By The Tobacco Road Scribe
Raleigh, NC – For nearly two weeks, NC State had to live with the evidence of everything it had done poorly in its season opener. On Friday evening, the Wolfpack answered emphatically.
NC State scored on its first six possessions, amassed a school-record 734 yards of offense and rushed for a program-record eight touchdowns in a 73-0 demolition of Richmond at Carter-Finley Stadium. The performance, interrupted by a lengthy lightning delay, gave the Wolfpack its first victory of the 2026 season and provided an overwhelming response to its 34-8 loss at Virginia on Aug. 29.
Running back Jayden “Duke” Scott rushed nine times for 128 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard score. Quarterback CJ Bailey completed 13 of 17 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown before handing the ball to backup Will Wilson. Wilson contributed three rushing touchdowns and another through the air.
NC State finished with 428 rushing yards, averaged 10.6 yards on its 69 offensive plays and outgained Richmond by 624 yards. The Wolfpack’s 73 points were the most scored by the program since 1936, while its 10 touchdowns were its most in a game since 1919. It was also the highest-scoring performance in Carter-Finley Stadium history.
The numbers made the result historic. The circumstances made it necessary.
“We had 14 days to have to eat it,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said of the loss at Virginia. “You want a response. … It was all about the preparation.”
A statement from the opening possession
There was little suspense once NC State’s offense took the field.
The Wolfpack’s first possession traveled 77 yards in four plays, ending with Scott’s 5-yard touchdown run. After Richmond went three-and-out, Scott needed just one snap to strike again. He burst through the right side of the line, escaped an attempted tackle and accelerated into the open field for a 65-yard touchdown.
The drive lasted 11 seconds.
Scott’s second score gave NC State a 14-0 advantage with 10:44 remaining in the opening quarter and established the game’s defining reality: Richmond could not match the Wolfpack at the line of scrimmage.
“I just hit the hole,” Scott said. “I saw it; I hit it. I happened to break a tackle, and it was off to the races.”
Scott reached 100 rushing yards during the first quarter and finished the half with 128 despite receiving only nine carries. His 14.2-yard average reflected both his decisiveness and the space created by NC State’s offensive front.
The Wolfpack followed Scott’s long touchdown with a more deliberate scoring drive. Beginning at its own 14-yard line, NC State covered 86 yards in 13 plays and consumed more than seven minutes. Davion Gause completed the march with a 9-yard touchdown run, giving the Wolfpack a 21-0 lead late in the first quarter.
The contrast with the Virginia game was immediate. NC State had struggled to control the line of scrimmage in Charlottesville, failed to establish a dependable running game and repeatedly placed Bailey in difficult situations. Against Richmond, the Wolfpack created running lanes, protected the quarterback and stayed ahead of the down-and-distance schedule.
“The whole line, they blocked their behinds off,” Scott said. “Big shout-out to those guys up front because, no matter who was back there, they all went to work. I don’t think they get enough credit sometimes.”
NC State rushed for 428 yards on 45 attempts, averaging 9.5 yards per carry. Ten players recorded at least one rushing attempt, and five different players scored on the ground. The Wolfpack produced 436 positive rushing yards while losing only eight.
“When you win the line of scrimmage, everything on offense works,” Doeren said. “The quarterback has more time. The running backs get bigger holes. The wideouts and tight ends get more time to get open.”
The storm delays the rout
The only force capable of stopping NC State during the first half was the weather.
Bailey scored on a 1-yard keeper early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 28-0. Moments later, lightning in the area forced the teams off the field with 11:33 remaining in the half. The interruption lengthened a game that officially took four hours and 47 minutes to complete.
The delay arrived at a potentially disruptive moment. NC State had seized complete control, and Richmond had just lost a fumble that gave the Wolfpack the ball at the Spiders’ 42-yard line. Long weather interruptions can drain momentum, scatter concentration and transform the rhythm of a game.
None of that happened to NC State.
When play resumed, the Wolfpack continued scoring at nearly the same rate. Wilson entered in a short-yardage role and scored on a 1-yard run for a 35-0 advantage. Jackson Vick’s interception then ended Richmond’s next possession and returned the ball to the Wolfpack offense.
Bailey converted the opportunity with another efficient drive. A long completion helped carry NC State into Richmond territory, and Bailey found Preston Douglas for a 15-yard touchdown with 6:23 remaining in the half.
Douglas caught two passes for 58 yards, while Bailey distributed the football throughout the offense. Keenan Jackson led all receivers with four catches for 123 yards, including a 54-yard reception. JoJo Trader added three catches for 52 yards, and nine Wolfpack players recorded at least one reception.
NC State’s only empty possession of the first half ended with its lone punt of the game. The Wolfpack immediately resumed scoring after its defense forced another Richmond punt, driving 86 yards in only 78 seconds.
Wilson scored from a yard out with 24 seconds remaining, sending NC State to halftime with a 49-0 lead.
Richmond entered the evening ranked No. 21 in the Football Championship Subdivision and carrying a 2-0 record. The Spiders had defeated Bucknell and Howard and had not surrendered a first-half point in either victory, outscoring those opponents 48-0 before halftime.
NC State exceeded that total by one point in two quarters. The Wolfpack scored on six of its first seven possessions and recorded 439 yards before intermission.
For Richmond, the mismatch was comprehensive. The Spiders could not sustain drives, prevent explosive plays or force NC State into enough obvious passing situations to test the Wolfpack offense consistently. An opponent that had been defensively sound during its first two games was overwhelmed by NC State’s size, speed and execution.
Bailey restores order to the offense
Bailey’s performance was not defined by gaudy touchdown totals. It was valuable because of its efficiency and restraint.
The quarterback completed 76.5% of his passes, averaged 16.5 yards per completion and did not throw an interception. He finished with 281 passing yards on only 17 attempts, a rate of 16.5 yards per attempt.
Bailey also rushed six times for 25 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he appeared comfortable operating the offense. He took what Richmond’s defense allowed, made timely throws and avoided the damaging decisions that can allow an overmatched opponent to remain competitive.
“He distributed the ball,” Doeren said. “He played on time. He was accurate. He did some things with his legs when he needed to. He took care of the football.”
That clean performance mattered after a difficult opener in which the entire NC State offense struggled to find a sustainable identity. Against Virginia, Bailey often faced pressure and carried too much of the burden while the Wolfpack chased the game. Richmond never created the same conditions.
Scott said the game’s flow allowed Bailey to settle into his assignments without believing he had to manufacture a big play on every snap.
“CJ knew he didn’t have to force any plays,” Scott said. “He played a lot more comfortably, a lot more confidently.”
Bailey was not flawless. Richmond recorded two sacks, and NC State lost a fumble. Against a stronger opponent, even isolated protection failures and ball-security mistakes can alter a game. On Friday, those errors were swallowed by the Wolfpack’s volume of production.
Bailey’s ability to generate explosive passes was particularly encouraging. Jackson averaged 30.8 yards per catch, Douglas averaged 29 yards and Trader averaged 17.3. The three receivers combined for 233 yards on nine receptions.
Jackson’s 123-yard performance supplied NC State with a downfield threat and provided early evidence that he can become one of Bailey’s principal targets. With the offense replacing significant production from previous seasons, identifying dependable receivers is a central early-season task.
Richmond did not offer the coverage talent or pass rush NC State will see in the ACC. Still, Bailey did what a veteran quarterback should do against an overmatched defense: he identified favorable matchups and attacked them without creating unnecessary danger.
Wilson turns backup duty into a showcase
By the second half, Bailey’s work was complete. Wilson took over the offense and converted the extended appearance into one of the game’s most notable individual performances.
Wilson completed 5 of 7 passes for 25 yards and a touchdown. He also carried 10 times for 62 yards and three scores, accounting for four touchdowns overall.
His third rushing touchdown came at the end of an 11-play, 66-yard possession to begin the second half. NC State kept the ball for nearly six minutes before Wilson scored from 5 yards, extending the lead to 56-0.
Later in the third quarter, Wilson connected with Hunter Provience for a 3-yard touchdown. The two-play, 54-yard drive required only 54 seconds and lifted the margin to 63 points.
Wilson’s contribution was more than late-game accumulation. He had already been involved in short-yardage situations while the first-team offense was operating, scoring twice before halftime. His running ability gave NC State a direct, physical option near the goal line, and his command after replacing Bailey helped the offense maintain its structure.
The Wolfpack scored touchdowns on all eight red-zone possessions and converted eight of its 10 third downs. It never attempted a fourth-down conversion because it did not need one.
Those situational statistics are as meaningful as any number produced during a game this uneven. Explosive plays can inflate yardage against an FCS opponent, but third-down and red-zone efficiency require communication and execution. NC State consistently completed the assignment.
Wilson’s extended work also served a developmental purpose. College football rosters are increasingly tested by injuries and attrition, and backup quarterbacks rarely receive meaningful game repetitions without the outcome being in doubt. Friday gave Wilson an opportunity to operate the full offense, throw from the pocket and manage extended possessions.
NC State used the entire roster extensively. The statistical effect was striking: four Wolfpack players rushed for at least 50 yards.
Behind Scott’s 128, Dylan McCory gained 73 yards on four carries, Wilson added 62 and Jonathan Paylor produced 52 on two attempts. Gause rushed for 37 yards and Bailey added 25.
McCory supplied the game’s final touchdown with a 51-yard run at the 1:49 mark. The freshman initially followed the designed path before cutting back across the formation and breaking into the open field.
“That was probably my favorite run of the night,” Scott said. “He bent it all the way backside, and the run was supposed to go frontside. That was a very impressive play from a young guy who was just now getting out of high school.”
The defense closes every door
NC State’s offensive totals will dominate the record book, but the shutout required the defense to remain engaged long after the outcome was settled.
Richmond finished with 110 total yards and six first downs. The Spiders averaged 2.2 yards per play, converted two of 13 third downs and never entered the red zone. They punted nine times and committed two turnovers.
The Wolfpack allowed 76 passing yards and 34 rushing yards. Richmond completed only 8 of 27 passes and averaged 1.5 yards on its 22 rushing attempts.
Richmond running back Warrick Stephenson accounted for nearly all the Spiders’ ground production, gaining 58 yards on 14 carries. The rest of Richmond’s rushers combined to lose 24 yards.
Starting quarterback Ashten Snelsire completed 8 of 23 passes for 76 yards and an interception. Backup Jack Callaghan went 0-for-4, was sacked twice and finished with minus-14 rushing yards.
Vick recorded NC State’s interception, while Ty White recovered a fumble. Adrian Farrow and Elijah Satchell registered sacks. Satchell also forced a fumble and recorded two tackles for loss.
The balanced tackle distribution showed the extent of NC State’s substitutions. Four defenders – Popo Aguirre, Brian Nelson II, Brody Barnhardt and Omarian Abraham – shared the team lead with three tackles apiece. NC State rotated deeply without surrendering the shutout.
That was significant because preserving defensive intensity in a 49-0 or 63-0 game can be difficult. Younger players are excited to enter, but mass substitutions can create communication errors, missed assignments and preventable scores. Richmond never found that opening.
Nelson said attention to detail helped the defense maintain its performance.
“We definitely needed this win, definitely needed some momentum in the locker room, just to get our confidence back,” Nelson said in his postgame remarks. “We know we are a great team; we know we are good.”
The shutout was NC State’s first since a 27-0 victory over South Florida in 2022. It was also the Wolfpack’s most lopsided victory since beating Davidson 90-0 in 1919.
Those historical comparisons capture how unusual the result was. Even games between Football Bowl Subdivision and FCS programs rarely reach this degree of statistical separation. NC State ran 20 more plays, produced 25 more first downs and gained more than six times Richmond’s yardage.
Richmond possessed the ball for only 22 minutes, 17 seconds. NC State controlled it for 37:43, even as the Wolfpack repeatedly scored on abbreviated drives.
A night for the record books
The scale of NC State’s production reached beyond a routine nonconference victory.
The Wolfpack’s 734 yards surpassed the program’s previous single-game record. Its eight rushing touchdowns established another school mark. The 73 points were the most by NC State in 90 years and the most ever scored by the team at Carter-Finley Stadium, which opened in 1966.
NC State’s 10 touchdowns were its most in a game since the 1919 team scored 13 against Davidson. The Wolfpack averaged 9.5 yards per rush, 12.8 yards per pass attempt and 10.6 yards per offensive snap, according to the official ACC box score.
Almost every meaningful offensive measurement tilted sharply toward the Wolfpack:
- NC State held a 31-6 advantage in first downs.
- The Wolfpack generated 306 passing yards and 428 rushing yards.
- NC State completed 75% of its passes; Richmond completed 29.6%.
- The Wolfpack scored on all eight red-zone visits.
- NC State converted 80% of its third downs; Richmond converted 15.4%.
- Richmond had nine punts to NC State’s one.
Kanoah Vinesett also handled a heavy scoring workload. He converted all 10 extra points and made a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, accounting for 13 points. Drew Lovelace handled 11 kickoffs after recently joining the football team from NC State’s soccer program.
Doeren said Lovelace had been added because an injury created a need for another kickoff option. Ten days earlier, the soccer player had not been wearing a football helmet.
“He’s been in big games, so we knew he’d have poise and competitive spirit,” Doeren said. “I’m happy for him.”
The official attendance was 56,919. Many fans endured the lightning interruption and returned to see the Wolfpack complete the victory.
Celebration tempered by the opponent
The central challenge in evaluating a 73-0 game is deciding what carries forward.
NC State was bigger, faster and deeper than Richmond. The Spiders compete in the FCS, and one dominant night against that level of opposition does not erase what happened against Virginia. The Wolfpack will face more capable defensive fronts, more disruptive pass rushers and offenses better equipped to test its secondary.
Friday cannot prove that NC State has repaired every defect exposed in its opener.
It can, however, establish that the Wolfpack responded correctly.
NC State did not merely survive an opponent it was expected to beat. It played with urgency from the opening possession, controlled both lines of scrimmage, generated explosive plays, took advantage of turnovers and preserved a shutout after emptying much of the bench.
“Tonight, we did what we were supposed to do,” Doeren said. “We dominated the line of scrimmage. Guys took care of the football. Defense got the ball back. It was a dominant performance in every phase.”
That distinction matters. A team coming off a poor performance can allow doubt to linger through sluggish practices and an uninspired follow-up game. NC State instead translated its disappointment into sharper preparation.
Scott described the team as having “a point to prove.”
“We went to make sure we didn’t put what we put on Virginia on the tape,” he said. “With that mindset, that chip on our shoulder to do our job, to do better than Virginia, I feel like that really led us to a great day.”
The most useful takeaway may be the rediscovery of a physical identity. Doeren said before the Richmond game that losing the line of scrimmage at Virginia did not reflect the style he wanted. The Wolfpack’s coaches responded with physical practices during the open week.
Against Richmond, that emphasis was evident. NC State’s offensive line turned routine running plays into explosive gains, and its defensive front denied the Spiders any sustainable ground attack.
The competition will become significantly more demanding. The standard established Friday nevertheless gives NC State a clearer model: create manageable situations, protect Bailey, distribute the ball, run with commitment and prevent an opponent from dictating the game at the point of attack.
Vanderbilt offers the real test
NC State improved to 1-1 overall while remaining 0-1 in ACC play. Richmond fell to 2-1.
The Wolfpack next travels to Nashville to face Vanderbilt on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 12:45 p.m. The game will give NC State an opportunity to determine how much of its Richmond performance can translate against an SEC opponent.
Vanderbilt will present a more sophisticated scheme, greater depth and a roster better equipped to withstand NC State’s physical approach. The Wolfpack will not average 10.6 yards per play every week, nor will it score on six consecutive possessions with regularity.
The evaluation against Vanderbilt will focus on more transferable questions.
Can the offensive line create a reliable running game against a Power Four front? Can Bailey remain patient and accurate when pressured? Can Jackson and the rest of the receiving corps continue producing explosive plays against tighter coverage? Can the defense control early downs and get off the field without depending on Richmond’s offensive limitations?
Doeren acknowledged that the next assignment would be much more demanding.
“We have a much better group that we play in the next one schematically as well, a really, really good football team coming up,” he said.
That reality did not prevent him from appreciating what his team had accomplished.
“We did what we had to do,” Doeren said. “Tonight, we’re going to celebrate what we just did.”
A response, not a resolution
NC State’s performance Friday should be understood as both historic and incomplete.
The Wolfpack could not have responded much more forcefully to its loss at Virginia. It set offensive records, scored 73 unanswered points, gave young players meaningful work and produced a shutout. Scott emerged as a powerful lead back, Bailey restored stability to the passing game, Wilson demonstrated his value and the offensive line controlled the night.
Yet the season’s larger questions will not be answered by a single mismatch. NC State still must prove that its physicality travels, that its offense remains efficient under pressure and that its defense can reproduce Friday’s discipline against stronger opponents.
Scott was clear that the Richmond result represented neither the destination nor the team’s ceiling.
“This is not our peak,” he said. “This is not our final point. We just need to keep stacking days.”
For one storm-delayed Friday night at Carter-Finley Stadium, NC State did more than stack another day. It constructed one of the most dominant performances in program history.
The next step is discovering whether the record-setting rout was simply a spectacular rebound – or the foundation of the team the Wolfpack believes it can become.