NC State QB CJ Bailey finally broke his silence Wednesday, trying to explain away a fumble that ripped a shocking victory right out of his team’s hands last Saturday against Vanderbilt. The loss stings, especially after how it went down, and his words might not be enough for a fanbase reeling from a brutal defeat.
The Play That Broke Hearts: Six Seconds, Five Yards, Total Chaos
Picture this: NC State is up 31-28, only six seconds left on the clock. It’s fourth down, and they are deep on their own 5-yard line. The plan, clearly, was to burn the clock and take a safety, securing a tight win. Instead, Bailey tried to scramble, ticking those precious seconds down. Then, out of nowhere, three Vanderbilt defenders converge, smashing into him. The ball gets punched out right there in the end zone. Vanderbilt cornerback Cayden Daniels scooped it up for a go-ahead touchdown, and just like that, the Commodores walked away with a stunning 35-31 victory. Talk about a gut punch.
He Knew What He Had To Do, But Not How
Bailey, understandably, sounded frustrated recalling the play. “I was just trying to get all the clock out. That was my thought,” he told reporters. “The biggest thing was just to hold the ball. I was just trying to run around and make a play. Being competitive, that’s who I am, I’m a competitive guy. I was competing until the final second. It happens, I fumbled the ball. I’m gonna pick myself up and keep going.” He admitted there was “a lot of communication with the coaches” before the play and they told him “a lot of things.” But here’s the kicker: Bailey felt his inexperience in that exact moment was the real problem. “We worked the play a couple times, but never in that situation,” he said. “That was my first time ever in that situation, and it didn’t go the right way I wanted to. I fumbled the ball, it is what it is, we gotta move forward.” You could feel the tension as a media relations rep quickly cut off a follow-up question, shutting down any more discussion.
Now, at 1-2, Bailey and the Wolfpack have to try and regroup. They’re facing Appalachian State (3-0) on Saturday night. This next game is absolutely massive. Can they bounce back after a loss like that, or will this fumble hang over their season?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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