CJ Bailey threw for two touchdowns and kept North Carolina State out of trouble for the most part while the Wolfpack defense, along with strange plays on special teams, took care of the rest in a 21-11 victory over Florida State on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Bailey, who struggled last Saturday in a blowout loss at Miami, completed 18 of 25 throws for 152 yards with no interceptions as NC State (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) became bowl eligible. Running back Hollywood Smothers rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries.
Florida State (5-6, 2-5) must win its regular-season finale Nov. 29 at Florida to gain bowl eligibility.
The Wolfpack held Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos to 203 yards on 16-for-32 passing.
With the Seminoles trailing 14-3, Castellanos connected with Duce Robinson for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and then it really got interesting.
After NC State’s ensuing possession was halted, a bizarre play turned favorable for the Wolfpack. Punter Caden Noonkester’s punt was so short that it struck a Florida State player in the helmet, bouncing so far back toward the line of scrimmage that Noonkester recovered the ball.
Then the next possession fizzled, so the Wolfpack, still holding a 14-11 lead, punted again, with Squirrel White fumbling on the return and NC State recovering at the Florida State 16-yard line.
This time, the Wolfpack converted on Bailey’s 12-yard throw to Justin Joly in the end zone on a fourth-and-6 play with 1:47 to play.
Robinson, a standout receiver, was targeted several times by Castellanos, but they didn’t connect for a completion until the fourth quarter.
Leading 14-3, the Wolfpack looked poised to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter by moving into Florida State territory. But a third-down sack pushed them out of field goal range, so NC State punted.
Florida State then marched 86 yards on 10 plays with Castellanos hooking up with Robinson for the team’s first touchdown of the night. Castellanos threw to Jayvan Boggs for the two-point conversion.
NC State scored late in the first quarter on Bailey’s 23-yard pass play to Terrell Anderson. The Seminoles countered in the opening minute of the second quarter on Jake Weinberg’s 46-yard field goal.
NC State controlled the ball for most of the third quarter, converting that time into points with Will Wilson’s 1-yard scoring run with 4:17 left in the frame.
