Three takeaways from NC State’s last-minute win over Virginia on second-chance field goal
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren threw his hands up in the air, running onto the field after winning its conference opener in stunning fashion.
N.C. State (3-1, 1-0 ACC) defeated Virginia (0-4, 0-1 ACC), 24-21, in an exciting matchup that didn’t lack any drama.
Virginia made a late-game push with a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game. Wolfpack kicker Brayden Narveson’s 48-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining was blocked, but a personal foul on the Cavaliers gave him another attempt from 33 yards out.
He made it.
Both teams finished with multiple explosive plays and big tackles. The offenses each had dropped or off-target passes. Tropical storm Ophelia brought rain. but the Pack — and former Cavaliers QB Brennan Armstrong — came out on top. The Wolfpack extended its series lead to 37-22-1, winning five of the last six and three straight.
Three takeaways from Friday’s game:
NC State continues containment issues
From the season opener, one of the primary concerns about the defense was its ability to consistently limit explosive plays. It’s fair to continue to have those worries.
The Wolfpack gave up six explosive plays, including a 42-yard pass in the second and a 59-yard pass in the third. Both eventually led to points for UVA.
N.C. State gave up an 80-yard touchdown against Notre Dame. It also allowed other pass plays of 28 yards, 40 and 65 yards. Those don’t even include passes or rushes between 10 and 25 yards.
Against UConn, the team allowed a 71-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
The defense has shown its abilities to respond and play tough. Linebacker Payton Wilson showed it with his team-leading tackles. Safeties Bishop Fitzgerald and Sean Brown tag teamed for a deflected pass and interception.
Junior cornerback Aydan White intercepted a pass on the N.C. State 1-yard line in the fourth quarter, returning the ball to the 10.
N.C. State, however, can’t rely on miracle plays to win games. It needs steady defense that can keep the big plays at bay.
Big catch Concepcion
True freshman wide receiver Kevin “K.C.” Concepcion has a chance to be a legitimate star for the Wolfpack. He made some mistakes and dropped some passes early in the season, but it appears he’s settled into the role.
Concepcion scored his first career touchdown just five seconds into the second quarter. He grabbed a 12-yard pass from Armstrong, putting the Pack on the board first.
The rookie added a slick 30-yard reception on third-and-14 to give N.C. State a much-needed first down. Two plays later, Concepcion grabbed a 14-yard pass from Armstrong. Both plays contributed to a touchdown drive to take a 14-7 lead.
Concepcion added a second touchdown on a 48-yard, career-high reception.In addition to the touchdowns, the freshman finished with his best performance of the season. Concepcion contributed 122 yards on 16 catches in the first three games. He surpassed 60 yards before half time on Friday and totaled 116 yards on six catches.
The North Carolina local showed fans what they have to look forward to in the future.
Payton Wilson remains key contributor
The linebacker returned to N.C. State for a sixth season, and he’s been a leader on and off the field. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson previously called Wilson the “heartbeat” of the defense. He continued to show that against the Cavaliers.
Wilson carried much of the defense against UVA. The graduate student made two drive-ending tackles in the first quarter alone and finished with four total. One came against Cavaliers running back Mike Hollins at midfield.
He added a tackle on third down, which forced the Cavaliers to attempt a field goal instead of going for the touchdown.
Head coach Dave Doeren has praised Wilson for much of the season, saying the defensive scheme starts with his longtime linebacker.
“He ran a kid down in the game and had 23.4 miles an hour on the GPS. That’s the fastest we’ve ever had at NC State,” Doeren said after the loss to Notre Dame. “That kid plays so hard. That’s where it starts, because everybody in this entire program — there’s just so much respect to the level of fatigue the guy ends up with at the end of a practice (and) game. He just spends it all out there.”
Wilson is up to 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, .5 sacks, one interception, three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Here are previous updates from the game:
NC State field goal attempt blocked, then good
NC State managed to drive back into Virginia territory, down to the 30, but the field goal attempt was initially blocked.
BUT.
A Virginia defender leaped off the back of his own player to block the FG, so a penalty was assessed and the Pack got to retry. On the second attempt, Brayden Narveson drilled the FG from 33 yards.
Pack survives a scare, wins the game in regulation.
Virginia TD, 2-pt. conversion ties game
A comedy of errors for Virginia still yielded the tying points. Anthony Colandrea found Malik Washington for the score. Then, an ill-advised penalty on Virginia backed the Cavs up to the 18 for the 2-point try.
No matter. Colandrea hit a receiver in the end zone for the 18-yard two-point try anyway, making it a tie game with :36 to play.
NC State’s second INT of 4th keeps Pack in front
Aydan White picked off Anthony Colandrea at the NC State 1-yard line with 5:39 to play in regulation, the second Wolfpack INT of the quarter, to stuff a Virginia threat and keep the Pack in front by eight.
The first interception of the quarter came at the 9:34 mark, when Sean Brown caught a batted ball at the NC State 26.
The Pack immediately extends lead
N.C. State didn’t let Virginia get too comfortable, responding with another touchdown. Wide receiver Kevin “K.C.” Concepcion scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass, his second TD of the game and a career-high reception.
Cavaliers cut NC State lead to 1
UVA kicker Will Bettridge scored a 36-yard field goal with 2:24 left in the third quarter, cutting the Wolfpack’s lead to one point. That ended a 38-yard drive.
Wolfpack defense stops possible touchdown, settles with FG
Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington grabbed a 59-yard pass and put the Cavaliers on the N.C. State 4-yard line. The Cavaliers were unable to capitalize with a touchdown after defensive pressure, despite the short yardage, and instead scored a 21-yard field goal.
NC State takes lead into halftime
The Wolfpack broke a tie with 28 seconds remaining in the second half, with redshirt junior Delbert Mimms III picking up the 1-yard rush. Mimms’ TD capped off an eight-play, 67-yard drive.
Cavaliers pick off Armstrong’s pass
N.C. State looked to be in scoring position once again, but Virginia safety Micah Gaffney picked off N.C. State quarterback Brennan Armstrong’s pass on the UVA 11-yard line. Gaffney returned the interception for 11 yards.
See photos from NC State football vs. Virginia in Wolfpack’s ACC opener
Virginia responds with a score
The Cavaliers tied the game on the following drive, recording an 8-yard touchdown from freshman quarterback Anthony Colandrea to graduate wide receiver Malik Washington. The Pack’s defensive pressure forced Colandrea out of the pocket, but he was able to find Washington in the back of the end zone.
NC State strikes first
Freshman wide receiver Kevin “K.C.” Concepcion scored his first career touchdown to put the Wolfpack up one touchdown. His 12-yard reception capped off a 49-yard drive.
Teams scoreless through one quarter
Both teams ended the first quarter scoreless, despite putting up a combined 160 yards. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong struggled early, but he seemed to settle in late. Armstrong finished the first frame with a 16- and 10-yard pass, before throwing an incomplete pass to Bradley Rozner in the end zone.
Center McMahon out, Ashford returns
Graduate student Dylan McMahon did not suit up for the game and wore a brace on his right leg during the team’s pregame warmups. McMahon sustained an injury in the Wolfpack’s first series against VMI. The graduate student was listed on the depth chart, and N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said on Thursday that McMahon was day-to-day.
Safety Rakeim Ashford, however, warmed up with the team. Ashford has not played since the season opener at UConn. Ashford was taken off the field and to the hospital after a kickoff return.
