What they’re saying after NC State’s win over Louisiana Tech

NC State bounced back into the win column with a 30-20 victory over Louisiana Tech in come-from-behind fashion Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium. 

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

Ethan McDowell, The Wolfpacker — Column: CJ Bailey proved the future could be the present for NC State football

CJ Bailey started building a reputation behind the scenes during his first months on campus. He quieted any concerns around NC State’s backup quarterback situation, providing security as the apparent heir to the QB1 spot in Raleigh. 

“CJ is absolutely unreal,” one source told TheWolfpacker.com in March, shortly after the program began spring practice. 

An injury to Grayson McCall in the second quarter accelerated his coronation. Bailey attempted the first pass of his collegiate career with the Pack trailing by 1:50 left in the second quarter— a deep incompletion intended for Noah Rogers.  

He threw an interception on his second drive and, a few plays later, NC State stared down a 17-6 deficit with a few seconds till halftime. 

The next 30 minutes of game time showed a glimpse into a potential promising future with Bailey lined up under center. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 156 yards and scored the first touchdown of his career on a 1-yard rush. At one point, he completed 7-consecutive passes. The true freshman completed 4 throws of 19 yards or more.

Noah Fleischman, The Wolfpacker — QB CJ Bailey rises to occasion, impresses in NC State’s win over Louisiana Tech

CJ Bailey could see it coming. Louisiana Tech’s Isaiah Mcelvane found a lane and was barreling down towards NC State’s freshman quarterback in crunch time. But with a 3-point lead, Bailey remained composed and delivered a strike to junior tight end Justin Joly as he was hit early in the fourth quarter.

The pass, which followed a 19-yard sideline dart to redshirt freshman Noah Rogers, went for 34 yards and moved the Wolfpack inside the Bulldogs’ 15-yard line. Graduate left tackle Anthony Belton patted Bailey on the back and four plays later, the quarterback capped the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown — his first of his NC State career. 

“I was just going off what the defense did,” Bailey said after NC State’s 30-20 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday afternoon. “The defense was making plays, so I had to step in and make plays as well. Once I made that first play, it just kept on going like a domino effect.”

Jadyn Watson-Fisher, News & Observer — ‘Recruited for a reason’: Freshman CJ Bailey shines in N.C. State’s comeback win

N.C. State quarterback Grayson McCall, a towel draped over his head, exited the tunnel at Carter-Finley Stadium and embraced fellow quarterback CJ Bailey. 

Bailey’s face broke into a smile as he exclaimed, “Grayson!” The two embraced in a hug as McCall expressed pride in the true freshman. 

Bailey entered the game in the second quarter after McCall left due to an injury. McCall’s status is unclear, but Bailey’s is not. He’s the starting QB for however long McCall, a graduate student, is out, and according to safety DK Kaufman, the reason N.C. State pulled off the 30-20 win on Saturday over Louisiana Tech. 

“It was ‘next man up’ mentality,” Kaufman said. “Hopefully Grayson feels better, but CJ did what he had to do. We were with him the whole way. We’re behind Grayson all the way. I’m proud of him. I’m happy for him also. He got us that dub. … This is a big-time ball game on national television. But he’s used to it. He just showed us that.”

Colby Trotter, Technician — CJ Bailey offers glimpse into future, potentially present for NC State football

There’s a reason why NC State football head coach Dave Doeren didn’t go looking in the portal for a veteran quarterback to backup graduate signal-caller Grayson McCall.

From what Doeren and the rest of his staff saw in spring practice, they felt freshman quarterback CJ Bailey was more than capable of being the number two behind McCall. Bailey showed why NC State had faith in him in the Pack’s 30-20 win over Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Bailey stayed poised in the pocket, made decisive throws and showed off his playmaking ability to help NC State overcome a 17-6 halftime deficit. The former three-star recruit led the Wolfpack on three scoring drives in the second half to outscore the Bulldogs 24-3, including his first touchdown of his collegiate career.

“I think it’s just poise,” Doeren said when asked what was the most impressive part of Bailey’s performance. “He just went out there and played the game. Whether he was throwing the football or scrambling, throwing it away, rushing for some tough yards at times to extend the chains, he did a really good job just managing it and playing fast, and he looked really poised. So that was good to see.”

Bob Sutton, Associated Press — Backup QB Bailey helps NC State overcome Louisiana Tech, 30-20

Backup quarterback CJ Bailey was at the controls for three second-half scoring drives, DK Kaufman returned an interception for a touchdown and NC State rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat Louisiana Tech 30-20 on Saturday.

Bailey, a true freshman summoned when starter Grayson McCall departed with an injury, ran for a 1-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Wolfpack finally gained command of the game.

“I had to step in and make plays,” Bailey said. “I had to learn.”

Bailey threw for 156 yards in two-plus quarters.

“Going into the half, everybody was having that ‘I’ve got your back’ mentality,” he said.

Kaufman sparked the comeback by going 33 yards for a touchdown on an interception in the opening minute of the second half. Kanoah Vinesett kicked field goals of 39, 35 and 52 yards for NC State (2-1), which eventually bounced back from a lopsided loss a week earlier to then-No. 14 Tennessee.