Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns, and safety Andrew Pellicciotta returned a missed field goal 100 yards for a touchdown, as Duke beat NC State Wolfpack 41–3 on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Sheppard scored on his first carry — a 69-yard run up the middle — to open the scoring. His rushing total equaled NC State’s entire offensive output. Duke led 31–3 at halftime after Pellicciotta caught Kanoah Vinesett’s short 50-yard field goal attempt at the back of the end zone and returned it the length of the field. Jaivon Solomon added an 18-yard receiving touchdown from Walker Eget shortly before halftime.
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NC State gained 217 total yards — including just 32 on 25 rushing attempts — and converted 3 of 14 third downs. The Wolfpack failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a 24–3 loss at Duke in October 2023. This was NC State’s third game this season with 14 or fewer points.
Duke improved to 7–2 overall and 4–2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The win snapped a two-game losing streak to Georgia Tech and North Carolina. It marked Duke’s sixth victory in the last seven meetings with NC State. Sheppard entered the game ranked fifth nationally in rushing yards per game (121.5) and third in rushing touchdowns (14). Duke launched a Heisman Trophy campaign for him earlier this week.
NC State fell to 4–5 overall and 2–4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Interim head coach Todd Goebbel dropped to 1–1 after taking over following Dave Doeren’s firing on October 24. NC State hosts Syracuse next Saturday. Duke visits No. 1 Miami next Saturday.
More: NCAAF · NC State Wolfpack · Duke Blue Devils
