SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 3, 2012
Virginia 33, North Carolina State 6: The quarterback combination of Phillip Sims and Michael Rocco took advantage of a lifeless Wolfpack defense as the visiting Cavaliers ended a six-game losing streak and earned their first conference win.
Kevin Parks ran for 115 yards and a touchdown for Virginia (3-6, 1-4 ACC), which returned from its bye week and rushed for 248 yards against shell-shocked North Carolina State. The Wolfpack (5-4, 2-3), who lost their grip on the ACC's Atlantic Division with last week's stunning 43-35 loss to rival North Carolina, came out flat and committed five turnovers.
The Cavaliers, who entered as 9 1/2-point underdogs, were in control from the start. Virginia has alternated between Sims, a sophomore, and Rocco, a junior, at quarterback all season.
Sims started the game and capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run before giving way to Rocco, whose 18-yard touchdown pass to Darius Jennings made it 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Virginia took a 16-0 lead with 3:17 left in the half when Mike Glennon was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, and Sims' 38-yard touchdown pass to Tim Smith early in the third stretched the advantage to 23-0. Sims finished 8-of-10 of for 115 yards while Rocco was 12-of-23 for 83 yards.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Sims and Rocco combined to complete their first eight attempts. ... Virginia's first incomplete pass came from senior RB Perry Jones. ... Glennon was 12-of-23 for 121 yards and two interceptions in the first half. ... The teams combined to go 6-of-30 on third down.