aaron Philo run for 3 yds to the NCSU 36 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 37
Aaron Philo pass complete to Avery Boyd for 12 yds to the NCSU 25 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 3 yds to the NCSU 22
Haynes King run for 4 yds to the NCSU 18
Haynes King sacked by Devon Betty for a loss of 6 yards to the NCSU 24
Aidan Birr 41 Yd Field Goal
Aidan Birr kickoff for 65 yds , DK Kaufman return for 22 yds to the NCSU 22
Jordan Waters run for 1 yd to the NCSU 23
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jordan Waters for 24 yds to the NCSU 47 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
Kendrick Raphael run for 6 yds to the GT 47
CJ Bailey run for 1 yd to the GT 46
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
Jamal Haynes run for 1 yd to the GT 47
Aaron Philo pass complete to Bailey Stockton for 12 yds to the NCSU 41 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for no gain to the NCSU 41
Aaron Philo pass complete to Jamal Haynes for 7 yds to the NCSU 34
Aaron Philo run for 1 yd to the NCSU 33
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
CJ Bailey run for 3 yds to the NCSU 36
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jordan Waters for 9 yds to the NCSU 45 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Trenilyas Tatum return for 9 yds to the GT 43
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
End of 2nd Quarter
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 5 yds to the NCSU 30
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 29
CJ Bailey pass complete to Dacari Collins for no gain to the NCSU 29
Caden Noonkester punt for 41 yds, fair catch by Bailey Stockton at the GT 30
Jamal Haynes run for 1 yd to the GT 31
Aaron Philo pass complete to Eric Singleton Jr. for 12 yds to the GT 43 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 1 yd to the GT 44
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
Georgia Tech Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the GT 39
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
David Shanahan punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Jalen Coit at the NCSU 15
Jordan Waters run for 6 yds to the NCSU 21
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jordan Waters for 12 yds to the NCSU 33 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Wesley Grimes for 4 yds to the NCSU 37
CJ Bailey sacked by Kyle Efford for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 36
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 6 yds to the NCSU 42
Caden Noonkester punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Bailey Stockton at the GT 12
Bailey Stockton run for 4 yds to the GT 16
Haynes King run for 3 yds to the GT 19
Aaron Philo pass complete to Eric Singleton Jr. for 49 yds to the NCSU 32 for a 1ST down
Leo Blackburn run for no gain to the NCSU 32
Aaron Philo run for 4 yds to the NCSU 28
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
Aidan Birr 45 yd FG GOOD
CJ Bailey pass complete to Kevin Concepcion for 9 yds to the NCSU 34
Kendrick Raphael run for no gain to the NCSU 34
Kendrick Raphael run for 10 yds to the NCSU 44 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 3 yds to the NCSU 47
Kendrick Raphael run for 19 yds to the GT 34 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for 6 yds to the GT 28
CJ Bailey run for 28 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Aaron Philo pass complete to Avery Boyd for 23 yds to the GT 48 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for a loss of 4 yards to the GT 40 Haynes King fumbled, recovered by GT Haynes King Haynes King run for a loss of 4 yards to the GT 40
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
Aaron Philo pass complete to Bailey Stockton for 18 yds to the NCSU 42 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 3 yds to the NCSU 39
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
David Shanahan punt for 39 yds for a touchback
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 4 yards to the NCSU 16
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey run for 1 yd to the NCSU 17
Caden Noonkester punt for 53 yds, fair catch by Bailey Stockton at the GT 30
Aaron Philo pass complete to Bailey Stockton for 16 yds to the GT 46 for a 1ST down
Chad Alexander run for 4 yds to the 50 yard line
Aaron Philo pass complete to Eric Singleton Jr. for 38 yds to the NCSU 12 for a 1ST down
Chad Alexander run for 3 yds to the NCSU 9
Aaron Philo pass intercepted Bishop Fitzgerald return for 18 yds to the NCSU 18
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 3 yds to the NCSU 21
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Romello Height return for 16 yds to the NCSU 3
Haynes King run for 3 yds for a TD (Aidan Birr KICK)
CJ Bailey pass complete to Kevin Concepcion for 6 yds to the NCSU 31
Kendrick Raphael run for 13 yds to the NCSU 44 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 31 yds to the GT 25 for a 1ST down
Kendrick Raphael run for a loss of 1 yard to the GT 26
Kendrick Raphael run for 25 yds to the GT 1 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 1 yd for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Haynes King run for no gain to the GT 25
Aaron Philo pass complete to Eric Singleton Jr. for 7 yds to the GT 32
Aaron Philo pass incomplete
David Shanahan punt for 40 yds, downed at the NCSU 28
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 11 yds to the NCSU 39 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 5 yds to the NCSU 44
Hollywood Smothers run for 3 yds to the NCSU 47
Hollywood Smothers run for 53 yds for a TD (C. Bailey Run For Two-point Conversion)
Aaron Philo pass complete to Chase Lane for 6 yds to the GT 31
Aaron Philo pass complete to Jamal Haynes for 2 yds to the GT 33
Aaron Philo run for 6 yds to the GT 39 for a 1ST down
Aaron Philo pass complete to Jamal Haynes for 17 yds to the NCSU 44 for a 1ST down
Aaron Philo pass complete to Jamal Haynes for 8 yds to the NCSU 36
Aaron Philo run for 18 yds to the NCSU 18 for a 1ST down
Aaron Philo run for 18 yds for a TD (Aidan Birr KICK)
Aidan Birr kickoff for 50 yds , Jordan Poole return for 16 yds to the NCSU 31
CJ Bailey pass complete to Dacari Collins for 28 yds to the GT 41 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
Collin Smith 58 yd FG MISSED