AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
N.C. State football lost its starting running back in the second quarter of its matchup with Louisville on Saturday, but it got quality minutes from a teammate.
Read more ‘Special Forces’ DS Argues [Spoiler] ‘Stole Money From Us’ With Early Exit
Duke Scott left the game in the second quarter with an undisclosed lower-body injury. He was spotted returning to the locker room, but he walked into the tunnel on his own.
Scott later was spotted on the sideline wearing a medical boot and without his helmet. He did not return.
Junior Davion Gause stepped into the backfield and made key plays in the win.
Gause, the North Carolina transfer, finished the game with a season-best 69 rushing yards. It’s not a career high — that came two years ago against Charlotte, when he racked up 105 — but it’s the most rushing yards against a Power Four opponent.
His most notable play, however, was a 36-yard gain deep inside Louisville territory. Gause evaded defenders with his shifty footwork and a leap over another. N.C. State scored a field goal on the drive.
“It was great to see him play the game he played, because we see it in practice every day, but he don’t get as many opportunities,” Bailey said. “When Duke went down, he took a step forward and not a step back. That the biggest thing.
Read more Two men are dead in separate shootings in Durham, police say
“He just went in head on, did great in pass protection — People don’t see that. He does really good at pass protection — he ran the ball really well, and he was one of those guys that took the stress off of me. I appreciate him for that.”
Gause said playing alongside Scott helped prepare him for the moment. Scott actually texted Gause the day he committed to play at N.C. State, “Let’s work.”
He said there’s only ever been good energy among the running backs.
“Even the young guys, we all feed off each other in practice. On the sideline, we be coaching each other; telling each other what we’ve seen, what probably could have happened,” Gause said. “Or if it was a good run, we tell each other good run. On the bad runs, we try to coach each other up before even Coach (Todd) Goebbel gets to it. We’re just brothers.”
Scott, a junior, leads the Wolfpack in rushing yards and entered the game ranked No. 33 in the nation. He came into the week with 346 yards on the ground and only gained 12 yards in his brief first-half appearance Saturday.
This season, Scott is averaging 86.5 rushing yards per game. His stat line also includes two 100-yard games, and the captain is coming off a 148-yard performance against Appalachian State. Scott has scored four rushing touchdowns across the four previous games.
Read more NC company recalls 167,000 pounds of meat as USDA warns of safety concerns
This story was originally published October 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM.