Raleigh, NC – Not many words can be said about the first-half offensive showcase that won’t get our site in trouble. Bad is one safe word to use. A combined 10 punts were put in the air during the first 30 minutes of action before NC State used a short field going 25 yards in 8 plays resulting in a 35-yard field goal from Chris Dunn just before the break to give the Wolfpack a 3-0 lead at halftime.
Both teams put up a combined 176 yards in the first stanza with the Wolfpack leading the way 130-46.
The second half would begin in opposite fashion as the Hokies engraved on a 6-play, 78-yard drive that finished with a four-yard touchdown run to give Virginia Tech their first lead of the evening at 7-3 with 12:51 left in the period.
The Wolfpack failed to convert a 44-yard kickoff return into any points after the Hokies touchdown punting away again. Virginia Tech smelled blood in the water and went for the kill and connected with an 85-yard bomb from Grant Wells to Kaleb Smith. The PAT increased the Hokies lead to 14-3 with 9:18 left in the quarter.
The Virginia Tech lead grew to 21-3 after a Wells scramble for a touchdown capping off a five-play 65-yard scoring drive with 4:02 left in the third quarter.
NC State found the life it needed with a six-play, 75-yard drive that saw MJ Morris find Thayer Thomas from 35 yards out. The PAT sliced the Hokies lead to 21-10 with 1:42 on the clock in the third. The Wolfpack weren’t finished after forcing another Hokies punt that resulted in another Morris touchdown. This one a seven-yard pass to Trent Pennix. NC State’s two-point conversion attempt was no good leaving the score at 21-16 in favor of the Hokies with 12:15 left.
The momentum stayed on the NC State side as another three-and-out led to yet another scoring drive from the Wolfpack as Morris found Thomas on a bubble screen with 7:38 left. Another two-point attempt came up empty making the score 22-21 with the Wolfpack ahead.
The Wolfpack defense came away with the one-stop it needed giving the ball back to its offense who iced the game with two Jordan Houston first down runs sending the fans who remained at the game in a frenzy for the second time this season overcoming a second-half double-digit deficit.
Morris finished the game 20-29 for 265 yards and 3 passing touchdowns. Thomas again came up big for the Wolfpack with 10 catches, 118 yards, and two touchdowns.
NC State inches closer to bowl eligibility needing one more win with Wake Forest coming to town next week for homecoming. 8 PM kickoff from Carter-Finley Stadium.