Field Level Media
Oct 10, 2020
Devin Leary threw two first quarter touchdown passes Saturday and defensive lineman Alim McNeill returned an interception for a score to stall a Virginia comeback in North Carolina State's 38-21 Atlantic Coast Conference win at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.
The Wolfpack (3-1, 3-1 ACC) were outgained 405-363, but were opportunistic. They converted four Cavalier turnovers into 17 points and outrushed them by nearly 100 yards. NC State also held Virginia to just four conversions on 18 third downs.
Backup quarterback Lindell Stone completed 30 of 53 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns with one interception for the Cavaliers (1-2, 1-2). He played most of the game in place of the injured Brennan Armstrong, who was 6 of 9 for 57 yards with two picks.
Stone's one mistake was a doozy. He threw a short pass that was tipped by McNeill, who came up with the deflection and rumbled 19 yards for a touchdown that made it a 31-14 game with 11:10 left.
Stone guided Virginia on an 89-yard scoring drive, firing a 5-yard strike to Lavel Davis, Jr. at the 6:08 mark. But Zonovan Knight wrapped up the game for the Wolfpack with a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:49 left.
Leary gave the Wolfpack early control with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Trent Pennix with 6:01 remaining in the first quarter, six plays after Armstrong tossed an interception to Shyheim Battle at midfield.
N.C. State made it 14-0 less a few minutes later when Leary found Cary Angeline for a 32-yard scoring strike. Christopher Dunn converted a 36-yard field goal with 5:49 left in the half, and Knight raced 35 yards for a 24-0 advantage at the 2:03 mark.
Stone threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Billy Kemp with 15 seconds remaining in the half, then found Tony Poljan for a 1-yard scoring connection with 2:08 left in the third quarter.
Leary finished 11 of 25 for 184 yards with an interception. Knight rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries.
--Field Level Media