Brayden Narveson kicked a game-winning field goal from 33 yards out on the final play as North Carolina State pulled out a 24-21 victory against Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams on Friday in Charlottesville, Va.
Wolfpack quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw for two touchdowns against his former team.
Kevin Concepcion caught both scoring passes from Armstrong, who was a Virginia starter the past three seasons. The graduate-student QB completed 15 of 30 passes for 180 yards with one interception for NC State (3-1, 1-0 ACC).
Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea’s second touchdown pass to Malik Washington went for 3 yards with 36 seconds to play in regulation, and then he tossed a tying two-point conversion pass to Malachi Fields.
The tying drive for Virginia (0-4, 0-1) covered 66 yards in 11 plays and took 2:53. An unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty on the Cavaliers assessed on the kickoff allowed NC State to move 33 yards in five plays to set up the winning field goal.
The Wolfpack’s defense came up with interceptions on back-to-back Virginia possessions in the fourth quarter to cling to the lead. The second of those pickoffs came after the Cavaliers reached the NC State 26-yard line.
After scoring its last touchdown, NC State punted on its next three possessions to give the Cavaliers chances.
Colandrea finished 18-for-30 for 271 yards.
Virginia got field goals from 21 and 36 yards from Will Bettridge in the third quarter to close within 14-13.
Sean Brown and Aydan White made the interceptions for NC State’s defense. Brown grabbed his pick after teammate Bishop Fitzgerald batted the ball away from the intended receiver. White’s snatch came at the 1-yard line.
Concepcion racked up 116 receiving yards on six catches. His second touchdown play came with 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter as he cut through Virginia’s defense for the final 27 yards of the 48-yard play.
NC State’s rushing attack was held to 139 yards in its first game since running back Jordan Houston opted to leave the program.
Armstrong threw to Concepcion for a 12-yard touchdown for the game’s first points on the first play of the second quarter.
Virginia got even on its next possession with Colandrea throwing 8 yards to Washington.
The Wolfpack went back ahead when Delbert Mimms III ran in from 1 yard out with 28 seconds to play in the first half.
–Field Level Media
