Wolfpack Responds: NC State Holds Off Appalachian State, 41-31, Behind Duke Scott’s Big Night (9-26-26)

BY: LMS NETWORK TEAM

HEADLINE PHOTO CREDIT: NC STATE FOOTBALL

RALEIGH, N.C. — September 26, 2026 — One week after a devastating last-second loss at Vanderbilt, NC State returned to Carter-Finley Stadium needing a victory.

The Wolfpack got one — although the path was anything but comfortable.
NC State built a 21-point lead, watched Appalachian State rally to tie the game in the fourth quarter, then answered with 10 unanswered points to secure a 41-31 victory Saturday night.
Running back Duke Scott rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 5:08 remaining, as the Wolfpack improved to 2-2 and handed the Mountaineers their first loss of the season.
Wolfpack Establishes Control Early

NC State wasted little time setting the tone.
Quarterback CJ Bailey led the Wolfpack on a 75-yard opening drive and finished it with a five-yard touchdown run. Scott added a nine-yard scoring run late in the first quarter, giving NC State a 14-0 advantage.
Bailey then connected with Ashton Locklear for a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 21-0.

Appalachian State responded with a touchdown, but Bailey found Keenan Jackson for a 17-yard score before halftime.

NC State had scored four touchdowns on six first-half possessions and carried a 28-10 lead into the break.
It was the kind of offensive start the Wolfpack needed after the disappointment in Nashville.
Scott Powers the Ground Game

Scott became the centerpiece of NC State’s offense.
His 148 rushing yards helped the Wolfpack finish with 206 yards on the ground, giving the offense a physical foundation throughout the evening.

Bailey complemented that production with 253 passing yards and two touchdown passes.
NC State finished with 459 total yards and 26 first downs, converted 11 of 17 third-down opportunities and scored on all seven trips inside the red zone.

For much of the night, those numbers reflected a team firmly in control.
But Appalachian State wasn’t finished.

A Comfortable Lead Disappears

Appalachian State began cutting into the deficit in the third quarter.

A two-yard touchdown run by Jaquari Lewis brought the Mountaineers within 28-17. NC State answered with a 23-yard field goal from Kanoah Vinesett, taking a 31-17 lead into the fourth quarter.

Then the momentum shifted dramatically.

Mountaineers quarterback Malachi Singleton found Sam Pickett III for an 18-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to seven.

On NC State’s next possession, Bailey threw an interception. Appalachian State capitalized with a touchdown pass to Gavin Barber, tying the game at 31-31 with 9:41 remaining.

A game NC State had controlled for three quarters was suddenly up for grabs.

The Drive That Saved the Night

With the game tied and the pressure mounting, NC State needed its offense to respond.

Bailey opened the possession with a 19-yard completion to Jackson. From there, the Wolfpack turned to its rushing attack.

Scott and Davion Gause carried the ball on eight consecutive plays, moving NC State downfield and forcing Appalachian State to defend a sustained, physical drive.

Scott finished the nine-play, 75-yard possession with a 16-yard touchdown run.

With 5:08 remaining, the Wolfpack had reclaimed the lead, 38-31.

It was Scott’s second touchdown of the evening and the most important offensive play of NC State’s night.

Defense Delivers When It Matters

The Wolfpack defense had struggled to contain Appalachian State’s passing attack during the comeback, but it produced a crucial stop with the game on the line.

On fourth down with 3:59 remaining, Jackson Vick broke up a pass, returning possession to NC State.

The offense used the opportunity to extend its advantage.

Vinesett connected on a 35-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining, giving the Wolfpack a 41-31 lead.

Appalachian State had one final opportunity, but James London’s 42-yard field-goal attempt missed wide left with 45 seconds remaining.

NC State had survived.

Wolfpack Defense Limits the Run

Although Appalachian State quarterback Singleton threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, NC State’s defense made the Mountaineers one-dimensional.

Appalachian State managed just 62 rushing yards on 22 attempts, averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

That contrast was significant.

While NC State accumulated 206 rushing yards, the Mountaineers struggled to establish consistent production on the ground.

The Wolfpack also held Appalachian State to five conversions on 14 third-down attempts.

Those defensive numbers helped NC State withstand the Mountaineers’ late passing-game surge.

Moving Forward After Vanderbilt

Saturday’s victory carried added significance because of what happened the previous week.

Against Vanderbilt, NC State lost on a fumble recovered for a touchdown in the final seconds. Against Appalachian State, the Wolfpack again found itself facing a difficult fourth-quarter situation.

This time, the response was different.

The offense put together the decisive touchdown drive, the defense produced a fourth-down stop, and the kicking game supplied the points that secured the result.

Head coach Dave Doeren credited his players for staying together through a difficult week and responding to outside criticism.

The win didn’t erase the concerns raised by another late-game comeback. It did, however, give NC State something it badly needed: a victory to build upon.

By the Numbers

Category	NC State	Appalachian State
Total yards	459	379
Rushing yards	206	62
Passing yards	253	317
First downs	26	18
Third-down conversions	11 of 17	5 of 14
Time of possession	36:23	23:37

What’s Next for NC State?

The Wolfpack returns to ACC competition when Louisville visits Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, October 3.

NC State enters that matchup at 2-2 overall, looking to carry the momentum from Saturday’s victory into conference play.

The challenge will be putting together four consistent quarters against another quality opponent.

Final Word

NC State 41, Appalachian State 31

The Wolfpack needed a response after Vanderbilt, and it delivered one.

Scott’s 148-yard performance gave NC State a reliable offensive foundation. Bailey helped build a commanding first-half lead. And when Appalachian State erased that advantage, the Wolfpack found enough composure to finish the job.

It wasn’t the comfortable victory NC State appeared headed toward early in the night.

But after the previous week’s heartbreak, finishing on the winning side mattered.

The Wolfpack is back in the win column — and now the focus turns to ACC play.