NC State Football Performance 'Not Good Enough' to Defeat Duke
Dave Doeren's 12th NC State football team wrapped up its home slate on Saturday, a 29-19 defeat at the hands of Manny Diaz's first batch of Blue Devils (7-3, 3-3 ACC). The Wolfpack (5-5, 2-4 ACC), still seeking bowl eligibility, finished 4-3 in Carter-Finley Stadium but only 1-3 at home against conference opponents.
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Plus, between the four ACC teams that traveled to Raleigh this season, not a single one currently boasts a winning record in conference play.
So, Senior Day — not to mention the season as a whole to this point — didn't go as hoped for the Wolfpack, who began the year at No. 24 in the AP Top 25 Poll. For the most part, State failed to make the most of its prime scoring opportunities versus Duke.
Here is Doeren's opening statement to the media following the program's second straight loss to the Blue Devils in as many seasons:
"Congratulations to Duke on the win. It was a hard-fought defensive game by both teams. You know, when you look at the statistics, they were 0-of-9 on third down. And the game came down to us kicking field goals and them scoring a couple more touchdowns than us. We gave them a short field with a turnover in the red zone, which really hurt.
"Defensively, we played good enough in that game for us to win, and we just didn't connect offensively enough...
"You know, [NC State football freshman quarterback CJ Bailey] threw some good balls that were dropped. He threw behind a couple of guys. He threw high to a couple of guys. And we got to make some play calls in certain situations to help.
"But collectively, it's not good enough. And you know, it's a 'we, us, and ours' business, and there isn't any blame other than everybody — it starts with me.
"Disappointing, more than anything, just for our seniors. Like I said, I take it really personal to send them out with a win.
"And I thought we prepared well and didn't get it done.
"Duke has a good defense. Statistically, they've been really good all year. And they showed that today, and they made it hard on us offensively. And we just weren't able to capitalize when we got the ball across the 20.
"Every time we got down there, we didn't get touchdowns but once."
Now, NC State football has a bye week to prepare for its road battle against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-4, 4-3 ACC) at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Nov. 21 (ESPN).
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.