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Everyone will remember the ending, but not the moments that could’ve prevented it.
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N.C. State had everything going for it. It had a lead, the football and six seconds remaining on the game clock. It never trailed until the final second. Yet somehow, the Wolfpack left Nashville with a 35-31 loss to Vanderbilt.
It’s easy to point to quarterback CJ Bailey’s disastrous end zone fumble and blame the loss on him. The plan was to protect the ball and take, at most, a safety. Or, it’s easy to point to the coaches for leaving him in the game. Bailey has 15 fumbles in his career. Will Wilson has one fumble in his career, known for ball protection in short yardage or third- and fourth-down situations. It’s also simple to point to the coaches for not ensuring Bailey knew what to do if the play failed.
The problem wasn’t just the result. The problem for N.C. State was that it had multiple opportunities in all three phases to extend the lead, get a stop or create favorable field position. It had multiple instances where it didn’t achieve those goals.
N.C. State’s offense put up more than 200 yards in both halves, but the defense was a problem in the fourth quarter. The Wolfpack gave up 135 yards in the first half, including 30 yards in the first quarter. Vanderbilt was allowed to pick up 199 yards and 10 first downs in the final quarter alone.
Additionally, N.C. State was charged with seven penalties for a loss of 64 yards. Prior to the matchup, the Wolfpack had committed only six penalties on the season for a loss of 53 yards.
Here are five other missed opportunities in the Wolfpack’s loss:
A big swing came just before halftime, when N.C. State picked up three late penalties.
N.C. State’s Duke Scott ran the ball for a gain of 11 yards to its own 26-yard line and a first down. The first down was negated, however, when offensive lineman Teague Andersen was called for a holding penalty at 1:31 remaining in the half. Six seconds and two plays later, tight end Preston Douglas was called for a false start.
“Kind of melting down here after a well-executed first half,” one of the broadcasters said.
The two penalties not only hurt offensive progression, but, most importantly, they backed up the Wolfpack deep in its own territory. Jackson Waller’s punt only went 26 yards — after a 32-yard punt in the first quarter — putting Vanderbilt at the N.C. State 45-yard line.
Had those penalties not occurred, Waller’s punt would’ve likely pinned Vanderbilt back in its own territory.
With 18 seconds left, nickelback Ty White was called for pass interference. That gave Vanderbilt the ball inside the 15 and a fresh set of downs. The Commodores scored on the following play.
Despite getting the ball to start the second half, Vanderbilt failed to capitalize. It looked like N.C. State might have an opportunity to respond.
Instead, Bailey threw an interception to Vanderbilt’s Bryce Cowan with 12:05 remaining in the third quarter. Bailey’s pass was intended for tight end Hunter Provience, but Cowan got into the throwing lane just short of Provience’s positioning.
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The catch, which was made at the Vanderbilt 17-yard line, likely cost the Wolfpack points. At best, it could’ve added another touchdown. At worst, a completed pass would’ve set up kicker Kanoah Vinesett for another short field goal attempt.
The Wolfpack gave up two explosive plays on the Commodores’ second touchdown of the game. Vanderbilt’s offensive line provided a running lane, between N.C. State defensive lineman Adrian Farrow and linebacker Jordan Moreta, running back Sedrick Alexander to slip through uncontested.
Linebacker Bailey Benson committed a face mask penalty against Alexander on the next play, pushing the Commodores into N.C. State territory.
Nose tackle KaTron Evans got around a block to pressure Vandy QB Jared Curtis, but Evans didn’t get to Curtis in time to deflect the pass or record the sack. Curtis got the ball out of his hand and found Tristen Brown for a gain of 33 yards. Nickelback Jackson Vick and safety Ronnie Royal were the closest defenders to Brown, but they were several steps behind.
Makhilyn Young scored the 7-yard touchdown after four N.C. State defenders failed to tackle him. The score pulled Vanderbilt within 10 points.
The Wolfpack had a two-possession lead until it didn’t. On Vanderbilt’s ninth drive of the day, N.C. State gave up two explosives and a free first down via penalty.
It failed to stop Curtis from connecting with Junior Sherill for a 38-yard reception under pressure. Wolfpack corner Jaren Sensabaugh, who had a solid outing, was unsuccessful in breaking up the pass. Four N.C. State defenders broke containment but none made contact before the ball left his hand.
Curtis found a wide-open Brycen Coleman on an 18-yard attempt the following play.
A 10-yard roughing the passer penalty against N.C. State defensive lineman AJ Prim moved the Commodores from the 20-yard line to the 10-yard line, setting up a routine pass to Alexander for a touchdown with 14:11 left in the game.
With just over eight minutes to play, N.C. State’s defense had an opportunity to get off the field. The Commodores went for it on fourth-and-5. Curtis, under pressure, scrambled for a gain of 9 yards and a first down.
The Wolfpack had three players break the pocket, including defensive tackle Colby Cronk and linebacker LaCorian Hodge. Both missed the tackle, with Cronk unable to wrap up Curtis’ legs from the back and Hodge missing from the front. Linebacker Sterling Dixon was late getting to Curtis, tackling him just past the line to gain.
The three missed tackles allowed Vanderbilt to move the chains and eventually add a touchdown instead of giving N.C. State the ball with a 10-point lead.
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