How NC State let a 10-point fourth quarter lead slip away in loss to Wake Forest

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Oct 5, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive lineman Justin Cody (11) and players tackle North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (10) during the first half of the game against at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Going into the fourth quarter against Wake Forest, it seemed like NC State figured out how to play with a lead. It held a 10-point advantage over the Demon Deacons, the same lead it had a week ago in its win over Northern Illinois going into the final quarter. But unlike its ability to close the game against the Huskies, NC State could not do the same against Wake Forest. It squandered a two-score lead and watched as the Demon Deacons scored 14 unanswered to take a 34-30 win at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Where did it go wrong for NC State? All three facets of the game ended up hurting the Wolfpack, in the end. But the final 11 minutes of the game were the difference between NC State being 4-2 or 3-3 — and the latter ended up being the result. “We didn’t make enough plays in those last 11 minutes to close the game out and they did,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “There were plenty of opportunities to close that game out for us.”