Offense falters in NC State's loss to Louisville

NC State kicked off against Louisville shortly after 7 p.m. ET Friday night. The Pack shut out the Cardinals in the first half, but the offense could not generate any momentum, leading to a 13-10 loss.

Throughout the game, TheWolfpacker.com chronicled the key moments and highlights from NC State’s primetime showdown at Carter-Finley Stadium.

NC State vs. Louisville live update blog

FOURTH QUARTER

10:22
Final: Louisville wins 13-10.

10:19

Brennan Armstrong throws another interception on the first play of the drive, deciding the game.

10:16
The Pack forces a punt and takes over at its 34 yard line with 1:44 left in the game.

10:14
NC State calls a timeout after stopping a first down run for a loss of 1 with 2:40 left in the game.

10:10
Aydan White forced a punt on the their down, but NC State ran into the kicker, giving Louisville a first down.

10:09
Timeout NC State. A pivotal third and three is coming up.

10:07
NC State can not capitalize on a kick return to the 40 yard line and punts. UL has the ball at its 21 with 3:50 remaining in the game.

9:57
Louisville hits a 53 yard field goal to take a to give the Cardinals a 13-10 lead with 5:32 left in the game.

9:44
The Pack picked up one first down, but 3 incompletions by Armstrong lead to a Wolfpack punt down to the Cardinals’ 23 with 10:45 left in the game.

9:39
Louisville drives all the way down to NC State’s 5, but pressure by Wilson leads to an interception by Bishop Fitzgerald. The Pack retakes possession at its own 20 with 13:03 left in the game.

THIRD QUARTER
9:29
END OF 3Q: NC State 10, Louisville 10
The Pack’s offensive line committed 3 penalties on 1 drive, leading to a three and out.

9:24
Louisville hits the 33-yard field goal to tie the game with 1:32 left in the third quarter.

9:19
Sean Brown is disqualified due to a targeting penalty.

9:14
NC State drives to midfield, but Armstrong fumbles. Louisville takes over on its 44 with 4:45 left in the quarter.

9:08
Touchdown Louisville. Plummer found Chris Bell 39 yards down the sideline for the score. 
NC State leads 10-7 with 6:38 left in the third.

9:02
NC State quickly goes 3 and out. The Cardinals returned the punt down to the Wolfpack 45 yard line with 7:34 left in the third.

8:56
Louisville picks up a first down, but the drive fizzles after Sean Brown explodes into the backfield for his second sack.

8:50
NC State drives down to the UL 15 yard line, but Armstrong throws an interception. The Cardinals get the ball at its own 20 with 12:14 left in the third.

SECOND QUARTER

8:25
HALFTIME: NC State leads 10-0.
Narveson hit the 48-yard field goal perfectly as time expired.

8:22
Louisville picks up a quick first down, but then Shyheim Battle read a throw perfectly and picks off a pass, giving the Pack possession on UL’s 32 with 48 seconds left in the half.

8:19
The Pack quickly punts after a three and out. A personal foul knocks UL back to its 7.

8:13
Louisville quickly drives into Wolfpack territory, but Sean Brown blitzes into the backfield to force a fumble, recovered by Wilson.

8:02
Touchdown NC State. Delbert Mimms III punches it in from 4 yards out to give the Pack a 7-0 lead with 6:27 left in the third. That was a 13-play, 65 yard drive that took 6:54 off the clock.

7:49
An explosive screen pass to Jordan and a holding penalty by the Pack advances Louisville into NC State territory, but a couple of errant throws forces a missed 52-yard field goal.

NC State is not getting to Plummer on every blitz, but the pressure is absolutely forcing some bad throws.

— Ethan McDowell (@ethanmmcdowell) September 29, 2023

FIRST QUARTER

7:40
END OF 1Q: Louisville 0, NC State 0
NC State did not take advantage of some great field position in the first.

7:39
Louisville sacks Armstrong, and Noonkester is back out to punt. The Cardinals have the ball at its 13 yard line after a holding penalty helped out a short punt with 45 seconds left in the first.

7:34
The Pack forces a quick three and out after Payton Wilson batted down a third down pass.

7:31
NC State punts again after a false start on fourth and short from inside UL territory.

7:24
After forcing a three and out, Louisville faked a punt successfully, but refs called the attempt back to holding. A short punt leads to the Pack taking back over on its own 46.

7:17
Louisville stuffs Delbert Mimms, and NC State has to punt after a quick three and out. The Cardinals have the ball back on its own 30 with 8:52.

7:11
Louisville drives into NC State territory, but the Pack holds up by forcing an incomplete pass on third and 3. Devon Betty got to the quarterback and rushed the pass. The Wolfpack takes over at its own 15 with 10:48 to go in the first quarter.

7:04
The Wolfpack wins the toss and defers to the second half.