In its final non-conference game of the season, NC State football picked up a 24-17 home win against Northern Illinois. The Wolfpack offense scored 17 points but failed to put the game out of reach when it had breathing room.

Here’s a breakdown of how each position group performed in the win over the Huskies.

Quarterback

In his first start at Carter-Finley Stadium, freshman quarterback CJ Bailey had a fluctuating performance. He was 13 for 20 for 108 yards and one touchdown. Facing a Huskies defense that was allowing just 17.33 points per game coming into the day, Bailey did all that he needed in order to ensure a Wolfpack victory.

One thing that Bailey struggled with was throwing the ball downfield. He had multiple throws that went above the heads of the receivers. His completions averaged 5.4 yards, and his biggest completion was a 34-yard pass to redshirt freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers.

While Bailey saw some success in the passing game as a manager, he also found success in running the football. Bailey had 10 carries for 22 yards and a touchdown. While it was not spectacular, his performance did just enough to contribute to a victory.

Running backs

The Wolfpack’s biggest struggle in this game was the rushing attack. The Wolfpack totaled only 63 yards, averaging 2.3 yards per carry. The longest run in the game came from senior running back Jordan Waters, which was for 12 yards

Sophomore running back Kendrick Raphael was another member of the Pack who struggled to get it going against the Huskies, totaling just 21 yards. NC State attempted to circulate the ball between Raphael and Waters, but could never establish an effective run game.

Receivers

Coming into the game, the Huskies’ defense knew who to target and attempt to limit on NC State’s side: sophomore wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, who only had four receptions for four yards. One of those receptions did result in a touchdown, but this is not what Wolfpack fans expect to see from Concepcion.

NC State struggled to get momentum in the passing game, combining for 108 yards. The Pack’s receivers outside of Concepcion got minimal involvement in the game. Rogers was the leading receiver and had two receptions for 48 yards. Waters had two receptions for 24 yards, which was the second most in the game.

One bright spot for the Wolfpack’s efficiency at receiving was junior tight end Justin Joly. While he only had two receptions for 15 yards, Joly still played a big role in helping the Pack move the ball. Joly is emerging as an important piece to the Wolfpack offense that it can rely upon.

Offensive line

The offensive line was another group that struggled in the game. Coming into the game, Northern Illinois’ biggest strength was its defense, particularly the defensive line. A big storyline for the Wolfpack coming into the game was the desire for the offensive line to improve. The Pack’s line did not have the game that they wanted.

Northern Illinois put great pressure on Bailey and sacked him twice. The Huskies also racked up five tackles for loss. The Wolfpack’s interior also had three different players that got flagged for holding calls. This unit will look to become tougher and more disciplined as the season progresses.