NC State football quick hits and notes from its win over UVA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Here are the quick hits from NC State’s rainy 24-21 win over Virginia on Friday night in front of 42,979 fans at Scott Stadium. The Wolfpack earned its first ACC win of the season in what was both teams’ conference opener.
Young linebacker has career day
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Caden Fordham put together his best defensive game of his career against the Cavaliers after he earned the start in the middle of the Wolfpack’s defense.
Fordham, who was a special teams player last fall, recorded a career-best 12 tackles with one tackle for a loss in NC State’s pivotal road win to start conference play.
The Ponte Vedra, Fla., native surpassed his previous high of five tackles, which he recorded against Notre Dame earlier this season. Fordham’s ability to contain UVA quarterback Anthony Colandrea helped hold the Cavaliers’ signal-caller to just 3.3 rushing yards per attempt on 13 carries.
Fordham seemed to be a good fit playing a significant number of snaps at linebacker next to longtime NC State defender Payton Wilson, who recorded a team-best 13 tackles against UVA.
Star wide receiver continues to impress
True freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion has been graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong’s favorite target this season, and in NC State’s ACC opener, he proved to be again.
Concepcion recorded a career-best 116 yards and his first two touchdowns with the Wolfpack on six receptions. The Charlotte, N.C., native kicked the scoring off with a 12-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone to mark his first-career touchdown at NC State.
But he wasn’t done after that.
Concepcion added a 48-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to extend NC State’s lead to eight, which is all the breathing room that the Wolfpack needed at UVA. The wideout was pivotal in the NC State passing game, and his yards after the catch were a big reason why.
NC State used Concepcion in space, where he thrived in chunk plays. Concepcion averaged 19.3 yards per reception against the Cavaliers, the most on the team, while he paced the Wolfpack with 10 targets.
Key offensive line starter missing
NC State was without starting center Dylan McMahon against the Cavaliers. He missed most of the Wolfpack’s game against VMI after exiting in the first quarter with a leg injury.
McMahon traveled to Charlottesville, but was not dressed. He donned his white road jersey with black sweatpants and a soft brace on his right leg to keep it mobilized.
Doeren listed McMahon as day-to-day throughout the week leading up to the contest with the Cavaliers. Redshirt sophomore left guard Lyndon Cooper started in his place — the same as when McMahon left the VMI game early.
What the win means
NC State coach Dave Doeren earned win No. 75 at NC State. He currently trails former Wolfpack coach Earle Edwards by two wins to become the winningest coach in program history. Edwards went 77-88-8 from 1954-70.
It’s the third time that Doeren has beaten the Cavaliers in his third attempt across his 11 years at the helm of the Wolfpack. The win over UVA improves NC State’s record to 5-9 in its last 14 trips to Charlottesville, dating back to 1984.
UVA falls to 0-4 to start the season. It’s the first time the Cavaliers haven’t won a contest in their first four games since George Welsh’s second season in 1982.
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