NC State vs. East Carolina Live Game Thread

RALEIGH, NC -- North Carolina State is set to play East Carolina in its season opener against the East Carolina Pirates. The two teams played against each other just months ago in the Military Bowl, with ECU winning 26-21.

The Wolfpack finished the 2024 season with a 6-7 record while the Pirates went 8-5 with the bowl victory. NC State would love nothing more than to open this season with a win, especially after the Military Bowl finished with an ugly brawl which saw several players ejected and a referee injured.

The game is set to kick off at 7 P.M. EST in front of a sold out crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium and can be watched on ACC Network.

Be sure to follow along for updates throughout the contest.

Game Thread

START OF THE FIRST QUARTER:

ECU won the toss and deferred; NC State will receive.

INJURY: NC State right tackle Teague Andersen shaken up on a play in the red zone. Replaced by Rico Jackson

PENALTY: Andersen received a penalty for unnecessary roughness on same play he was injured. Wolfpack stuck at 3rd-and-goal from the 22.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 1: NC State makes a 29-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead at the 8:34 mark.

THREE AND OUT: Wolfpack defense forces the Pirates off the field right away. Starting nickel Jackson Vick made a huge tackle for loss to start the drive.

INJURY UPDATE: Andersen returns for NC State.

PUNT: Wolfpack drive stalls on its own 39, punt unit comes on.

PENALTY: Holding penalty pushes ECU back to its own 13 yard line.

THREE AND OUT: State defense locks down the Pirates once again, forcing another punt.

END FIRST QUARTER: NC State leads 3-0

START SECOND QUARTER

SCORING UPDATE NO. 2: Quarterback CJ Bailey punches it in himself with an 11-yard keeper to the right. State leads 10-0.

THREE AND OUT: Wolfpack defense forces another punt. Bailey and the offense will start on the ECU 48.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 3: Bailey hits Wesley Grimes over the middle for a 48-yard touchdown. Wolfpack leads ECU 17-0.

PENALTY: ECU gets a big 3rd down play called back for holding.

THREE AND OUT: Yes, another one. NC State forces ECU to punt once again after penalty ruined first down play.

THREE AND OUT: State can't get things going and is forced to punt.

PENALTY: Flags on the punt, offsetting. Another punt coming up.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Houser can't hit his receiver on the sideline and the Wolfpack takes over on its own 29.

PUNT: Bailey nearly picked off on third down, NC State punts to the ECU 14.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4: ECU runs the hurry-up on third down and scores a 79-yard touchdown. Wolfpack now leads ECU 17-7.

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

TURNOVER: Bailey throws an interception over the middle, ECU's Teagan Wilk returns it to the NC State 43.

MISSED FIELD GOAL: ECU attempt no good from 53 yards.

END FIRST HALF: NC State leads ECU 17-7

START SECOND HALF

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: ECU couldn't convert in NC State territory.

PUNT: NC State suffers a few procedural penalties and punts the ball back to the Pirates.

FAKE PUNT: ECU runs a fake and converts for a first down.

PUNT: ECU punts to State's 20.

PENALTY: ECU's defense roughs Bailey on a third down. Automatic first down.

PENALTY: Pass interference on ECU nickel Jonathon Jean. Ball placed on ECU 2.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 5: Hollywood Smothers 2-yard carry for a touchdown. NC State leads 24-7, 3:43 left in Q3

END THIRD QUARTER

START FOURTH QUARTER

SCORING UPDATE NO. 6: ECU 4-yard touchdown run. NC State still leads 24-14.

INJURY: Bailey completes a pass to Noah Rogers for 10 yards, but the receiver goes down with an injury. Rogers walks off the field.

SACK: Bailey sacked in the red zone.

MISSED FIELD GOAL: Konieczynski no good from 40 yards.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 7: ECU's Mazzie makes a 34-yard field goal. ECU trails NC State 24-17.

MISSED FIELD GOAL: Konieczynski no good from 46 yards.

TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: NC State takes over on its own 9 with 37 seconds to play.

FINAL: NC State beats ECU 24-17.