Late-game mistakes by the offense and special teams doomed the Cavaliers against the Wolfpack, who start the conference season with a win. Game preview provided by WRAL multiplatform producer Mark Bergin.
Posted September 18, 2023 6:51 p.m. EDT
Updated September 23, 2023 12:45 a.m. EDT
By Joseph Ochoa, WRAL multiplatform producer
Charlottesville, Va. — The NC State Wolfpack capitalized on late mistakes by the Virginia Cavaliers and escaped Charlottesville with a 24-21 win Friday night.
As the Cavaliers (0-4, 0-1) were driving late in the game, Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea hit Malik Washington for a touchdown with 36 seconds left. After the touchdown, an offensive lineman was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Cavs converted the two-point conversion from the 19-yard-line, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, this time on Colandrea, forced the Cavaliers to kick off from the 20-yard-line.
After NC State (3-1, 1-0) drove into field goal range and called time out with 6 seconds remaining, Virginia blocked the kick from Brayden Varveson, but were penalized for leaping over the center. NC State moved forward 15-yards and Narveson hit the second kick as time expired to give the Wolfpack its first conference win.
NC State head coach Dave Doeren said he was proud of how Narveson carried himself on the two attempts.
“[I’m] very proud of Brayden to make the second kick,” Doeren said. “To be able to step up again in the rain, psyche-wise, and make the second one was huge.”
Before the final drives of the game, The Wolfpack defense honed in on mistakes by the Cavaliers.
Early in the fourth quarter, a pass from Colandrea was tipped by NC State’s Bishop Fitzgerald and intercepted by a diving Sean Brown midway through in the fourth quarter.
The pass was corralled by NC State’s Sean Brown at NC State’s 26-yard-line, giving the Wolfpack the ball back midway through the fourth quarter.
On the Cavaliers next offensive drive, Colandrea lead the Cavs down the field and was nearly in the redzone.
After scrambling for time, Colandrea threw another interception, this time to 2022 All-ACC cornerback Aydan White, who was downed at the NC State 10-yard-line with 5:39 remaining in the game.
The late mistakes have been an issue for Colandrea this season. In the fourth quarter this season, he has thrown one touchdown and five interceptions.
Kevin “KC” Concepcion showed up for Brennan Armstrong in his first ACC game.
Early in the second quarter, Armstrong hit Concepcion in the back corner of the end zone from 12 yards out, putting NC State on the board 7-0 with 14:53 left in the second quarter.
The catch was Concepcion’s first-career touchdown reception.
“It was amazing catching that first touchdown,” Concepcion said. “Best believe that ball is going to my mom.”
Then late in the third quarter, after the Cavaliers brought the game within a point, Armstrong hit Concepcion over the middle around Virginia’s 28-yard-line.
Concepcion got loose and left every defender in the dust.
Armstrong said moments like Friday are what Concepcion lives for.
“KC isn’t affected by the lights,” Armstrong said. “He just goes out and plays at a high level.
