NC State downs Virginia with electric second-half performance
For the first time since 1948, NC State and Virginia are set to clash in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon inside Carter-Finley Stadium.
Both squads enter the afternoon 1-0 after Week 1 wins over East Carolina and Coastal Carolina.
TheWolfpacker.com will post all of the key updates throughout the 59th-ever meeting between the Cavaliers and the Wolfpack.
Slone ices the win
09/06/2025 02:08:10 PMUtah State transfer EDGE Cian Slone iced the game with his first-career interception as Virginia seemed to be driving to take the lead in the final 90 seconds of the game.
NC State held on to win 35-31 for its second straight win of the 2025 campaign.
Turnover on downs
09/06/2025 01:46:54 PMVirginia was putting together a solid drive, getting down to NC State’s 8-yard line, but the Wolfpack stopped the Cavaliers on 4th-and-1 to keep control of the ball with a critical stop.
NC State 35, Virginia 31. 4Q 6:37.
Doink!
09/06/2025 01:31:15 PMVirginia’s Will Bettridge missed a 47-yard field goal attempt off the left upright. NC State takes over at its own 30-yard line with a 4-point lead.
NC State 35, Virginia 31. 4Q 13:20.
Smothers finds the end zone again
09/06/2025 01:21:09 PMNC State RB Hollywood Smothers punched it through again with a 9-yard touchdown carry. The Wolfpack is back in front.
Smothers now has 13 carries for 131 yards and 2 TDs.
NC State 35, Virginia 31. 3Q 45 seconds.
Virginia with a quick response
09/06/2025 01:13:25 PMCavaliers RB J’Mari Taylor is a home-run threat. He proved it again with a 66-yard touchdown run to put Virginia back in front after NC State appeared to take control of the game on CJ Bailey’s touchdown run 90 seconds before.
Virginia 31, NC State 28. 3Q 5:11.
Clinical drive to open the half
09/06/2025 12:52:13 PMNC State’s offense emerged from halftime with authority. The Wolfpack went on an 8-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Hollywood Smothers 14-yard touchdown run.
He’s up to 52 yards with a touchdown on nine carries.
Virginia 24, NC State 21. 3Q 10:46.
Another smooth drive for the Cavs
09/06/2025 12:24:00 PMAnother drive, another way for Virginia to cruise down the field. QB Chandler Morris capped a 7-play, 27-yard drive set up by an electric punt return, with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Sage Ennis.
Virginia 24, NC State 14. 2Q 17 seconds left.
Virginia pulls back in front
09/06/2025 12:06:33 PMAfter punts from both teams, Virginia’s offense marched down the field — aided by a facemask penalty — to retake the lead on a Will Bettridge 29-yard field goal. The Cavaliers are now 8-of-11 on third downs.
Virginia 17, NC State 14. 2Q 4:08.
NC State’s defense stands tall
09/06/2025 11:50:29 AMAfter Virginia’s offense was 6-for-7 on third down with a fourth-down conversion, NC State’s defense forced the first punt of the game with 12:26 left in the first half.
The Cavaliers lead the time of possession 11:05 to 6:29 thus far.
Bailey delivers a strike
09/06/2025 11:43:22 AMNC State QB CJ Bailey rifled a strike to redshirt sophomore WR Noah Rogers, who scored easily on a 27-yard pass. This one is all tied up.
NC State 14, Virginia 14. 2Q 14:23.
Freshman makes debut
09/06/2025 11:42:04 AMNC State freshman QB Will Wilson made his collegiate debut. He entered on 4th-and-1 from the UVA 30, picking up two yards on a designed quarterback run.
The Carter-Finley Stadium crowd gave him a good cheer as he jogged off.
Back-and-forth game coming
09/06/2025 11:28:05 AMVirginia ran through NC State’s defense on a 12-play, 75-yard drive in 4:45, capped by a J’Mari Taylor nine-yard touchdown carry.
The Cavaliers are now 6-for-7 on third and fourth downs today.
Virginia 14, NC State 7. 1Q 3:41.
NC State has a response
09/06/2025 11:16:25 AMIt was a quick, but efficient drive for the Wolfpack to answer the Cavaliers’ touchdown. Sophomore QB CJ Bailey capped a five-play, 75-yard drive with a 30-yard draw to level the score.
NC State 7, Virginia 7. 1Q 8:26.
Virginia strikes first
09/06/2025 11:09:21 AMUVA went for it on 4th-and-1 from the NC State 39-yard line. Running back J’Mari Taylor broke free for a 39-yard touchdown scamper to open the scoring.
Virginia 7, NC State 0. 1Q 10:37
Coin toss result
09/06/2025 11:00:17 AMNC State won the coin toss and deferred its decision to the second half. Virginia will start on offense first.