North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Continues Winning Ways
11/26/2023 8:18:00 PM | Football
Senior Day scripts don't always go as planned. But sometimes, the story ends up even better than scripted. That's how it went for the Wolfpack on Saturday night in a 39-20 win over rival UNC.Â
Brayden Narveson converted two of his season-high four field goals in the first quarter. Then in the second, Brennan Armstrong and Kevin "KC" Concepcion took center stage offensively. They connected twice on touchdowns, one coming off of the fun formation with offensive linemen split wide right like receivers. What lineman wouldn't love to do that!?
It was Concepcion's fifth game with two touchdown receptions and gave him 10 on the year, the most since Bryan Underwood in 2012 and most for an FBS freshman in 2023. The true freshman also hauled in a season-best 131 yards.
The Wolfpack scored points on its first eight possessions of the game and by the third quarter, the lead grew to 26 points.Â
The offense was explosive and efficient. The defense was physical and salty.Â
UNC's offense entered the game with the ACC's leading passer and the nation's leading rusher. Midway through the second quarter, four of the Tar Heels' five drives had been three-and-outs, with a grand total of 16 plays for 53 yards.
"We call it 'the cycle of death,'" Dave Doeren said. "When you play these fast-tempo teams, if they go three-and-out then you have a five-minute drive and score, then they come out and go three and out again and then you go five minutes again and score. That wears out their defense."
Early in this contest, the tone was set and the message was sent. The most prepared and physical team on the field wore the red jerseys.
The Wolfpack won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball with punishing blocks, powerful tackles and contested catches. NC State also let the emotions of a rival game work in its favor.
"I told the players I wanted them to be emotional in this game," Doeren shared after the game. "I wanted them to use their emotions, not lose their emotions."
This time of the year, players are banged up, some more than others. Brennan Armstrong took a shot in the Virginia Tech game that limited him in practice this week.
"Brennan didn't throw a ball in practice all week," Doeren revealed. "For him to come out and play like that says a lot about him and his toughness."
"I was like 'this is my final one. I'm not going to not play," Armstrong said.
He passed for a season-best 334 yards and set the Wolfpack single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Armstrong improved to 3-0 in his second stint as the Wolfpack starter. During that stretch, he has completed 71% of his passes for 648 yards, 6 touchdown passes, 3 rushing scores and ZERO turnovers.
On a week of Thanksgiving, the Wolfpack defense preferred the takeaway bone to a turkey leg.Â
Devan Boykin and Payton Wilson created the first turnover, separating the football from Drake Maye which was then covered by Jaylon Scott. Boykin and Wilson were part of the Pack pick parade, contributing to the next two takeaways with interceptions.
It marked the 10th straight game and 11th time in 12 games that the Wolfpack had an interception. No wonder the Pack led the ACC and was one of the best in the nation with 17 total picks.Â
Wilson, who also led the Pack with 15 tackles, was one of the last to leave the field after the game was over. One of the best to ever play linebacker at NC State, he took a little extra time to soak in the final minutes of his home career.
"It was an awesome experience," Wilson said. "I can't thank Wolfpack Nation enough for my senior day. The applause that I got - it meant the world to me. I love this university. I love this team. I love this fan base. I hope that I left a good mark here."
The entire team left a good mark with a fifth straight ACC win and the third consecutive win over North Carolina.
The perfect ending to a 9-3 regular season to remember.
