22 ■ THE WOLFPACKER
An Oklahoma State transfer, running back
Hollywood Smothers played in 10 regular-
season games and totaled a team-high
704 all-purpose yards.
PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL
A WHOLE NEW
BALL GAME
Injuries Prove Costly, But Underclassmen
Help The Wolfpack Regroup
BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN AND ETHAN MCDOWELL
C State needed a clutch drive in the final
minutes of its regular season to clinch
bowl eligibility, and the Wolfpack
delivered.
When the team asked its offense
to step up against North Carolina,
freshman quarterback CJ Bailey and
company did just that. Bailey engineered a go-
ahead scoring drive to put the Pack up 35-30 in
the final minute thanks to a deep ball to redshirt
freshman receiver Noah Rogers.
That win highlighted a trend that defined
NC State's 2024 season. NC State leaned
on its underclassmen this fall, and they
grew and improved throughout a
6-6 regular season that ended
in a rivalry win over UNC.
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