RALEIGH, N.C. – Both Virginia Tech and NC State were coming off their respective bye weeks feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to get back in the win column in this ACC primetime matchup. The focus is on being present in the moment.
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Before the game, 10 Sports got the chance to catch up with both teams and get their outlook on the match ahead.
“We just have to play closer to who we are and who we can be and if we do that we’re going to have a heck of a chance to win the game. The guys understand that they’re invested, they had a good week,” Brent Pry, VT head coach said.
“I feel like there will be more run plays than pass plays. The O-line is pretty solid overall so that will have to be a good fight,” Wilfried Pene, Hokies Defensive Tackle said.
The Hokies feel the bye week gave them an opportunity to go get back to the basics with the hopes of adding new wrinkles here in the second half of their season, starting at NC State.
“We worked on what was needed but we also got reps on the plays we were good at and we gained confidence in that aspect,” Grant Wells, Hokies quarterback said.
“Just locking in on fundamentals and showing up in a game, being consistent, practicing consistently, the way you practice is the way you play,” Silas Dzansi, Hokies offensive tackle said.
The Wolfpack also come into Thursday night’s matchup hungry for an ACC win after falling to Syracuse before its bye week.
“They know they can’t give up scores, keep it a one-possession game and offensively we have to grow and find ways to get in the endzone. Special teams, we’ve been able in some games to score in the last two years so we have to play complementary football,” Dave Doeren, NC State head coach said.
NC State took an early lead in the first half of the game by kicking a quick field goal just before halftime, bringing the score to 3-0.
After the break, the Hokies came back and had an answer for that lead – by the end of the third, the Hokies brought their side up to 21, and NC State trailed with 10.
It was looking promising for the Hokies going into the final quarter, but in the first few minutes, NC State had something else in store. They pushed through and made two more touchdowns, taking back the lead by just one point. They held the lead to the end, coming out victorious against the Hokies.
Even though the Hokies have won the last three meetings in this series, including a 21-point home win in 2020, but they fell to NC State on Thursday night, 22-21.
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