North Carolina State 40, Louisiana Tech 14: Freshman Matt Dayes ran for three touchdowns as the Wolfpack rolled over the visiting Bulldogs to give coach Dave Doeren a victory in his debut.

Quarterback Brandon Mitchell completed all three of his passes for 93 yards in leading N.C. State on two scoring drives before he was lost in the first quarter with a left foot injury. Pete Thomas, who lost a close battle with Mitchell in the preseason for the starting job, came on to complete 15-of-27 passes for 212 yards.

Kenneth Dixon, who led the nation with 28 touchdowns last year, recorded 118 yards rushing and scored in the second half for Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs gave up 542 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times – two on Dixon fumbles.

N.C. State only took 12 plays to score on its first two drives, capped by short touchdown runs from Tony Creecy and Dayes (17 carries, 84 yards). The Bulldogs put together two drives deep into N.C. State territory in the first half before giving up the ball on fumbles in the end zone and at the Wolfpack 26-yard line.

Louisiana Tech made it 24-7 with 27 seconds left in the first half after driving 75 yards in seven plays, including Tevin King’s 1-yard TD run. The Bulldogs pulled within 27-14 with 14:06 to go in the game on Dixon’s 12-yard run, but Niklas Sade’s third field goal and Dayes’ 18-yard gallop into the right corner of the end zone sealed it for N.C. State.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wolfpack WR Rashard Smith totaled 82 yards on five receptions - 56 of which came on a catch and run that set up the second touchdown in the first quarter. … N.C. State RB Shadrach Thornton, who led the team in rushing last season, missed the game due to a suspension. … Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz debuted for his fourth school. Holtz was previously head coach at Connecticut, East Carolina and South Florida.