Virginia and North Carolina State met in a non-conference game, and it didn’t disappoint.
Virginia’s Chandler Morris threw an interception in the end zone with a minute left in the 35-31 loss to the Wolfpack.
For most of the day, Morris carved up the Wolfpack defense. Morris finished with 30-43 for 257 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
The Cavaliers had 257 rushing yards. J’Mari Taylor led the ground and pound game with 150 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
With the game tied at 14, Virginia scored the last 10 points of the first half on Will Bettrich’s 29-yard field goal and a three-yard touchdown catch by Sage Ennis.
Virginia led 24-14 at halftime.
North Carolina State came out of the locker room and committed to the run. Hollywood Smothers (17 carries, 140 yards, and two touchdowns) scored on a 14-yard touchdown run. CJ Bailey scrambled for a 12-yard touchdown run to give the Wolfpack a 28-24 lead.
Virginia responded with a Taylor 66-yard touchdown run.
In what proved to be the game-winning drive, Smothers took over. He had 79 yards rushing on the drive, including a 57-yard run. He capped off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run.
Virginia’s final three drives were productive but ended without scoring any points.
First, Bettrich hit the upright on a 47-yard field goal.
The next drive ended on downs when Taylor failed to get the yard-to-gain on 4th and one from the Wolfpack’s eight-yard line.
On the final drive, Morris had driven Virginia 69 yards on seven plays before the game-sealing interception.
Notes:
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- Virginia held North Carolina State to 1-7 on third down but couldn’t stop the Wolfpack on fourth down (2-2).
- The Cavaliers were 13-19 on third downs.
- Virginia outgained NC State 127-24 in the fourth quarter but ended up with no points in the quarter.
