NC State football stifled the charging Cavaliers in the final moments to hang on to a 35-31 lead.
With the ball in its court, Virginia (1-1) forged a final charge, needing more than a field goal to keep it alive. Deflating the hopes of the Wolfpack (2-0), the Hoos forged four plays of 14 yards or more, reaching the NC State 12-yard line.
Just like the previous week, it felt like things were trending in the wrong direction. Working in Virginia’s favor, the Wolfpack defense looked like Swiss cheese all afternoon, letting up 514 net yards.
But the defense stepped up when it mattered most. On 1st and 10 at the NC State 12-yard line with over a minute left to find the end zone, Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris went for broke, launching an ill-advised pass in the direction of graduate linebacker Cian Slone.
The sure-handed Slone secured it and effectively ended the contest with less than a minute to go, with Virginia out of timeouts.
“It’s great to be 2-0,” said head coach Dave Doeren. “And another great, crazy finish, where you got to make a play. And sometimes you don’t know who it’s going to be. It’s awesome when it’s a senior.”
But throughout the first three quarters, offense, rather than defense, was the story for the Wolfpack. Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey led the charge, starting out the game 8-for-8 in the air, looking flawless both on the eye test and on paper, finishing 16-for-23 with 243 total yards and three touchdowns — one in the air and two on the ground.
“With my ability to run, it showed this game,” Bailey said. “My legs are going to help me out during this season.”
Another guy with some good legs, redshirt sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers, went for a career-high 140 yards with two touchdowns. But the humble Smothers credited the O-line for his breakout.
“I think the offensive line just got more comfortable,” Smothers said. “You know, got more understanding of who they were going to … They got a feel for it. Them guys up front just got the job done, opening up holes for me, gave me some space to work in.”
Defensive breakdowns in the first half plagued the Pack, putting pressure on the offense to keep up with Virginia. NC State gave up three plays of 20-plus yards, including a 39-yard touchdown rush up the middle on the first Virginia drive. Redshirt senior linebacker Sean Brown and junior linebacker AJ Richardson missed tackles, leading to the gashing play.
Letting up 24 points in the first half, the Pack defense could not control the game. And it was much of the same midway through the third as the Pack let up another long rushing touchdown, this time from 66 yards out.
“We just knew that we weren’t playing to our standard as a defense,” said Brown. “[Our] offense was doing their thing, going out there, scoring points, doing what they’re supposed to do, and just defensively, we were letting them down.”
But that touchdown marked the last points the Wolfpack allowed.
“Maybe we’re a little fluttered on defense,” Slone said, “but we kind of honed it in, kind of realized the situation that we were in, and we all kind of came together in the second half. I was really proud of how we played in the second half on defense.”
Smother’s second rushing touchdown late in the third quarter was the last offensive score of the game for either team, proving to be enough for a 35-31 victory. He busted through the line for a nine-yard rushing touchdown — unknowingly sealing it for the Pack.
Next up, NC State will head to Winston-Salem to face Wake Forest (1-0) on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7:30.
