BLACKSBURG, Va. – NC State scored five touchdowns, quarterback Brennan Armstrong and wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion had a hand in all five of them to help the Wolfpack to a 35-28 victory over Virginia Tech Saturday night from Lane Stadium.
With the victory, NC State (8-3, 5-2) has won four straight games and has now won at least eight games in four consecutive years for the first time in school history.
Armstrong did it through the air and on the ground, accounting for 289 total yards and four touchdowns. Armstrong threw for two and ran it in for two. Concepcion had his third game of the season with two receiving touchdowns and threw his first touchdown of his career. Concepcion finished with 44 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards, and 17 passing yards.
The 35 points put up by NC State against an ACC opponent in a victory are the most since 2020 when they opened the season against Wake Forest and scored 45 points.
A scoreless first quarter between the two teams saw the Wolfpack lead in the stat column, accumulating 55 total yards to the Hookies 39. NC State picked up five first downs and ran 14 total plays, averaging 8.3 yards per play.
The game’s first score came on fourth down as Armstrong connected with Concepcion for his seventh touchdown of the season as the true freshman tiptoed the sideline and extended the ball over the pylon for a 7-0 lead for NC State.
The Wolfpack made it back-to-back drives with a touchdown as Armstrong led an eight-play 60-yard drive that was capped off by Armstrong, who ran it in for a 1-yard score.
Virginia Tech immediately responded with a 50-yard kickoff return to set the Hokies up in Wolfpack territory. On the drive’s first play, Virginia Tech took it 47 yards to the endzone to get on the scoreboard and cut the Wolfpack lead to seven.
With 18 seconds left before halftime, the Wolfpack restored their two-touchdown lead as Armstrong and Concepcion connected for their second touchdown of the half, a 28-yard score to make it 21-7. With the score, Concepcion picked up his third game this season, scoring two touchdowns
At the half, NC State held a 228-95 total-yard advantage with 14 first downs compared to three. At one point, the Wolfpack converted seven straight third downs.
Just as they did before the break, the Wolfpack came out and punched it into the endzone with Armstrong’s second rushing touchdown of the game.
A Virginia Tech score didn’t deter the Wolfpack, as they scored on five straight drives at one point. Concepcion not only caught two but threw for one as well, connecting with Trent Pennix for 17 yards to make it 35-14.
Virginia Tech cut it to a one-score game, 35-28, with 1:40 left on the clock. Delbert Mimms, III recovered the ensuing onside kick, allowing the Wolfpack to run out the clock.
The win marks the fourth time NC State has gone to Blacksburg and returned with a victory.
UP NEXT: The Wolfpack returns to Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, November 25, to take on in-state rival North Carolina. Time and broadcast information has yet to be released.
