Vanderbilt beats NC State 35-31 on last-second miracle
Vanderbilt beats NC State 35-31 on last-second miracle
Football: Vanderbilt beats NC State 35-31 on last-second miracle
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Vanderbilt Football (3-0) returned to FirstBank Stadium for its third-straight home game, facing off against NC State (1-2) on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The Commodores’ quarterback competition finally came to an end, with Clark Lea announcing Tuesday that first-year Jared Curtis would be earning his first career start against the Wolfpack. While the Black and Gold escaped with victories against both Austin Peay and Delaware, the surprisingly narrow margins raised concerns about the roster, especially after winning 10 games the year prior.
After falling 34-8 to then-No. 25 Virginia on Aug. 29, NC State went on to bludgeon Richmond 73-0 on Sept. 11 and entered FirstBank with an opportunity to continue their momentum with a win over a young and vulnerable Commodores team.
The matchup also marked Family Weekend, with many parents traveling from around the world for the game. Once again, the heat rained down on the Music City, as the temperature approached 94 degrees at kickoff. Students and parents erupted on the bleachers as the national anthem kicked off Vanderbilt’s Week 3 contest.
Vanderbilt’s 35-31 victory over NC State will go down as one of the most thrilling endings in Commodore — and college football — history.
Despite trailing the entire game until one second remained on the clock, Lea and company will somehow enter SEC play undefeated. Miracles do happen, and while a final interception sucked the air out of FirstBank Stadium, the few fans still inside the stadium witnessed an unbelievable, jaw-dropping ending. NC State’s CJ Bailey was just running the clock out by taking the snap in his own endzone, but Miles Capers forced a fumble and Cayden Daniels hopped on it for a touchdown with one second remaining.
“I’m speechless,” Lea said after the game. “I’m proud of our program. This is a program that finds a way to win.”
Curtis played exceptionally, and while he certainly wasn’t perfect, the young signal-caller showed why he was considered the best quarterback prospect coming out of high school last year.
In just his first-ever start, Curtis’ arm strength was on full display as he put the team on his back led the ‘Dores to 28 points in offense. A struggling offensive line and inconsistent play-calling didn’t make it easy, but the 19-year-old certainly proved himself as Vanderbilt’s franchise quarterback.
“I want to credit Jared Curtis for a gutsy performance,” Lea said. “Some of those throws that he made to get us back in it are throws that he can make, and so it was fun to watch him step into those moments and perform. There was a lot of growth for him today.”
First quarter
The Black and Gold opened the quarter on defense, with NC State’s quarterback CJ Bailey leading the Wolfpack to two straight first downs. After a tackle from CJ Heard on a six-yard pass and a run stop by the Commodore defensive front, it was 3rd and 2 for Bailey and company. NC State head coach Dave Doeren elected for backup quarterback Will Wilson to take a direct snap, and Wilson, initially swarmed by Commodores after a one-yard gain, broke out for a 38-yard NC State touchdown. Less than five minutes into the game, NC State took a 7-point lead, and the crowd went silent.
Now came what Commodore Nation had been waiting for since the 19-year-old flipped from Georgia. Curtis took the field, and after a seven-yard run from Sedrick Alexander, an offensive penalty, and a six-yard reception from Junior Sherill, Lea was faced with a crucial 4th and 1 on his own 39. Lea and offensive coordinator Tim Beck made the gutsy decision to go for it on fourth down, and in true Diego Pavia fashion, Curtis ran it himself to the outside and barely reached the first down with 8:44 remaining.
Another offensive holding penalty transformed a 2nd and 9 into an unfavorable 3rd and 19. While Curtis continued to spread the ball with a quality nine-yard pass to Tristen Brown on the outside, the Commodores were forced to punt the next play. Offensive penalties continue to be a detriment to Vanderbilt, with Curtis having to make up for extra yardage he didn’t create. It’s important for the Black and Gold to put the young player in positions to succeed, and he shouldn’t have to make up for too many offensive mistakes.
With 6:19 on the clock, NC State’s Victor Snow returned Tyler Ebel’s punt for 33 yards to the NC State 46-yard line. Bailey drove the Wolfpack down to the Vanderbilt 30-yard line and launched a perfect spiral that fell right into Keenan Jackson’s hands, walking into the endzone for a touchdown. Another broken coverage by the Commodore secondary, defensive coordinator Steve Gregory’s unit is struggling early once again.
Curtis took back over with 2:45 remaining, continuing to have success running the football, diving up the middle for a five-yard scramble to create a 3rd and 5. On third down, the rookie showed off his arm strength and launched a deep pass down the middle to Kayleb Barnett, but it was picked off by Jaren Sensabaugh with 1:25 remaining.
Now, up two scores, Bailey was sacked by Nick Rinaldi on third down, creating a 4th and 14 on NC State’s own 13-yard line, bringing the first quarter to a close. It was all Wolfpack in the first quarter, with the opposing side’s red bleachers full of cheers.
Second quarter
Curtis continued to dish out the football, with a 10-yard pass to MK Young, creating a 2nd and 5 due to another false start penalty. After a first down bringing the ‘Dores to the NC State 34, Curtis couldn’t find an open receiver and opted to take it himself, but the ball was knocked out and recovered by NC State’s Adrian Farrow.
Bailey regained possession and moved his team downfield, which led to a 24-yard field goal by Kanoah Vinessett with 8:09 left in the second quarter to extend the Wolfpack lead to 17.
Down 17 points, Beck elected to go with a hurry-up offense, and Curtis executed the no-huddle like a veteran, calling his own plays, quickly snapping the ball and running the football when the opportunity arose. After another holding penalty, Brown caught his second pass of the day, hauling in a quick slant for a gain of 14. Another penalty ensued, Vanderbilt offense’s sixth of the day with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. Three plays later, Ebel was forced to come back on the field, punting to NC State’s five-yard line as the clock hit 3:32.
Bailey and the Wolfpack were unable to generate much offense in their own territory and were forced to punt. With 1:06 left in the half, Curtis, down 17, took over hoping to finally put points on the scoreboard. Immediately, the freshman was pressured fast in the pocket and forced a pass to Alexander that fell right into LaCorian Hodge’s hands. Luckily for the Commodores, a disaster was averted with Hodge unable to hold on to the football.
Curtis, once again having no time to read his receivers, scrambled for 20 yards, but the play was called back due to another holding penalty on Orion Irving. After a quick nine-yard pass to Cole Adams to give the former Alabama player his first reception of the season, Curtis ran up the middle for a gain of 19 yards and a Commodore first down with 26 seconds on the clock.
In hurry-up mode, Curtis fired a deep ball to JayVontae Connor and a pass interference call on the defense moved the Black and Gold to the NC State 12-yard line. On the very next play, Curtis delivered a perfectly placed pass to Junior Sherill who managed to keep one foot in bounds in the endzone for a Commodore touchdown. With an extra point from Block Taylor, Vanderbilt cut the lead to 10 entering the halftime locker room.
The Vanderbilt Student Section almost emptied as half approached, but Curtis’ touchdown finally provided fans with a spark and hope of a potential comeback. The Pavia era is over, and if Lea wants a chance at lessening the point differential, he should lean into a fast-paced offense and trust his quarterback.
The first-half penalties were inexcusable, especially when attempting to develop a 19-year-old quarterback who has very limited experience. The receivers struggled to get open throughout the half, and the offensive line gave Curtis almost no time to settle in the pocket, forcing the Nashville native to consistently run the ball for minimal gains. Vanderbilt’s secondary blew multiple coverages, and the roster as a whole did not put Curtis in a position to succeed.
However, that last drive was executed flawlessly, with Curtis showing off his massive potential and talent. While still unpolished, the young player has proved why there was so much hype around his name during the recruiting process. His touchdown pass to Sherill had remarkable touch and pinpoint accuracy, demonstrating why he earned the starting role.
Third quarter
With the bleachers less than half full, Vanderbilt started the second half hoping to pick up right where it left off. Curtis and the offense finally found momentum and looked to build on an impressive final drive in the first half.
A three-yard rush by Young and two incompletions resulted in a three-and-out for the Black and Gold. Ebel was a busy man in this contest, punting 54 yards to hand the ball back to the Wolfpack. After two first downs, one off a deep pass from Bailey and the other off a power run by running back Duke Scott, Vanderbilt’s defense finally came through with a turnover. Bailey’s deep pass up the middle was intercepted by Bryce Cowan, with Gregory’s unit setting up Curtis with another opportunity at advancing the football.
Curtis passed it left to Connor for a 9-yard completion, but with a dropped pass by Connor on second down and a rush for negative yardage by Jamezell Lassitter, Lea was forced to bring Ebel back on the field. The decision for Lassitter’s run is a questionable decision from Beck, who once again did not put the ball in Curtis’ hands on third down.
Bailey wasted no time, driving the football down in Commodore territory highlighted by a 22-yard connection with Preston Douglass on the left side. The signal caller led NC State to the six-yard line with 8:52 remaining in the quarter and quickly converted in the red zone. On first down, Bailey delivered a bullet on a slant to a wide-open Jackson in the endzone, with Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews getting beat on the route. NC State extended its lead to 17 with just under nine minutes remaining in the quarter.
Vanderbilt responded quickly, and after Alexander built momentum with a 17-yard rush, Curtis took a deep shot down the left sideline and found his target in Brown, good for a 33-yard gain to the seven-yard line. One play later, Young rushed left and reached for the pylon and after an official review, it was ruled a Commodore touchdown, narrowing the gap back to 10 points.
The Commodore defense wrestled for a stop but struggled to bring down Bailey who consistently converted on 3rd down. With just over a minute remaining in the quarter, the ‘Dores finally forced a stop as Daniels knocked the ball away from Jackson.
Curtis retook possession and kept the ball himself on two straight plays, creating a 3rd and 6 as the third quarter came to a halt.
Fourth quarter
Curtis came out of the gate swinging in the fourth, showing off his arm talent and immense confidence despite having little time in the pocket. On 3rd down, the freshman escaped the pocket and fired a deep spiral on the run to Sherill who came back to secure the grab for a gain of 38 yards. The following play, Brycen Coleman reeled in an 18-yard pass which brought Vanderbilt to 20-yard line. After an incompletion and defensive penalty, the ‘Dores were back on the scoreboard with Curtis finding Alexander who ran it in for a Commodore touchdown, limiting the deficit to just three. Curtis has found success in the hurry-up offense, gaining confidence and momentum by creating his own play and finding the open target.
The Wolfpack took over with 14:11 on the clock and a three-point lead, two Commodores nearly intercepted Bailey’s first down pass. Matthews was called for pass interference on Jojo Trader, gifting the Wolfpack another first down. Once again, Bailey converted two more third downs, bringing NC State to the Commodore 25-yard line with just under 11 minutes remaining. Bailey dropped back and rifled a 23-yard pass to Jackson for a touchdown. Martel Hight failed to turn around, and he was trailing Jackson by the time the ball reached the endzone, marking a common theme for Vanderbilt’s secondary this afternoon.
Bailey and Jackson extended NC State’s lead back to 10, as Vanderbilt’s defense has no answer for the high-powered offense that has been dominating throughout the game. Gregory has opted to blitz Bailey for most of the game which has resulted in receivers finding space downfield. The defensive strategy didn’t seem to work for the Commodores, who will likely change it up ahead of their gauntlet of an SEC schedule which begins next week.
Curtis answered with a score of his own, showing off his resilience and poise in the pocket. The freshman advanced the football 20 yards to the NC State 43-yard line, before airing out a spectacular ball to Sherill on the left side of the endzone. The spiral had quite a bit of zip on it and fell perfectly into the senior’s hands as the Commodores cut the lead back to three. Curtis’ arm strength and accuracy were on full display this afternoon, showing why there never should have been a doubt about him earning the starting spot.
NC State took the field with 6:16 remaining on the clock, and after one first down off a run from Bailey, the Wolfpack were put in a critical 4th and 1 situation on Vanderbilt’s 38-yard line. Gregory’s defense needed to earn a stop here to put the ball back in Curtis’ hands, but it was unable to do so as NC State capitalized. The Wolfpack ran a wildcat with running back Davion Gause who rushed for four yards, enough to move the chains.
Three plays later, Bailey faced another meaningful 3rd down, this time with 13 yards to go. Vanderbilt finally forced a stop, forcing a 4th and 7 with 2:09 remaining. Doeren chose to go for it, and Bailey’s pass was broken up by Ricardo Jones.
Curtis stepped into his biggest moment as a Commodore: the chance to lead a Diego Pavia-type comeback and be the hero in the Music City. Down three points, the rookie launched a pass deep to Brown who was taken down at NC State’s 44-yard line as the two-minute warning ensued. The freshman continued to move the football, with a 16-yard pass to Adams who went up for a hurdle and was brought down with 1:09 remaining.
On the very next play, Curtis lofted it deep for MK Young, but the pass was intercepted in the endzone by Brody Barnhardt. Bailey took a few kneels, and the game was basically over — except, it wasn’t.
With six seconds remaining on the fourth down, Bailey took the snap in his own end zone and expected to run out the clock and leave Music City with a win. Capers was all over Bailey and forced a fumble, which Daniels quickly recovered in the end zone for a Commodore victory.
“I knew that we were going to be able to force them to a fourth down,” Lea said. “I can’t put into words how I felt. As that play extended, I thought, ‘We’re going to get the ball out.’ And we got the ball out.”
Curtis gave Commodore nation hope throughout this contest and it looked like he came up just short with an interception on a potential game-winning drive. However, a miracle ensued and Vanderbilt found a way to add one to the win column. The young quarterback proved that he has the potential to be one of the SEC’s best, but like any 19-year-old, he needs time to develop.
Vanderbilt travels to Auburn for its first SEC matchup of the season on Saturday, Sept. 26, with kickoff set for 3:15 p.m. CDT.
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Football: Vanderbilt beats NC State 35-31 on last-second miracle – The Vanderbilt Hustler
