NC State Covers, Defeats Wake Forest 34-24 in Week 3
NC State defeated Wake Forest 34-24 on Saturday in a competitive Week 3 matchup. The Wolfpack covered the 7-point spread with a second-half surge, outscoring the Deacons 17-0 after halftime.
Wake Forest struck first with a 14-point opening quarter, but NC State answered with a defensive touchdown when Isaiah Shirley returned an interception 41 yards for a score. The teams traded offensive drives throughout the first half, with Wake Forest's Robby Ashford connecting with Chris Barnes for a 70-yard completion that set up another scoring opportunity.
The game remained competitive early, with eight lead changes throughout the contest. However, NC State took control in the second half, holding Wake Forest scoreless in the third and fourth quarters while adding 17 points. The Wolfpack's defense made crucial plays, including a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from CJ Bailey to Keenan Jackson.
Wake Forest's Ashford led all passers with 252 yards, while Jeremiah Melvin caught 9 passes and Demond Claiborne rushed for 35 yards. The game went over the 53-point over-under at 58 combined points.
AI-generated recap · Aug 18, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NC State | 14 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
 Wake Forest | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | NC State | Wake Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 23-32 | 21-35 |
| Pass Yards | 201 | 252 |
| Rush Yards | 205 | 59 |
| Total Yards | 406 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| 3rd Down | 7-18 | 6-15 |
| Penalties | 10-94 | 8-82 |
| Possession | 38:05 | 21:55 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 63 yds , Chris Barnes return for 98 yds for a TD (Connor Calvert KICK)
NC State Penalty, Unsportsmanlike Conduct (15 Yards) to the 50 yard line
Caleb Carlson kickoff for 44 yds , Jayden Scott return for 19 yds to the NCSU 25
NC State Penalty, False Start (Jalen Grant) to the NCSU 20
Hollywood Smothers run for 3 yds to the NCSU 23
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 20 yds to the NCSU 43 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 4 yds to the NCSU 47
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 5 yds to the WAKE 48
Jayden Scott run for no gain to the WAKE 48
Will Wilson run for 3 yds to the WAKE 45 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 3 yds to the WAKE 42
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for a loss of 3 yards to the WAKE 45
Caden Noonkester punt for 38 yds, downed at the WAKE 7
Demond Claiborne run for 3 yds to the WAKE 10
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 3 yds to the WAKE 13
Robby Ashford pass complete to Sterling Berkhalter for 9 yds to the WAKE 22 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 70 yds to the NCSU 8 for a 1ST down NC State Penalty, Horse Collar Tackle (Brody Barnhardt) to the NCSU 4 for a 1ST down
Wake Forest Penalty, False Start (Sterling Berkhalter) to the NCSU 9
Demond Claiborne run for 3 yds to the NCSU 6
Robby Ashford run for 5 yds to the NCSU 1
Demond Claiborne run for 1 yd for a TD (Connor Calvert KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for 14 yds to the NCSU 39 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 10 yds to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 19 yds to the WAKE 32 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 18 yds to the WAKE 14 for a 1ST down
Bailey, CJ rush for loss of 1 yard to the WAKEFOREST15, PENALTY NCSU holding (Carter Jr., Anthony) 10 yards to the WAKEFOREST24, NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 9 yds to the WAKE 15
CJ Bailey run for 10 yds to the WAKE 5
Will Wilson run for no gain to the WAKE 5
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 5 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Demond Claiborne run for 3 yds to the WAKE 28
Robby Ashford run for 13 yds to the WAKE 41 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Sterling Berkhalter
Robby Ashford pass intercepted Isaiah Shirley return for 41 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Demond Claiborne run for 8 yds to the WAKE 33
Ashford, Robby pass incomplete to Hernandez, Carlos, PENALTY WAKEFOREST holding (Kylany, Devin) 10 yards to the WAKEFOREST23, NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 7 yds to the WAKE 30
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 7 yds to the WAKE 37 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass complete to Eni Falayi for 42 yds to the NCSU 21 for a 1ST down
Demond Claiborne run for 2 yds to the NCSU 19
Robby Ashford pass complete to JaMario Clements for no gain to the NCSU 19
NC State Penalty, Defensive Offside (Sabastian Harsh) to the NCSU 14
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 6 yds to the NCSU 8 for a 1ST down
Demond Claiborne run for 7 yds to the NCSU 1
Robby Ashford run for 1 yd for a TD (Connor Calvert KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 3 yards to the NCSU 22
Hollywood Smothers run for 9 yds to the NCSU 31
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 30 yds to the WAKE 39 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for a loss of 4 yards to the WAKE 43
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey pass complete to Wesley Grimes for 1 yd to the WAKE 42
Caden Noonkester punt for 42 yds for a touchback
Demond Claiborne run for 3 yds to the WAKE 23
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 6 yds to the WAKE 29
Demond Claiborne run for 4 yds to the WAKE 33 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford run for 1 yd to the WAKE 34
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 5 yds to the WAKE 39
Robby Ashford pass complete to Micah Mays Jr. for 26 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass complete to Sterling Berkhalter for 26 yds to the NCSU 9 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Chris Barnes
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for a loss of 3 yards to the NCSU 12
Robby Ashford run for 1 yd to the NCSU 11
Connor Calvert 28 yd FG GOOD
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 15 yds to the NCSU 40 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the NCSU 40
CJ Bailey run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 39
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 11 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 6 yds to the WAKE 44
CJ Bailey pass complete to Wesley Grimes for 14 yds to the WAKE 30 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 19 yds to the WAKE 11 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete
CJ Bailey run for 4 yds to the WAKE 7
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Wesley Grimes
Kanoah Vinesett 24 yd FG GOOD
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 54 yds , Matthew Lusardi return for 11 yds to the WAKE 22
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Micah Mays Jr.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Sterling Berkhalter for 8 yds to the WAKE 30
Demond Claiborne run for no gain to the WAKE 30
Cal Joseph punt for 51 yds , Teddy Hoffmann returns for 1 yd to the NCSU 20
Hollywood Smothers run for 8 yds to the NCSU 28
End of 2nd Quarter
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the NCSU 25
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 10 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Keenan Jackson
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 8 yds to the NCSU 43
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for a loss of 3 yards to the NCSU 40
Caden Noonkester punt for 39 yds , Carlos Hernandez returns for 1 yd to the WAKE 22
Robby Ashford pass complete to Chris Barnes for 3 yds to the WAKE 25
Demond Claiborne run for a loss of 1 yard to the WAKE 24
Ashford, Robby rush for 13 yards to the WAKEFOREST37, PENALTY WAKEFOREST holding (Kylany, Devin) 10 yards to the WAKEFOREST14, NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 12 yds to the WAKE 26
Cal Joseph punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Teddy Hoffmann at the NCSU 30
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 15 yds to the NCSU 45 for a 1ST down
Bailey, CJ pass incomplete to Jackson, Keenan, PENALTY WAKEFOREST pass interference (Prunty, Karon) 15 yards to the WAKEFOREST40, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN NCSU.
Hollywood Smothers run for 9 yds to the WAKE 31
Hollywood Smothers run for 9 yds to the WAKE 22 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 6 yds to the WAKE 16
Jayden Scott run for 11 yds to the WAKE 5 for a 1ST down
Jayden Scott run for 1 yd to the WAKE 4
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Teddy Hoffmann
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 4 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Robby Ashford run for 2 yds to the WAKE 27
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 1 yd to the WAKE 28
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Carlos Hernandez
Cal Joseph punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Teddy Hoffmann at the NCSU 35
Hollywood Smothers run for 15 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the WAKE 49
CJ Bailey run for a loss of 2 yards to the NCSU 49
CJ Bailey pass complete to Noah Rogers for 11 yds to the WAKE 40 for a 1ST down
Jayden Scott run for no gain to the WAKE 40
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Keenan Jackson
CJ Bailey sacked by Braylon Johnson and Mateen Ibirogba for a loss of 7 yards to the NCSU 47 NC State Penalty, Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Justin Joly) to the NCSU 38
Caden Noonkester punt for 39 yds, downed at the WAKE 23
Demond Claiborne run for 2 yds to the WAKE 25
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Jaxon Mull
Robby Ashford sacked by Travali Price for a loss of 6 yards to the WAKE 19
Cal Joseph punt for 41 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the NCSU 40 NC State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Caden Gordon) to the NCSU 30
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the NCSU 31
Bailey, CJ pass incomplete, PENALTY WAKEFOREST pass interference (Webb Jr., Lardarius) 12 yards to the NCSU43, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN NCSU.
Hollywood Smothers run for 42 yds to the WAKE 15 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Wesley Grimes for 4 yds to the WAKE 11
CJ Bailey run for a loss of 1 yard to the WAKE 12
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 12 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Robby Ashford run for 4 yds to the WAKE 29
Robby Ashford pass incomplete
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Carlos Hernandez
Cal Joseph punt for 35 yds , Teddy Hoffmann returns for 13 yds to the NCSU 49
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 48
Bailey, CJ pass incomplete to Rogers, Noah, PENALTY WAKEFOREST roughing passer (Bryant, Quincy) 15 yards to the WAKEFOREST37, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN NCSU.
Smothers, Hollywood rush for 7 yards to the WAKEFOREST30, PENALTY NCSU holding (Carter Jr., Anthony) 10 yards to the WAKEFOREST47, NO PLAY.
Jayden Scott run for 9 yds to the WAKE 38
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jayden Scott for 10 yds to the WAKE 28
Jayden Scott run for 4 yds to the WAKE 24 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the WAKE 23
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jayden Scott for 7 yds to the WAKE 16
Bailey, CJ pass complete to Joly, Justin for 6 yards to the WAKEFOREST10, PENALTY NCSU illegal formation 5 yards to the WAKEFOREST21, NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 1 yd to the WAKE 20
Kanoah Vinesett 38 Yd Field Goal
Chris Barnes run for 3 yds to the WAKE 28
Ashford, Robby pass incomplete, PENALTY WAKEFOREST holding 10 yards to the WAKEFOREST18, NO PLAY.
Robby Ashford pass complete to Jeremiah Melvin for 9 yds to the WAKE 27
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Carlos Hernandez
NC State Penalty, Personal Foul (Sabastian Harsh) to the WAKE 42 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford pass intercepted Ronnie Royal III return for 4 yds to the NCSU 44
Hollywood Smothers run for 4 yds to the NCSU 48
Hollywood Smothers run for 3 yds to the WAKE 49
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Terrell Anderson
Wake Forest Penalty, Running Into Kicker (Frank Cusano) to the WAKE 44 for a 1ST down
Jayden Scott run for a loss of 2 yards to the WAKE 46
Hollywood Smothers run for a loss of 4 yards to the 50 yard line
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the WAKE 48
Caden Noonkester punt for 42 yds, downed at the WAKE 6
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for a loss of 2 yards to the WAKE 4
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Demond Claiborne
Robby Ashford pass complete to Carlos Hernandez for 10 yds to the WAKE 14
Robby Ashford pass complete to Demond Claiborne for 7 yds to the WAKE 21 for a 1ST down
Robby Ashford run for no gain to the WAKE 21
Robby Ashford pass incomplete
Robby Ashford pass incomplete to Micah Mays Jr.
Robby Ashford pass incomplete
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the WAKE 22
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the WAKE 23
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the WAKE 24