NC State Falls 41-3 to Duke at Carter-Finley in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. — Duke rolled past NC State 41-3 on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, handing the Wolfpack its worst home beating against the Blue Devils since 1956 and its first shutout from the end zone since the teams met in 2023.

Nate Sheppard, the ACC’s top rusher, ran for 217 yards on 18 carries, matching everything NC State gained on offense by himself. He broke free for a 69-yard score on Duke’s first series, later added an eight-yard touchdown and finished the afternoon with a four-yard run. The 217 yards are the most the Wolfpack defense has given one back since 2024.

NC State’s only points came on a 39-yard field goal by Kanoah Vinesett after a 21-yard trick-play toss to Keenan Jackson. The offense had to kick it away seven times and crossed midfield on only four possessions. CJ Bailey completed 15 of 24 passes for 123 yards. Hunter Provience, the senior tight end, hauled in five throws and finished with 51 yards, a personal best. Tad Hudson later went 3-for-7 for 62 yards and found Amiri Acker twice for 54 yards and Acker’s first receptions as a Wolfpack player. Punter Jackson Waller averaged 46.6 yards on seven kicks, including a career-long 62-yarder.

Just before halftime, Vinesett’s 50-yard try into the wind came up short. Duke safety Andrew Pellicciotta, back after missing two games with a lower-body injury, fielded the ball at the rear of the end zone and ran it the length of the field. Officials marked it as a 100-yard return, a play that made the score 31-3 at the break. Duke history keepers believe no Blue Devil had ever scored on an unblocked missed kick returned the length of the field. Boos followed inside Carter-Finley.

A failed fourth-and-one from the NC State 40 early in the third quarter set up Sheppard’s short scoring run. Gavin Strange later added a 46-yard field goal. Popo Aguirre led the Wolfpack with eight tackles before an injury forced him out in the third period. Interim coach Todd Goebbel is now even after two games in charge, a stretch that began when Dave Doeren was let go. Duke now leads the series 45-37-5 after four straight wins. NC State hosts Syracuse next Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon.

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