North Carolina State Defeated Appalachian State
The Wolfpack secured a 41-31 victory in Raleigh following a late fourth-quarter rally.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Football
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North Carolina State defeated Appalachian State 41-31 after building a 28-7 halftime lead and responding to a late tie. The Wolfpack broke the 31-31 deadlock in the final minutes to finalize their victory.
Why it matters
The win brings North Carolina State to a 2-2 record, helping the team regain momentum after Appalachian State erased a 21-point deficit to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.
Duke Scott led the ground attack with 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Malachi Singleton contributed 317 passing yards and two scores. The winning effort was capped by a 35-yard field goal from Kanoah Vinesett.
The players
Duke Scott
Duke Scott is a running back for the North Carolina State football team who provided key offensive production.
Malachi Singleton
Malachi Singleton is a quarterback for the North Carolina State football team who tallied over 300 passing yards.
Kanoah Vinesett
Kanoah Vinesett is a placekicker for the North Carolina State football team who converted a crucial field goal.
The details
Duke Scott broke the tie with a 16-yard touchdown run with 5:08 remaining, finishing off a game-sealing drive that featured eight consecutive rushing plays. Appalachian State had surged back to tie the game 31-31 with 9:41 left on the clock before the Wolfpack responded.
Timeline
The game took place on September 26, 2026.
Louisville is scheduled to visit North Carolina State on October 3, 2026.
Appalachian State hosts Old Dominion on October 10, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This win is a critical result for North Carolina State as it navigates the 2026 college football season schedule. The victory helps stabilize the Wolfpack's trajectory after a challenging start, keeping them competitive as they prepare for upcoming conference matchups.
North Carolina State moves to a 2-2 record, which significantly boosts their standing as they prepare for the visit from Louisville next week. The Wolfpack's reliance on a run-heavy, game-sealing drive demonstrates a shift toward ball-control tactics late in close contests.
The takeaway
The Wolfpack showed resilience by overcoming a blown 21-point lead to secure a necessary win. Future opponents should note the team's ability to commit to a ground-based clock-killing strategy when holding a lead in the final minutes.
Further reading
For more on the team's progress, visit Football.
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