NC State Holds Off East Carolina in Week 1 Opener
NC State defeated East Carolina 24-17 in a Week 1 matchup, with the Wolfpack dominating the first half before the Pirates mounted a fourth-quarter comeback. NC State jumped out to a 17-7 halftime lead, extending their advantage to 24-7 after three quarters before East Carolina scored 10 unanswered points in the final period.
East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser led the Pirates' offense with 366 passing yards, including a 79-yard touchdown pass to Jayvontay Conner in the second quarter. Conner finished with 98 receiving yards. For NC State, running back Daylan Smothers contributed 76 rushing yards.
The game featured several momentum-shifting plays, including a 48-yard touchdown reception by Wesley Grimes from CJ Bailey in the second quarter that extended NC State's lead. Bailey completed a crucial 50-yard pass to Teddy Hoffmann in the fourth quarter as the Wolfpack held on down the stretch.
East Carolina's fourth-quarter surge fell short despite the late offensive push, as NC State's defense made key stops to secure the victory in Carter-Finley Stadium.
AI-generated recap · Aug 25, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 East Carolina | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
 NC State | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | East Carolina | NC State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 31-45 | 24-34 |
| Pass Yards | 383 | 318 |
| Rush Yards | 30 | 105 |
| Total Yards | 413 | 423 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 6-16 | 7-15 |
| Penalties | 10-86 | 7-63 |
| Possession | 27:53 | 32:07 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Hollywood Smothers run for 6 yds to the NCSU 31
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 11 yds to the NCSU 42 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Wesley Grimes
Hollywood Smothers run for 19 yds to the ECU 39 NC State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Noah Rogers) to the ECU 49
Jayden Scott run for no gain to the ECU 49
CJ Bailey run for 3 yds to the ECU 46 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 7 yds to the ECU 39
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 5 yds to the ECU 34 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 1 yard to the ECU 35
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 15 yds to the ECU 20 for a 1ST down
Jayden Scott run for 13 yds to the ECU 7 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
NC State Penalty, Personal Foul (-15 Yards) to the ECU 22
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 11 yds to the ECU 11
Nick Konieczynski 29 Yd Field Goal
Katin Houser pass complete to Jaquaize Pettaway for 5 yds to the ECU 20
Katin Houser pass complete to Desirrio Riles for 6 yds to the ECU 26
Katin Houser pass incomplete to London Montgomery
Ryan Leavy punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Wesley Grimes at the NCSU 27
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 26
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 5 yds to the NCSU 31
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 9 yds to the NCSU 40 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 2 yards to the NCSU 38
Jayden Scott run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 37
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 2 yds to the NCSU 39
Caden Noonkester punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Kyler Pearson at the ECU 21
Katin Houser run for 2 yds to the ECU 23
(03:34) No Huddle-Shotgun Jenkins,Parker rush middle for 1 yard gain to the ECU24 (Harsh,Sabastian; Brown,Sean) PENALTY ECU Holding (Long,Kyle) 10 yards from ECU23 to ECU13. NO PLAY.
Jaquaize Pettaway run for a loss of 2 yards to the ECU 11
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 7 yds to the ECU 18
Ryan Leavy punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Wesley Grimes at the NCSU 39
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 10 yds to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 1 yd to the 50 yard line
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 5 yds to the ECU 45
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 27 yds to the ECU 18 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 6 yds to the ECU 12
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the ECU 11
CJ Bailey 11 Yd Run (Nick Konieczynski Kick)
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 59 yds , London Montgomery return for 28 yds to the ECU 34
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for no gain to the ECU 34
run for a loss of 23 yards to the ECU 11
Katin Houser pass complete to Jaquaize Pettaway for no gain to the ECU 11
Ryan Leavy punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Wesley Grimes at the ECU 48
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for no gain to the ECU 48
Wesley Grimes 48 Yd pass from CJ Bailey (Nick Konieczynski Kick)
Parker Jenkins run for 3 yds to the ECU 28
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 4 yds to the ECU 32
(10:09) No Huddle-Shotgun Jenkins,Parker rush left for 12 yards gain to the ECU44 (Fordham,Caden) PENALTY ECU Holding (Smith,Anthony) 10 yards from ECU32 to ECU22. NO PLAY.
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Jaquaize Pettaway
Ryan Leavy punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Wesley Grimes at the NCSU 40
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 2 yards to the NCSU 38
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Justin Joly
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 3 yds to the NCSU 41
(08:28) Noonkester,Caden punt 59 yards to the ECU00, Touchback PENALTY NCS Illegal Formation offsetting ECU Holding offsetting. NO PLAY.
Caden Noonkester punt for 59 yds for a touchback
Mike Wright Jr. run for a loss of 4 yards to the ECU 16
Katin Houser run for 1 yd to the ECU 17
Katin Houser pass complete to Desirrio Riles for 18 yds to the ECU 35 for a 1ST down NC State Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Jr. Kenny Soares) to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 15 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Anthony Smith
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Tyler Johnson
Katin Houser pass complete to Tyler Johnson for 6 yds to the NCSU 29
Katin Houser pass incomplete to London Montgomery
Hollywood Smothers run for 8 yds to the NCSU 37
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the NCSU 38
Hollywood Smothers run for 5 yds to the NCSU 43 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Teddy Hoffmann
Jayden Scott run for 1 yd to the NCSU 44
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Terrell Anderson
Caden Noonkester punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Kyler Pearson at the ECU 14
Parker Jenkins run for no gain to the ECU 14
Parker Jenkins run for 3 yds to the ECU 17
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 9 yds to the ECU 26 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Anthony Smith
Katin Houser sacked by Caden Fordham for a loss of 5 yards to the ECU 21
Katin Houser pass complete to Jayvontay Conner for 79 yds for a TD NC State Penalty, Illegal Substitution (Yards) declined (Nick Mazzie KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 24
CJ Bailey pass complete to Wesley Grimes for 15 yds to the NCSU 39 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 9 yds to the NCSU 48
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the NCSU 48
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 2 yds to the ECU 49
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Teagan Wilk return for 20 yds to the NCSU 43
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Jaquaize Pettaway
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 18 yds to the NCSU 25 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Anthony Smith
(00:10) No Huddle-Shotgun Gunn Jr.,Marlon rush middle for 5 yards gain to the NCS20 (Brown,Sean; Fordham,Caden) PENALTY ECU Holding (Poku,Emmanuel) 10 yards from NCS25 to NCS35. NO PLAY.
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Desirrio Riles
Nick Mazzie 53 yd FG MISSED
End of 2nd Quarter
London Montgomery run for 3 yds to the ECU 28
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 14 yds to the ECU 42 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 7 yds to the ECU 49
London Montgomery run for 6 yds to the NCSU 45 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Payton Mangrum for 3 yds to the NCSU 42
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Yannick Smith
Katin Houser run for 5 yds to the NCSU 37
Parker Jenkins run for 1 yd to the NCSU 36
PENALTY NCS False Start (Rogers,Noah) 5 yards from NCS36 to NCS31. NO PLAY.
PENALTY NCS False Start (Peak,Jacarrius) 5 yards from NCS31 to NCS26. NO PLAY.
Hollywood Smothers run for 4 yds to the NCSU 30
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
Hollywood Smothers run for 10 yds to the NCSU 40
Caden Noonkester punt for 43 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the ECU 17
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 3 yds to the ECU 20
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the ECU 19
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Parker Jenkins
Ryan Leavy pass complete to Kieran Davis for 17 yds to the ECU 36 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Desirrio Riles for 4 yds to the ECU 40
(09:20) PENALTY ECU False Start (Weaver,Bryce) 5 yards from ECU40 to ECU35. NO PLAY.
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 5 yds to the ECU 40
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Yannick Smith
(08:39) PENALTY ECU False Start (Benton,Josh) 5 yards from ECU40 to ECU35. NO PLAY.
Ryan Leavy punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Wesley Grimes at the NCSU 20
CJ Bailey pass complete to Wesley Grimes for 12 yds to the NCSU 32 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 12 yds to the NCSU 44 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 2 yards to the NCSU 42
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 6 yds to the NCSU 48
CJ Bailey run for 13 yds to the ECU 39 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Keenan Jackson
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 9 yds to the ECU 30
(04:39) Bailey,CJ pass incomplete short middle to Joly,Justin thrown to ECU14 broken up by Barker,Jackson PENALTY ECU Roughing The Passer (Wilk,Teagan) 15 yards from ECU30 to ECU15, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the ECU 13
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Terrell Anderson
(03:54) Shotgun Bailey,CJ pass incomplete short right to Jackson,Keenan thrown to ECU00, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY ECU Pass Interference (Jean,Jonathan) 11 yard from ECU13 to ECU02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Hollywood Smothers 2 Yd Run (Nick Konieczynski Kick)
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 57 yds , Parker Jenkins return for 20 yds to the ECU 28
(03:37) Shotgun Houser,Katin pass complete short right to Montgomery,London caught at ECU18, for 3 yards to the ECU31 (Richardson,AJ; Barnhardt,Brody) PENALTY ECU Holding (Smith,Yannick) 10 yards from ECU28 to ECU18. NO PLAY.
Katin Houser pass complete to Brock Spalding for 17 yds to the ECU 35
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 6 yds to the ECU 41 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to London Montgomery for 8 yds to the ECU 49
London Montgomery run for 5 yds to the NCSU 46 for a 1ST down
London Montgomery run for 4 yds to the NCSU 42
Katin Houser pass complete to Brock Spalding for 37 yds to the NCSU 5 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Brock Spalding for no gain to the NCSU 5
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 1 yd to the NCSU 4
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 4 yds for a TD (Nick Mazzie KICK)
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 10 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Wesley Grimes for 46 yds to the ECU 19 for a 1ST down
(14:04) No Huddle-Shotgun Smothers,Hollywood rush left for 6 yards gain to the ECU13 (Johnson Jr.,DJ) PENALTY NCS Holding (Hardy,Cody) 10 yards from ECU19 to ECU29. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 10 yds to the ECU 19
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Terrell Anderson
CJ Bailey sacked by Xavier McIver for a loss of 4 yards to the ECU 23
Nick Konieczynski 40 Yard Field Goal Missed
Mike Wright Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the ECU 22
Katin Houser pass complete to Brock Spalding for 4 yds to the ECU 18
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 22 yds to the ECU 40 for a 1ST down
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 2 yds to the ECU 42
Katin Houser pass complete to Brock Spalding for 39 yds to the NCSU 19 for a 1ST down
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 20
PENALTY ECU False Start (Poku,Emmanuel) 5 yards from NCS20 to NCS25. NO PLAY.
Katin Houser run for 9 yds to the NCSU 16
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Desirrio Riles
Nick Mazzie 34 yd FG GOOD
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 50 yds to the ECU 25 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 2 yards to the ECU 27
CJ Bailey run for 2 yds to the ECU 25
CJ Bailey run for a loss of 4 yards to the ECU 29
Nick Konieczynski 46 Yard Field Goal Missed
London Montgomery run for 10 yds to the ECU 39 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete to Jyron Waiters
Katin Houser pass complete to Jayvontay Conner for 19 yds to the NCSU 42 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Brock Spalding for 8 yds to the NCSU 34
London Montgomery run for no gain to the NCSU 34
London Montgomery run for 2 yds to the NCSU 32 for a 1ST down
London Montgomery run for 2 yds to the NCSU 30
(03:22) No Huddle-Shotgun Houser,Katin pass complete short left to Montgomery,London caught at NCS28, for 5 yards to the NCS25 (Johnson,Jamel) PENALTY ECU Ineligible Downfield on Pass (Smith,Anthony) 5 yards from NCS30 to NCS35. NO PLAY.
Katin Houser pass complete to Desirrio Riles for 17 yds to the NCSU 18 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Desirrio Riles for 5 yds to the NCSU 13
Katin Houser run for 4 yds to the NCSU 9
Parker Jenkins run for no gain to the NCSU 9
Katin Houser pass complete to Desirrio Riles for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 10
C. Bailey takes a knee
C. Bailey takes a knee
(00:32) PENALTY NCS False Start (Daniels,Dante) 3 yards from NCS06 to NCS03. NO PLAY.
C. Bailey takes a knee