I was not expecting a back-and-forth affair to begin the afternoon, but that’s what we got, as NC State and UVA combined for four touchdown drives to open things up. The early signs weren’t great for State’s defense and unfortunately they ended up qualifying as foreshadowing.
NC State’s defense wasn’t doing badly at least in terms of putting Virginia in third down, but the Pack simply could not get off the field in those situations. The Pack could have gotten UVA off the field in three plays to start
the game, gave up a lengthy sideline throw, and UVA ended up scoring on a long fourth down run a bit later.
There would be plenty of stuff like that to look back on.
Fortunately, CJ Bailey was outstanding early, and didn’t throw an incompletion until well into the second quarter. State’s first drive took only five plays as Bailey took a draw to the house, and on the next possession he hooked up with Noah Rogers with a beautiful toss over the middle.
Then the sputtering began. State got a stop from its defense, finally, but did nothing on offense with the ball. As the second quarter waned, things went south, as they seem to do so bafflingly often.
After UVA kicked a field goal to go ahead 17-14, State had to punt after the refs missed a holding/PI call against UVA on third down. That punt was returned well into State territory, and UVA took advantage with another touchdown. UVA was more opportunistic and that was the perfect example.
State’s offense got back going coming out of the locker room with a touchdown drive that included the first big pass play of the year to Justin Joly. Hollywood Smothers put the finishing touches on the possession with an 11-yard run right up the gut. Neither of these defenses were doing much to disrupt the offenses, that is for sure.
When the defense did manage to bother Chandler Morris, Sabastian Harsh was usually involved, and his pressure got the Pack the ball back and the opportunity to claim the lead for the first time, and it did quickly, as Hollywood got loose for 56 and Bailey ran in another score a few snaps later.
That lead didn’t last long, of course, because the game had a few more pendulum swings left in it. But State was the more opportunistic team in the second half, and came through with the big play to win it. That was fun.
