In a dramatic installment of the Tobacco Road rivalry, the NC State Wolfpack emerged victorious in overtime, edging the Duke Blue Devils 34–31 in a game filled with momentum swings, big plays, and clutch moments.
The Wolfpack struck early, jumping out to a 14–7 lead in the first quarter, and extended their edge with a second-quarter touchdown to hold a 21–14 halftime advantage. But the Blue Devils responded with grit, tying the game in the second and briefly taking a lead in the third quarter before the Wolfpack mounted a late push to force overtime at 31 apiece.
In the extra period, NC State capitalized on their possession with a field goal, and their defense held firm, denying Duke any points on their overtime drive to seal the win.
Statistically, the two teams were nearly identical, with NC State racking up 398 yards of total offense and Duke finishing with 395. The Wolfpack leaned on a strong rushing performance, tallying 161 yards on the ground, while the Blue Devils responded through the air, posting 303 passing yards.
Both teams were plagued by turnovers—three each—including a combined five interceptions that played a major role in the back-and-forth nature of the contest. Despite their mistakes, both sides moved the ball effectively and finished with over 500 total yards including return yardage.
Red zone efficiency also played a key role. NC State made the most of their opportunities, scoring two touchdowns and two field goals on their trips inside the 20. Duke, however, came away with only one touchdown and one field goal in similar situations.
Time of possession favored the Blue Devils, who also had the edge on third down, converting six of 12 attempts. But NC State’s ability to execute in the clutch—particularly in overtime—proved to be the difference.
With the win, NC State claims the Tobacco Road bragging rights, while Duke will look back on missed chances and turnovers in a game that slipped away by the narrowest of margins.
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