Game Balls: NC State’s standouts from its win over UVA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — It was an up and down performance that went down to the wire, but NC State survived its season opener at Virginia with a 24-21 win in Scott Stadium to improve to 3-1 on the 2023 campaign.
TheWolfpacker.com is acknowledging those that sparked the Wolfpack in the victory with five game balls after NC State’s third win of the 2023 campaign.
WR Kevin Concepcion: The freshman wideout has been NC State’s top receiving option through the first three weeks, and he showed that again in Charlottesville. Concepcion caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in his fourth collegiate contest. Brennan Armstrong’s 12-yard pass to him in the back of the end zone marked his first-career touchdown with the Wolfpack. He followed that up with a 48-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter to extend NC State’s lead to eight. Concepcion averaged 19.3 yards per catch, the highest among all NC State wideouts.
P Caden Noonkester: The Waxhaw, N.C., native was consistent when called upon after NC State’s offense stalled. He punted eight times for 400 yards — an average of 50 yards per attempt. Noonkester constantly backed up the UVA return man, which allowed the Wolfpack to flip the field multiple times. His 67-yard punt, the longest of the night, pinned UVA on its own 6-yard line early in the second quarter.
LB Payton Wilson: NC State’s veteran linebacker was all over the field against UVA, and he racked up 13 tackles to pace the Wolfpack’s defense. Wilson anchored NC State’s run defense, which allowed just 113 yards on the ground. He also recorded 0.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry as he was in constant pursuit of UVA signal-caller Anthony Colandrea.
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DL Red Hibbler: The Northwest Mississippi Community College transfer was a force for the Wolfpack’s defensive line against the ‘Hoos, and logged two tackles with 1.5 sacks – both on third down — to keep pressure on UVA’s backfield. His performance was a season-high in both tackles and sacks. Hibbler has recorded at least one sack in three of his first four games in NC State’s red and white. He leads NC State with 3.5 sacks on the season.
LB Caden Fordham: The former special teams standout logged a career-best day with 12 tackles, the second-most among NC State’s defense. His performance against the ‘Hoos surpassed his previous career-best of five, which he recorded against Notre Dame earlier this season. Fordham earned the start against UVA, and played well next to Wilson, NC State’s standout linebacker.
Honorable mention: K Brayden Narveson: The graduate student made all four of his kicks, including the game-winning 33-yard field goal as time expired.
