NC State squanders 10-point fourth quarter lead in loss to Wake Forest

NC State (3-3) football fell 34-30 to Wake Forest (2-3) Saturday afternoon. The Wolfpack led by 10 with 13:08 left in the game.

Graduate quarterback Grayson McCall returned to the starting lineup but left the game after sustaining an injury on the first drive that led to him leaving the field on a stretcher on an injury cart.

TheWolfpacker.com posted all of the key moments from this game below.

Live updates from NC State vs. Wake Forest

FOURTH QUARTER

3:40
FINAL: Wake Forest 34, NC State 30

3:37
CJ Bailey throws an interception on the first play of the drive. Wake Forest will take knees and wrap up this game. The Pack has no timeouts left.

3:35
Touchdown Wake Forest. Demond Claiborne runs it in from 4 yards out. The Demon Deacons now lead 34-30 with 1:01 left in the game.

3:17
The Pack went three and out and punted. Wake takes over at its 35 with 7:07 to go in the game.

3:09
Touchdown Wake Forest. NC State lost the edge on a rush, and Wake Forest rips off a 32-yard scoring run. The Pack leads 30-27 with 8:43 left in the game.

2:59
Touchdown NC State. Bailey delivered an absolute strike to Justin Joly, who made a contact catch for 22 yard score. Pack leads 30-20 with 13:08. 

THIRD QUARTER

2:50
END OF 3Q: NC State leads 23-20

2:48
The Wolfpack takes over on its 38 with 1:59 left in the third after forcing a quick three and out.

2:43
Touchdown Wolfpack. The offensive line opened up a huge hole for Raphael, who scored from 20 yards out. NC State leads 23-20 with 3:02 left in the third quarter.

2:34
Wake Forest hits a 41-yard field goal after an 8 play drive and leads 20-16 with 6:28 left in the third quarter.

2:26
Noonkester punts to the Wake 25 with 9:31 left in the third quarter after another three and out by the Pack.

2:20
Bishop Fitzgerald hauls in an interception. NC State takes over on its own 37 with 11:33 left in the third quarter.

2:16
Vinesett missed a 49-yard field goal try, and NC State fails to turn the fumble into points.

2:13
Sean Brown and Devon Betty combine for a huge sack and fumble. Brown comes up with the ball, and NC State takes over on the Wake Forest 37.

2:12
NC State starts the second half with a three and out. Noonkester punts down to the Wake Forest 43 with 13:34 left in the third.

SECOND QUARTER

1:48
HALFTIME: Wake Forest leads NC State 17-16.

1:46
Vinesett with another field goal, this time from 37 yards yards out. Wake leads 17-16 with 3 seconds left in the half.

1:37
Touchdown Wake Forest. Horatio Fields makes a great grab for a 23-yard score. The Demon Deacons take a 17-13 lead with 1:28 to go.

1:21
The Pack’s 13-play drive stalls in the red zone. Vinesett hit his second field goal of the day from 35 yards out. NC State leads 13-10 with 2:58 left in the first half.

1:10
Aydan White breaks up a third down deep shot, forcing a punt. The Pack takes over at its 21 with 10:11 left in the second quarter.

1:03
Touchdown NC State. CJ Bailey extends the play and finds a wide open Keenan Jackson. NC State ties the game up at 10 with 11:30 to go in the second quarter.

FIRST QUARTER

12:53
END OF 1Q: Wake Forest leads 10-3

12:49
Corey Coley broke up a third down pass and forced a punt. NC State takes over on its 45 with 2:17 to go in the first quarter after a short punt.

12:45
NC State drove into Demon Deacon territory, but the drive stalled in the red zone. Kanoah Vinesett hits the 35-yard field goal. Wake Forest leads 10-3 with 3:09 left in the first quarter.

12:36
Touchdown Wake Forest on a short pass to Demond Claiborne. The Demon Deacons lead 10-0 with 8:51 left in the game.

12:32
Grayson McCall left the game on a stretcher on the injury cart.

Grayson McCall kept and was hit. He lost the ball and fumbled. He is down and the training staff is tending to him.

Scary play at Carter-Finley Stadium.

— The Wolfpacker (@TheWolfpacker) October 5, 2024

12:16
Wake Forest drives into Wolfpack territory and hits a 31-yard field goal and leads 3-0 with 11:50 left in the first quarter.

12:09
NC State wins the toss and defers to the second half.