Doeren: Botched safety a 'play that breaks your heart'

The wildest finish of the day, season, and possibly the last decade went down Saturday when Vanderbilt stunned NC State by forcing a fumble in the end zone as the Wolfpack attempted to take a game-ending safety.

The Commodores' ensuing recovery flipped the game from a loss to the most improbable win in program history.

"Very sad ending to a game where I thought we did a lot of good," NC State coach Dave Doeren said, according to Daniel Wilson of Inside Pack Sports. "It's a shame it came down to that play where that should never happen. Obviously, it's a play that breaks your heart more than anything. I was proud of how our guys played for 59 minutes and 59 seconds."

NC State appeared to have the game sealed after an interception with 1:04 to play gave them the ball on the 1-yard line. The Wolfpack held a 99% winning probability prior to the final play of the game.

Instead of punting the ball away with six seconds left, Doeren opted to have CJ Bailey take the snap, retreat to the end zone, and run the clock down before taking a safety. That would give Vanderbilt two points, but still deliver the one-point victory for NC State.

However, Bailey opted to try and dive to the ground instead of take the knee and was hit by the defense to pop the ball loose.

"It's a play where you roll out and you don't get tackled," Doeren said. "You try to burn as much time as you can and then fall to the ground and protect the football. He got hit and he didn't protect the football. Plan was to take a safety and try to run out the clock if we can, but there's no intent to run the football and get hit on that play."