Game Balls: NC State football’s standouts from its win at Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. — NC State entered Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium with a three-game winning streak, looking for its first win in Blacksburg, Va., since 2004. The Wolfpack did just that as it led wire to wire in a 35-28 win over the Hokies on Saturday afternoon.
The Pack won its eighth game of the season, which marked the fourth straight season coach Dave Doeren has led the red and white to at least that many victories. NC State was able to pull away from Virginia Tech as it outgained the Hokies 408-349, including 188-124 on the ground.
NC State also dominated the first downs in the contest with 24, while it limited Virginia Tech to 1-for-7 on third down. The Hokies did not pick up their first successful third-down conversion until there were just over nine minutes to play in the contest.
TheWolfpacker.com is acknowledging those that sparked the Wolfpack in the victory with four game balls after NC State’s penultimate regular season contest of the 2023 campaign.
LB Payton Wilson: The graduate linebacker was all over the field for the Wolfpack — especially in the early going. Wilson recorded four tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss, in the first quarter. Each time Wilson brought down Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones, he made sure to let him know with a little bit of trash talk as he got up. The Hillsborough, N.C., native finished the day with 11 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss and a sack against the Hokies.
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WR Kevin Concepcion: Is there anything that Concepcion can not do? He recorded a statistic in all three offensive categories in the Wolfpack’s win over Virginia Tech. Concepcion threw a 17-yard touchdown pass, while he ran the ball nine times for 44 yards, and caught seven passes for 63 yards and two more scores. The freshman wide receiver consistently made plays, and was key in NC State’s five straight touchdown drives that it strung together during the second and third quarters.
QB Brennan Armstrong: In his return to Lane Stadium, the former Virginia quarterback got revenge on his old rival. Armstrong earned his first win in three tries against Virginia Tech, and he did it with a complete game on offense. The Shelby, Ohio, native was 18-of-26 passing for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while he added another 21 carries for 89 yards with a pair of scores on the ground.
OC Robert Anae: The Wolfpack’s first-year offensive coordinator went deep into his bag of tricks at Virginia Tech, and it proved successful. He used unique formations, a reverse that turned into a pass, and had Concepcion throw a 17-yard touchdown pass. Anae may have called his most complete stretch during his NC State tenure during the second and third quarters as the Pack scored on five straight drives. During that stretch, the Wolfpack moved the ball 60 yards or more on each of the touchdowns, and all but one took longer than four minutes of game time.
