Bailey's career-high 373 yards passing, 2 TDs lead NC State past Louisville 31-28
· Yahoo Sports
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — CJ Bailey threw for a career-high 373 yards and two touchdowns as N.C. State held on to beat Louisville 31-28 on Saturday.
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The Wolfpack (3-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have now won two straight since a stunning last-second loss to Vanderbilt.
Kanoah Vinesett’s 28-yard field goal with 4:09 left spelled the difference for the Wolfpack, who piled up 493 total yards.
Joshisa Trader led N.C. State with 92 yards on five catches, while Tyran Warren contributed a 34-yard touchdown grab.
Isaac Brown rushed for 125 yards on nine carries with a touchdown for Louisville (2-3, 1-2), which dropped its second straight. Keyjuan Brown added 88 yards and a score on eight carries. Tre Richardson had 117 yards receiving and a touchdown on eight catches.
Lincoln Kienholz threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-30 passing.
N.C. State led 28-14 in the third quarter following Will Wilson’s 1-yard touchdown run. After Louisville answered with a touchdown of its own, N.C. State looked poised to extend its lead back to double digits. The Wolfpack marched down to the Louisville 8 before Bailey was intercepted in the end zone by Kaleb Beasley.
Two plays later, Isaac Brown sprinted for a 70-yard touchdown to tie it.
Louisville made the first costly mistake, a fumble by Brown at the N.C. State 21-yard line late in the first quarter. The Wolfpack responded in methodical fashion. Bailey avoided an oncoming rusher and found Keenan Jackson alone for a 19-yard touchdown, capping a 14-play, 79-yard drive to make it 10-0.
The takeaway
Louisville: Kienholz was listed as questionable all week after getting hurt in last week’s loss to Wake Forest. But the senior showed no ill effects from the injury, helping the Cardinals gain 485 total yards. Keeping him healthy will be a priority with a short week on tap.
N.C. State: Second halves haven’t been kind lately. The Wolfpack can breathe a sigh of relief after surviving another dramatic finish.
Up next
Louisville: Hosts Florida St. on Friday.
N.C. State: Hosts Wake Forest next Saturday.
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