What they’re saying after NC State’s loss to Wake Forest

After NC State held a 10-point lead with 11 minutes to play, Wake Forest scored 14 unanswered to beat the Wolfpack 34-30 on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Here is what those who covered the game are saying about the Pack’s third loss of the season.

Ethan McDowell, The Wolfpacker — Column: Preseason aspirations drift far out of reach in NC State loss to Wake Forest

NC State came into this game with hope. The Pack won its last game against Northern Illinois, showing defensive promise before a matchup against the ACC’s worst rushing offense and No. 16 passing defense with its starting quarterback returning to the lineup. 

A 10-point lead turned into a 4-point deficit over the final 13:08 of Saturday’s 34-30 loss to Wake Forest. The Wolfpack fell to 3-3 on the season and does not have a win over a Power Four team yet this fall in a year that was supposed to at least keep up the status quo of consistent winning in Raleigh if not take the program to the next level. Instead, this team needs to win 3 of its final 6 contests to make a bowl game. 

And at the end of the day, football comes second after this gut-punching defeat for the Pack. Grayson McCall’s health is far more important after a scary injury during the opening offensive drive of the game. 

Noah Fleischman, The Wolfpacker — How NC State let a 10-point fourth quarter lead slip away in loss to Wake Forest

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.”

Jadyn Watson-Fisher, News & Observer — ‘Heartbreaking to see’: Massive hit sends NC State quarterback Grayson McCall to hospital

N.C. State quarterback Grayson McCall was carted off the field during the Wolfpack’s first drive against Wake Forest on Saturday after a big hit sent the graduate student tumbling to the turf. 

McCall was hit by Wake Forest linebacker Quincy Bryant. McCall’s helmet flew off and his mouth guard came out of his mouth. McCall hit the ground and teammates, notably wide receiver Keenan Jackson, immediately signaled to the sideline for medical attention while the ball was still in play. McCall lost consciousness for a brief period.

Medical staff, head coach Dave Doeren and McCall’s father ran onto the field following the hit. Team captain Davin Vann kneeled with tears in his eyes as paramedics stabilized McCall’s neck and transported him off the field on a spinal board. Offensive line coach Garrett Tujague and linebacker Sean Brown kneeled on the sideline, appearing to pray for the quarterback. 

“It was heartbreaking to see that,” offensive lineman Tim McKay said. “He’s a guy who fought hard for us. He came here from Coastal, is a captain. Seeing him go down earlier in the season and go down again this week is kind of disheartening. We know how hard he works for us. It’s really sad seeing that.”

Andrew Carter, News & Observer — As NC State’s Grayson McCall absorbs another violent hit, a reminder of football’s cost, risk

In any given televised football game on any given Saturday or Sunday, violent replays are a part of the spectacle and maybe the allure. The devastating sack of a quarterback. A linebacker who meets a running back or receiver at full speed, and creates a turnover. It has long been part of the culture and draw of the sport: the big hits and the ogling of those big hits. 

The oohs and the aahs and the “hope-he’s-OKs,” because that looked rough. 

“But he’s up,” so goes the usual relief. “Back in the huddle, somehow.” 

Good. Onto the next play.

There was no next play on Saturday for N.C. State quarterback Grayson McCall. And there was no replay during the broadcast on The CW. That choice alone should tell you how bad it was and how concerning; how downright scary — so much so that TV, which often knows no limit to the football violence it’s willing to share and reshare, found this moment too much to show again.

Bob Sutton, Associated Press — Claiborne scores three TDs and Wake Forest rallies past NC State 34-30

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Demond Claiborne ran 3 yards with 1:01 remaining for his third touchdown and Wake Forest overcome a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat NC State 34-30 on Saturday.

Claiborne ran for 136 yards on 20 carries with two rushing TDs and one scoring catch. Hank Bachmeier threw two touchdown passes as Wake Forest (2-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak.

“Just kind of savor this one,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “I’m tired, I’m shot and I’m really, really proud of our football team. That was special.”

The Demon Deacons converted two fourth-down plays on a 13-play, 65-yard winning drive. Branson Combs intercepted a pass on NC State’s next possession to seal the outcome.

“Gutsy call by them,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said of the Demon Deacons’ final-possession gamble. “They made plays and we didn’t.”

David Hale, ESPN — NC State’s Grayson McCall released from hospital after hit to head

NC State quarterback Grayson McCall was carted off the field after taking a hit to the head following an interception in the first quarter of Saturday’s 34-30 loss to Wake Forest in Raleigh, N.C.

McCall was transported to a nearby hospital but later released with NC State announcing that the quarterback “is alert and in good spirits.” All scans were normal, according to the team.

McCall was making his first start after missing the past two games for the Wolfpack due to a concussion.

After the game, coach Dave Doeren said McCall had passed all concussion protocols in advance of the Wake game and was cleared to play

“He was ready to play, and he took a really vicious hit,” Doeren said. “Sometimes football is a very violent sport, at times, and that was a big hit that he took. … I hate it for him. You just hate to see a guy get hit like that. And obviously the results of hits like that are scary.”