By admin 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WNCN) — NC State was just seconds away from leaving Nashville with a football team win.
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Instead, the Wolfpack suffered one of the wildest losses of the season.
NC State fell to Vanderbilt, 35-31, Saturday in a game that featured a little bit of everything, including a stunning final sequence that turned a potential Wolfpack victory into a heartbreaking loss.
There were plenty of questions surrounding NC State heading into the matchup. After a disappointing Week Zero loss to Virginia and a blowout win over Richmond, the Pack needed to put together a competitive performance against a Power Four opponent.
And for much of the afternoon, NC State did exactly that.
The Wolfpack came out firing on both sides of the ball, jumping out to a 17-0 lead.
Much of the offensive production came from the connection between quarterback C.J. Bailey and Keenan Jackson. Jackson finished with 9 receptions for 102 yards and three touchdowns.
But Vanderbilt refused to go away.
The Commodores battled back in the second half, scoring three touchdowns to turn what had been a comfortable NC State lead into a one-score game.
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With a little over six minutes remaining, NC State led 31-28.
Then, with just 1:04 left, Wolfpack safety Brody Barnhardt appeared to deliver the play that could seal the win.
Barnhardt came away with a clutch interception, giving NC State the ball back with the lead and putting the Pack in position to run out the clock.
But the game was far from over.
NC State ultimately found itself in a bizarre final sequence.
The Wolfpack appeared to be headed for the finish line, but the Commodores forced the CJ Bailey fumble and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, turning what looked like an NC State victory into a victory for Vanderbilt.
Just like that, the game was flipped and in final moments, Vanderbilt found a way to steal it, 35-31.
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NC State falls to 1-2 on the season.