Raleigh, N.C. – The Duke Blue Devils delivered a crushing performance against their in‑state rivals, the NC State Wolfpack, Saturday afternoon at Carter‑Finley Stadium. Entering the game at 4‑4, the Wolfpack were already struggling after a recent coaching change, and the Blue Devils took full advantage.
First half ends in a spectacular turnover
Trailing 24‑3 late in the second quarter, interim Wolfpack head coach Todd Goebbel sent kicker Kanoah Vinesett out for a 50‑yard field‑goal attempt with just two seconds remaining. Vinesett’s kick fell short of the required distance, and Duke safety Andrew Pellicciotta was positioned in the end zone awaiting the ball.
Pellicciotta fielded the missed attempt and sprinted the full length of the field for a 109‑yard touchdown. The play instantly shifted the scoreboard from a potential 24‑6 halftime to a daunting 31‑3 deficit for NC State.
Duke pulls away in the second half
Buoyed by the dramatic score, Duke continued to dominate the remainder of the game. The Blue Devils added another ten points in the third quarter and sealed the contest with a final tally of 41‑3.
For NC State fans, the missed field‑goal return was a painful reminder of the Wolfpack’s ongoing challenges this season. The loss also underscored the importance of special‑teams execution, a facet that can dramatically alter momentum in college football.
What the play means for both programs
Duke’s aggressive special‑teams play highlights the coaching staff’s emphasis on capitalizing on every opportunity. The 109‑yard return will likely be remembered as one of the most exciting moments of the ACC schedule this year.
For NC State, the defeat adds pressure to the interim coaching staff as they seek to stabilize the program. The Wolfpack will need to address both offensive consistency and special‑teams reliability if they hope to rebound in upcoming conference matchups.
Looking ahead
Duke’s next game will test whether they can maintain the momentum generated by this dominant performance. Meanwhile, NC State must regroup quickly, focusing on fundamentals and perhaps reevaluating their kicking strategy to avoid similar costly errors.
Fans of both schools can expect the rivalry to remain intense, with future meetings likely to feature high stakes and, hopefully, fewer dramatic turnovers.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
