Vanderbilt Stuns NC State with Wild Last Second Touchdown

A Wild Finish in Nashville

Vanderbilt pulled off a stunning 35-31 comeback victory over NC State on Saturday. The game ended with a wild play that shocked the visitors.

NC State held a 31-28 lead with six seconds remaining. They faced a fourth down on their own 5 yard line. Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey tried to run out the clock before taking a safety.

Instead, three Vanderbilt defenders hit Bailey in the end zone. Miles Capers punched the ball out, and cornerback Cayden Daniels recovered the fumble for a touchdown.

Fighting Till the Final Second

The play was reviewed and upheld by officials, who put one second back on the clock. After the extra point and a touchback, NC State tried a series of desperate laterals, but Vanderbilt recovered another fumble to end the game.

"We talk about defending every blade of grass on defense, and literally that is every blade of grass," Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said.

NC State coach Dave Doeren was devastated by the finish. "It is a shame it came down to that play," Doeren said. "That should never happen. Obviously a play that breaks your heart."

Before Saturday, teams in the last 20 seasons were 1,046-1 when leading with the ball in the final 10 seconds of regulation.

The Long Road Back

Vanderbilt had to fight back from a 24-7 deficit in the third quarter. They scored three straight touchdowns to get back into the game.

The Commodores seemed to lose their chance when freshman quarterback Jared Curtis was intercepted at the NC State 2 yard line with 1:04 left.

However, Vanderbilt used its timeouts, and NC State faced a fourth and seven. Doeren chose to run a play rather than risk a blocked punt. He wanted Bailey to roll out, protect the ball, and slide. "He got hit and he did not protect the football," Doeren said.

Key Performances

Bailey threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolfpack, completing 25 of 37 passes.

For Vanderbilt, Curtis made his first career start. The freshman threw for 277 yards and rushed for 64 yards. He finished with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

"I am proud of the resilience of my team," Lea said. "We have got to play better football."