NC State football rallies. Three takeaways from the Wolfpack’s win over Louisiana Tech

Fans began filing out of Carter-Finley Stadium late in the fourth quarter, and those supporting N.C. State smiles on their faces. It was a significant change from the reactions many gave early in Saturday’s game.

Struggles continued for N.C. State in Week 3, but it overcame plenty of adversity to get back in the win column, defeating Louisiana Tech, 30-20, in a gritty, ugly game.

“Proud of the way our guys came back, and that’s what I’m used to seeing,” Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said. “It was obviously not a great first half, to say the least, but it was great response in the second, players rallied around each other.”

Many of the issues stem from an ongoing lack of chemistry, and the contest was a chance to build that further. With 42 new players on the Wolfpack (2-1) roster, everyone is still learning how to play efficiently as a group.

“It’s not something that you just snap your fingers and fix,” Doeren said earlier in the week. “You gotta have reps. In-game reps are the most important when it comes to that, because that’s where you really see what’s going on when the bullets are flying out there, per se. It’s going to get better and better. This is a team that has to improve each week, and that’s what this week’s about. It’s about responding.”

Its third straight slow start didn’t provide much confidence, but N.C. State finally looked halfway put together.

The Wolfpack took an early 6-0 lead after a pair of field goals from place kicker Kanoah Vinesett. Then, Louisiana Tech (1-1) stormed back.

The Bulldogs scored two consecutive touchdowns in the first half to go up 14-6. They added a 57-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the second quarter and took a 17-6 lead into the locker room. The Pack recorded just 117 yards in the first 30 minutes of play.

N.C. State responded in the second half, after true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey replaced injured starter Grayson McCall, to defeat the visiting Bulldogs.

Doeren said most of the halftime conversation was player-led, but he reminded them Bailey would play hard and told them to forget about the numbers.

“’Defense is going to get up first, they’re going to make a stop. Offense, you’re going to go score, and it’s going to be a one possession game before you look up,’” Doeren said. “And I said, ‘Just quit thinking about the scoreboard. Think about playing really physical and together, and if you do that, we’re going to win.’ That’s what the guys did. They did a great job listening, being in it, responding, cheering each other on on the sideline, demanding more. I thought it was really good response.”

The Pack finished with 361 yards — 210 passing — and 20 first downs. After starting 2 of 7 (29%) on third down, it ended with seven conversions on 13 attempts (53%).

On the other side of the ball, the defensive effort ratcheted up. It allowed the Bulldogs to rack up 202 yards in the first half but only 122 in the second.

N.C. State didn’t have a perfect game — far, far from it — but it started to look like a unit.

“Everybody was having that, ‘That I got your back; we’ve got each other’s back mentality,’” Bailey said. “Just go out there (in the) second half and play for each other. Clean up the mistakes coming from the first half. The main thing was brotherhood.”

Injuries play major factor in performance

N.C. State left Charlotte, after losing 51-10 to Tennessee, feeling relatively well, health-wise. That wasn’t the case on Saturday.

The program announced shortly before kickoff starting cornerback Aydan White would not play due to injury. He was replaced by Corey Coley Jr., who played opposite Brandon Cisse. Cisse left the game on the first defensive drive, returning to the sideline without pads. Doeren said White is day-to-day, but he had no additional information on Cisse.

McCall left the game with 2:41 left in the first half and did not return. He finished 9 of 13 passing for 54 yards. He added 22 yards rushing, including a 12-yard quarterback carry.

“I’m not going to comment on his injury until I know exactly what’s going on,” Doeren said. “You guys saw him. He was on the sideline after the game, congratulating CJ. Once I have information in my conference Monday, I’ll let you guys know where he stands, but I’m not going to speculate on it.”

Additionally, running back Demarcus Jones left the game in the first quarter after sustaining an injury on special teams but returned to the sideline fully dressed.

Defense shows signs of life

During fall camp, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson talked about the expectations for his players. The Wolfpack talked about a refusal to settle or drop off, despite Payton Wilson’s departure. There’s still plenty of room to grow, but it took steps forward against the Bulldogs.

DK Kaufman started the comeback effort on the first drive of the second half. The Auburn transfer intercepted Louisiana Tech quarterback Jack Turner’s pass and returned the ball for a 33-yard pick six after defensive end Davin Vann tackled Turner.

It was the second straight game that the defense returned an interception for a touchdown. With 4:10 left in the game, Kaufman nearly had a fumble recovery touchdown. It was taken off the board after officials ruled Turner’s pass was incomplete, but Kaufman’s effort provided another boost to the team.

Kaufman took blame for the Louisiana Tech touchdowns, saying he missed his assignment. He made up for those mistakes.

“I just told them, ‘Man, that’s on me,’ and you just find ways. You got to keep fighting through,” Kaufman said. “You got to have short memories, especially as a DB. You’ve got to have a real short memory.”

Additionally, the Wolfpack defense recorded two three-and-outs, the most all season. A goal line stand in the third quarter stopped the Bulldogs from retaking the lead, while Sean Brown’s pressure with 3:19 in the fourth forced a turnover on downs. LA Tech scored three points in the second half, a far cry from the first.

“We always talk about being a second half team and a fourth quarter team,” Kaufman added. “You want to start fast, but you really want to own the second half, especially the fourth quarter. That was just really a good thing, coming out and doing that.”

Wolfpack dominates time of possession

Time of possession during N.C. State’s first drive against Tennessee was one of the few things it felt good about last week. It gained 29 yards but possessed the ball for 6:49

“The game plan was to possess the ball, keep their offense on the sideline, have long clock-eating drives that ended with a kick — preferably with points,” Doeren said Monday, noting Tennessee’s high-octane, quick offense.

It entered the game facing a similar challenge with Louisiana Tech, which had 11 drives of two minutes or fewer in its Week 1 game.

After three total drives, the Wolfpack possessed the football four times as long as the Bulldogs, taking 8:07 off the clock compared to 1:49.

Though trailing on the scoreboard, N.C. State led the time of possession battle 17:50 to 12:10 at halftime. It finished the game possessing the ball for 36:36 compared to 23:24.

Five scoring drives lasted longer than three minutes, with one drive shaving 8:11 off the clock.

Time of possession doesn’t tell the entire story — the Bulldogs scored one touchdown in 13 seconds — but having that advantage certainly helps.