Capers’ strip gives Vanderbilt stunning 35-31 win

Vanderbilt turned NC State’s attempt to run out the clock into a game-winning touchdown Saturday, escaping with a 35-31 victory at sold-out FirstBank Stadium. Miles Capers forced quarterback CJ Bailey to fumble near the Wolfpack goal line, and Cayden Daniels recovered in the end zone with one second remaining.

NC State faced fourth-and-7 from its own 5-yard line with six seconds left and a 31-28 lead. Bailey moved around near the end zone to drain the clock, but Capers knocked the ball loose before the quarterback’s knees touched the turf.

The finish completed the largest comeback of the Clark Lea era. Vanderbilt trailed by 17 points on multiple occasions. After holding the lead for exactly one second, the Commodores extended their home nonconference winning streak to 11 games. Their record improved to 3-0 for the second consecutive season.

NC State built a 14-0 first-quarter advantage and added a field goal midway through the second quarter. With 12 seconds remaining before halftime, Curtis found Sherrill for a 12-yard touchdown.

The Wolfpack restored its 17-point margin on Keenan Jackson’s touchdown catch with 8:52 left in the third quarter. Tristen Brown’s career-long 33-yard reception set up Mahkilyn Young’s rushing touchdown two minutes later.

Sedrick Alexander cut the deficit to three early in the fourth quarter, but NC State answered with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that restored a 10-point lead with 9:35 remaining. Curtis then connected with Sherrill for a 43-yard score, giving Sherrill the second multi-touchdown performance of his career.

Vanderbilt’s defense followed with a fourth-down stop in Commodores territory. A Wolfpack interception inside the 5-yard line with just over a minute left appeared to settle the game before Capers and Daniels produced the final reversal.

The comeback was Vanderbilt’s first from a 17-point deficit since its 27-26 victory over Ole Miss on Nov. 10, 2012. The win also closed Vanderbilt’s three-game homestand before conference play.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt improved to 3-0 for the second season in a row and secured its 11th consecutive home nonconference victory. The 17-point rally was the program’s largest comeback under Clark Lea.

What to watch next

The source identified Vanderbilt’s SEC opener at Auburn for the following Saturday at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.