Saturday, September 29
Raleigh, N.C.
12:20 p.m.
NC State
vs
Virginia - Parents & Families Weekend
NC State Hosts Virginia in ACC Opener
9/28/2018 8:41:00 AM | Football
Longtime rivals facing off for first time since 2012
Game Day Central | Game Notes | Thursday Football Notebook | TV Affiliates
Defense Making Their Headlines Too | Hurricane Relief Collection Info
Â
Â
Although the Wolfpack (3-0) and Virginia (3-1, 1-0 ACC) are longtime members of the ACC and have squared off 57 times previously, their game this weekend will mark the first meeting since 2012.
Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m., and the game will be televised by Raycom.
Â
The lack of familiarity between to the two teams offers up the feel of a non-conference game, yet the outcome will certainly have a profound impact on the league title hopes of both clubs.
"I've seen Virginia a lot in crossover film over the last six years, but haven't played against them or game-planned against them," said Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. "It's unique, but it's a conference game and you can feel that with our guys. You do the best you can with your prep and get the guys rolling."
Virginia's program has certainly undergone a facelift in recent years. Now in his third season with the Cavaliers, coach Bronco Mendenhall appears to be in the midst of a successful rebuilding project. After winning just two games in 2016, Virginia qualified for a bowl game last year after posting six regular season victories. Last week's resounding 27-3 triumph over Louisville in Charlottesville was arguably the most impressive showing in the Mendenhall era.
In junior Bryce Perkins, the Cavaliers feature one of the nation's most athletic quarterbacks. Perkins has already rushed for more than 100 yards twice this season to go along with a 379-yard passing performance against Indiana two weeks ago. Comparisons to former Louisville Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson have started to make the rounds.
"He's dynamic like Lamar," Doeren said. "Not only do you see him hurdling people, but just how fast he is when he gets to top gear. He's aggressive as a runner. He's not one of these quarterbacks that tries to slide. He's going to get what he can get. He's a good football player and they have tough schemes."
Said NC State linebacker Louis Acceus: "Hopefully we can prepare correctly and shut him down. You have to be aware of the draw because he'll just take off. You seem on film where he made something out of nothing by taking off on an 80-yard run for a touchdown. Hopefully we can stay under control, play our keys and shut him down."
While the NC State offense has been producing most of the headlines, a re-tooled defense has quietly done a solid job. In the last two games against Georgia State and Marshall, the Wolfpack yielded just two offensive touchdowns. Allowing only 13.3 points per game, the Pack leads the ACC and ranks ninth nationally in scoring defense.
"They're just playing hard," Doeren said. "It's a group of guys that bought in to the fact that nobody thought they'd be any good. It put a chip on their shoulder. They're playing well together and that's the fun part about it. You can have a standout player that shines, but good defense is 11 guys playing together and working off of each other. We need to keep getting better, understand where our help is and tackle well because that's going to be a key in this game. We've got to tackle extremely well against this quarterback and their running backs."
With all due respect to Perkins, NC State wouldn't trade its quarterback for anyone right now. With Ryan Finley orchestrating the show, the Wolfpack leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the FBS in passing offense with an average of 352 yards per game. Completing 68.6 percent of his throws, Finley has also helped NC State convert 59 percent of his third down plays.
The combination of Finley and his deep corps of receivers certainly has Virginia's attention.
"They have good schemes, but it's about who's involved in the schemes: the one who's delivering the ball and the ones who are catching the ball," Mendenhall said. "When you have exceptional personnel, sometimes regardless of correct positioning by the defense, plays are still made. They're making plays when they're covered and they're making plays when there's pressure. They just have good players."
NC State will be looking to open ACC play 1-0 for the third straight season.
In what will be the 58th all-time meeting between Virginia and NC State, the Wolfpack leads the series 34-22-1.
The Wolfpack Sports Network begins pregame coverage Saturday with the Lowe's Foods Countdown to Kickoff at 10 a.m. Shorty after 11 a.m., veteran color analyst Johnny Evans will take questions about Wolfpack football on 'Ask the Analyst.' Send Johnny a question on Twitter@pack radio or by going HERE.
NC State's weekly TV show, 'One with Wolfpack Football,' will air on Sunday night. For a list of times and stations, go HERE.
Â
Defense Making Their Headlines Too | Hurricane Relief Collection Info
Â
| NC State (3-0, 0-0) vs. Virginia (3-1, 1-0) | |
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 29 |
| Time | 12:20 p.m. |
| Location | Raleigh, N.C. |
| Stadium | Carter-Finley Stadium |
| TV | Raycom |
| Streaming | ACC Network Extra |
| Radio in NC | Wolfpack Sports Network |
| National Radio | Tunein, Sirius 145, XM 207 |
| Live Stats | GoPack.com |
| Social Media | @PackFootball, PackFootball |
Although the Wolfpack (3-0) and Virginia (3-1, 1-0 ACC) are longtime members of the ACC and have squared off 57 times previously, their game this weekend will mark the first meeting since 2012.
Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m., and the game will be televised by Raycom.
Â
The lack of familiarity between to the two teams offers up the feel of a non-conference game, yet the outcome will certainly have a profound impact on the league title hopes of both clubs.
"I've seen Virginia a lot in crossover film over the last six years, but haven't played against them or game-planned against them," said Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. "It's unique, but it's a conference game and you can feel that with our guys. You do the best you can with your prep and get the guys rolling."
Virginia's program has certainly undergone a facelift in recent years. Now in his third season with the Cavaliers, coach Bronco Mendenhall appears to be in the midst of a successful rebuilding project. After winning just two games in 2016, Virginia qualified for a bowl game last year after posting six regular season victories. Last week's resounding 27-3 triumph over Louisville in Charlottesville was arguably the most impressive showing in the Mendenhall era.
In junior Bryce Perkins, the Cavaliers feature one of the nation's most athletic quarterbacks. Perkins has already rushed for more than 100 yards twice this season to go along with a 379-yard passing performance against Indiana two weeks ago. Comparisons to former Louisville Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson have started to make the rounds.
"He's dynamic like Lamar," Doeren said. "Not only do you see him hurdling people, but just how fast he is when he gets to top gear. He's aggressive as a runner. He's not one of these quarterbacks that tries to slide. He's going to get what he can get. He's a good football player and they have tough schemes."
Said NC State linebacker Louis Acceus: "Hopefully we can prepare correctly and shut him down. You have to be aware of the draw because he'll just take off. You seem on film where he made something out of nothing by taking off on an 80-yard run for a touchdown. Hopefully we can stay under control, play our keys and shut him down."
While the NC State offense has been producing most of the headlines, a re-tooled defense has quietly done a solid job. In the last two games against Georgia State and Marshall, the Wolfpack yielded just two offensive touchdowns. Allowing only 13.3 points per game, the Pack leads the ACC and ranks ninth nationally in scoring defense.
"They're just playing hard," Doeren said. "It's a group of guys that bought in to the fact that nobody thought they'd be any good. It put a chip on their shoulder. They're playing well together and that's the fun part about it. You can have a standout player that shines, but good defense is 11 guys playing together and working off of each other. We need to keep getting better, understand where our help is and tackle well because that's going to be a key in this game. We've got to tackle extremely well against this quarterback and their running backs."
With all due respect to Perkins, NC State wouldn't trade its quarterback for anyone right now. With Ryan Finley orchestrating the show, the Wolfpack leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the FBS in passing offense with an average of 352 yards per game. Completing 68.6 percent of his throws, Finley has also helped NC State convert 59 percent of his third down plays.
The combination of Finley and his deep corps of receivers certainly has Virginia's attention.
"They have good schemes, but it's about who's involved in the schemes: the one who's delivering the ball and the ones who are catching the ball," Mendenhall said. "When you have exceptional personnel, sometimes regardless of correct positioning by the defense, plays are still made. They're making plays when they're covered and they're making plays when there's pressure. They just have good players."
NC State will be looking to open ACC play 1-0 for the third straight season.
In what will be the 58th all-time meeting between Virginia and NC State, the Wolfpack leads the series 34-22-1.
The Wolfpack Sports Network begins pregame coverage Saturday with the Lowe's Foods Countdown to Kickoff at 10 a.m. Shorty after 11 a.m., veteran color analyst Johnny Evans will take questions about Wolfpack football on 'Ask the Analyst.' Send Johnny a question on Twitter@pack radio or by going HERE.
NC State's weekly TV show, 'One with Wolfpack Football,' will air on Sunday night. For a list of times and stations, go HERE.
Â
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballCoach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 22)
Monday, September 22
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 15)
Monday, September 15
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 8)
Monday, September 08
FB Players Postgame Presser vs Virginia
Saturday, September 06