N.C. State football opened its season with a solid 38-21 victory over Western Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium, buoyed by three touchdowns from KC Concepcion and two from Jordan Waters.
The Wolfpack (1-0) faced a challenge as they entered the fourth quarter down 21-17, but Concepcion’s third touchdown early in the period gave them the lead for good. Waters then added two more touchdowns in the closing minutes to secure the win.
The first half was a struggle for N.C. State, which found itself tied at 14 with the Catamounts at halftime. The Wolfpack experienced a difficult first quarter that included an interception, an ejection, and two fumbles, although both fumbles were recovered by N.C. State. The team also failed to convert on fourth down twice in the second quarter.
Concepcion was a standout performer, marking the sixth time in his career he scored multiple touchdowns in a game. He caught nine passes for 121 yards, while former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall had over 300 passing yards along with three touchdowns.
Entering his 12th season as head coach, Dave Doeren eyes championship aspirations after leading N.C. State to four consecutive seasons with at least eight wins. The team begins the 2024 college football season ranked No. 22 in the USA TODAY Sports US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Top 25. Next week, N.C. State will face No. 15 Tennessee in Charlotte during the Duke’s Mayo Classic.
This season opener saw several significant plays, including Waters’ impressive 50-yard touchdown run, which pushed the Wolfpack’s lead to 38-21 late in the game. He also had a 7-yard touchdown run where he managed to break six tackles, extending the lead to 31-21.
Western Carolina initially led in the game, ending the third quarter at 21-17 after Branson Adams scored on a 17-yard run. In contrast, N.C. State’s Kanoah Vinesett kicked a 46-yard field goal to secure the Wolfpack’s first lead at 17-14 earlier in the third.
The matchup against Western Carolina marked N.C. State’s continued dominance in the series, now leading 7-0 since the teams first faced each other, with their last win in 2019 by a score of 41-0. Looking ahead, both teams have a full schedule lined up, with N.C. State facing multiple challenging opponents in the coming weeks.