CJ Bailey ran and threw for first-half touchdowns, but North Carolina State needed a late defensive stand to secure a 24-17 victory against visiting East Carolina in Thursday night’s season opener at Raleigh, N.C.

Hollywood Smothers rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries as the Wolfpack avenged last December’s Military Bowl loss that included a late-game brawl.

Bailey was 24-for-34 for 318 yards with an interception and picked up another 21 yards on the ground. Wesley Grimes compiled 121 receiving yards on four catches with a touchdown.

East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser went 30-for-44 for 366 yards and a touchdown. NC State held the Pirates to just 30 rushing yards.

Even though East Carolina scored the game’s final 10 points, Houser’s pass on fourth-and-1 inside the NC State 10-yard line in the final minute resulted in a loss of yardage, clinching the outcome.

The Wolfpack led 17-7 halftime with a 252-132 advantage in total yards. They scored first in the second half on Smothers’ 2-yard run, completing a 10-play, 80-yard march.

East Carolina responded by going 72 yards, with Marlon Gunn Jr.’s 4-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Then the Pirates trimmed the deficit to 24-17 on Nick Mazzie’s 34-yard field goal at the 8:32 mark.

East Carolina’s final drive chewed up more than five minutes but the Pirates couldn’t convert at the end.

Earlier, NC State’s first drive of the game consumed 15 plays and covered 64 yards, resulting in Nick Koniecznski’s 29-yard field goal.

On the next drive, Bailey ran 11 yards for the season’s first touchdown. Bailey threw 48 yards to Grimes, with the Wolfpack going up 17-0 less than four minutes into the second quarter.

Meanwhile, East Carolina began with 3-and-outs on its first four possessions. But the Pirates struck on Houser’s 79-yard touchdown pass to Jayvontay Conner with 2:21 left in the first half.

–Field Level Media