Virginia Tech Football: 3 major positives from NC State loss

Nov 18, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Harrison Saint Germain (87) runs the ball against North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive back Devan Boykin (12) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Harrison Saint Germain (87) runs the ball against North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive back Devan Boykin (12) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 18, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (10) celebrates with quarterback Brennan Armstrong (5) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (10) celebrates with quarterback Brennan Armstrong (5) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

Virginia Tech’s defense has a chance to rebound

As mentioned above, NC State Dave Doeren and his staff came into Blacksburg with a game plan and they executed it perfectly. It was a clinic on ball control on the road in a tough conference foe’s sold-out stadium.

Quarterback Brennan Armstrong and freshman wide receiver KC Concepcion were a 1-2 punch that driver the NC State offense all afternoon, from the second quarter on. Both teams failed to score in the sloppy first quarter, but on the first play of the second quarter, the Wolfpack executed a flea-flicker on the first play and they got them rolling.

They scored 21 second-quarter points, pulled the double score late in the first half, and on the first drive of the second half for a 28-7 lead. Armstrong finished 18-for-26 for 203 yards and two touchdown passes to Concepcion while rushing for 89 net yards on 21 carries. He gained 116 yards on the ground, but the number was knocked down late in the game because he was scrambling to run out the clock and took some knees. Concepcion had seven catches for 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

When they needed to get a stop early in the game, the Hokies couldn’t do it. They get another chance to redeem themselves on defense this weekend in Charlottesville.