NC State eyes 3–0 start in ACC opener at Wake Forest tonight originally appeared on The Sporting News
NC State sits at 2–0 after back-to-back comeback wins, and now the Wolfpack face their first conference test tonight on the road at Wake Forest.
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Head coach Dave Doeren emphasized how his team has responded in critical moments in the first two weeks. “The players were great. Coaches made really good corrections and the players understood what we needed to do to get the game back on our side,” he said. “It builds confidence…we’ve been tested twice and we finished both times. That belief is real.”
The Wolfpack offense has played sharp, mistake-free football. In the win over Virginia (designated as a nonconference matchup), NC State committed no turnovers, allowed no sacks, and drew no penalties. Quarterback CJ Bailey continued his steady start with a scrambling touchdown and efficient command of the offense. “He sees things, he understands the system, he’s in command of the guys around him,” Doeren said. “It’s an extension of the head coach when you have a quarterback like that.”
On defense, NC State showed growth after halftime, locking down in the red zone and producing stops when it mattered. Doeren praised his group’s stamina and toughness, “They are bowing up and showing mental toughness.”
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Now the focus turns to Wake Forest, where a 2–0 Demon Deacons team awaits behind star tailback Demond Claiborne and a physical dual-threat quarterback. “It’s a rivalry game, and they’ve got explosive players,” Doeren said. “You’ve got to be really disciplined in everything that we do.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
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