NC State started the 2025 season 1-0 and showed it was a different defensive team in a 24-17 win over East Carolina on Thursday at Carter-Finley Stadium.
NC State started the 2025 season 1-0 and showed it was a different defensive team in a 24-17 win over East Carolina on Thursday at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Play of the game
Because it was on fourth down and one, the game ended when Temple redshirt junior cornerback transfer Jamel Johnson took care of business and tackled for a loss of a yard on the quick pass to tight end Desirrio Riles.
Not to be forgotten is that NC State stuffed Parker Jenkins on third and one on the previous play, with linebackers Caden Fordham and A.J. Richardson getting credit for the tackle.
Three game balls
1. Senior wide receiver Wesley Grimes: Grimes had a pair of big players, including a 48-yard touchdown catch to make it 17-0 with 11:03 left in the second quarter. He then caught a deep ball for 46 yards to the ECU 19-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The former Wake Forest transfer finished with four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
2. Senior defensive end Sabastian Harsh: The Wyoming defensive end transfer finished with seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one pass broken up and one quarterback hit. He combined with Utah State senior transfer Cian Slone to produce steady pressure.
3. Senior cornerback Devon Marshall: Marshall wasn’t splashy, but he had five tackles and two passes broken up, and Pro Football Focus had ECU completing four passes for just 16 yards against him.
Key statistical advantages
When NC State took a 17-0 lead, the Wolfpack had 210 total yards and East Carolina had minus-15 yards. ECU got untracked and NC State ended up holding a 423-413 yards advantage.
East Carolina went 6 of 16 on third downs, and just 1 of 4 on fourth downs, proving to be a big advantage for NC State.
East Carolina managed 29 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown, with a long of 10. NC State countered with 36 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
East Carolina had 11 pass plays of over 15 yards for a total of 298 yards, and NC State had six for 201 yards.
What went well
NC State accomplished several key aspects, starting with allowing sophomore quarterback C.J. Bailey to have time in the pocket and the defense was credited with four missed tackles by Pro Football Focus.
Bailey was sacked once and had the time to throw for 318 yards and a touchdown, and he spread the wealth around to seven different receivers.
Wide receivers Teddy Hoffmann, a freshman, and Grimes both came up big. Hoffmann had five catches for 93 yards and provided a spark.
NC State’s defense shut down the East Carolina running game, holding the Pirates to 29 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown.
NC State finished with nine tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits. Slone and Harsh, both Mountain West Conference transfers, were factors in combining for 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.
What needs improvement
East Carolina sophomore tight end Jayvontay Conner rumbled his way for a 79-yard touchdown to halt NC State’s momentum, cutting the lead to 17-7 with 2:21 left in the second quarter. NC State senior safety Jeremiah Johnson didn’t wrap up Conner and bounced off of him, and redshirt freshman safety Ronnie Royal couldn’t get the proper angle on him.
NC State’s scored with 11:03 left in the second quarter and managed seven points the rest of the game. NC State new kicker Nick Konieczynski missed a 40-yard field goal and a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, contributing to the drought.
NCSU had one sack and forced zero turnovers, and Bailey threw a costly interception at the ECU 37-yard line with 28 seconds left in the second quarter. Bailey’s other negative play was holding on to the ball too long and getting sacked at ECU 23-yard line, right before the missed field goal.
NC State had seven penalties, including having 12 men on the field in a substitution snafu on Conner’s touchdown catch.
The Wolfpacker’s game coverage
• Recruits react to NC State’s rivalry win over ECU
• NC State WR Teddy Hoffmann’s record-setting first impression shocked some. But not QB CJ Bailey
• Wolfpack defense comes up big when it needed to
• Instant observations: NC State survives to beat East Carolina in season opener
• How transfer pass rushers Cian Slone, Sabastian Harsh paced NC State’s defense in win over ECU
• NC State football snap counts, PFF grades and notes: Defense vs. ECU
• NC State football snap counts, PFF grades and notes: Offense vs. ECU
• NC State football report card: Grading the Wolfpack’s 24-17 win over ECU
• What they’re saying after NC State’s win over ECU
• NC State focused on ‘finishing better’ after season-opening win over ECU
• How Wesley Grimes’ faith helped propel a career-best effort in NC State’s win over ECU
• NC State’s defense comes up big when it needed to
• Instant observations: NC State survives to beat ECU in season opener
• NC State downs ECU to open 2025 season with a win
• NC State’s postgame press conferences
Category: General Sports
