Pre-Review_NCAAF: NC State Wolfpack at Virginia Cavaliers

NC State vs Virginia Pre-Review - Week 0 - Scott Stadium, Charlottesville - 3:30 PM ET on ESPN**

1st Quarter:

Virginia wins the toss and defers, NC State will receive to start the season. What was supposed to be the first college football game ever played in Brazil is now back in Charlottesville after the relocation.

NC State's offense comes out sharp. QB CJ Bailey, back for his junior year, hits TE Justin Joly on a quick out for 8 yards on the first play from scrimmage.

After a couple of first downs on the ground with Hollywood Smothers, NC State stalls. Bailey is sacked on 3rd and 6 by Virginia DE Mekhi Buchanan and the Wolfpack have to punt.

Virginia takes over at their 21-yard line. New QB Daniel Kaelin, the Nebraska transfer, leads the Cavs. UVA wants to establish the run and hands to J'Mari Taylor for 5 and 7 yards to get a first down.

After exchanging punts, Virginia gets the offense rolling late.

With 1:12 left in the quarter, Kaelin play-fakes to Taylor and connects with WR Suderian Harrison on a deep post for a 38-yard TD down the seam. Crowd erupts.

End of 1st: Virginia 7 - NC State 0

2nd Quarter:

NC State's offense starts to find its rhythm now that the nerves are gone.

CJ Bailey escapes the pocket for two scrambles of 15+ yards on their first drive of the quarter.

After starting from their 32 yard line, the Wolfpack have 1st and goal at the 8 yard line. Bailey fakes a handoff to Smothers, rolls left, and finds WR Noah Rogers in the back of the endzone for a TD, tying it 7-7 with 11:44 left in the quarter.

Virginia's offense feels the pressure and goes 3 and out after two blown coverages force Kaelin to throw it away.

NC State begins to gain confidence, and CJ Bailey finds Wesley Grimes along the sidelines for a 49-yard TD pass on a go-route. The score puts the Wolfpack in front 14-7.

The Cavs jump right back into it after a 52-yard kickoff return by Ethan Davies is followed by a 22-yard swing pass to J'Mari Taylor for a touchdown.

The defenses stand their ground the rest of the half as Virginia misses a 44-yard FG wide right as time expires.

Halftime: NC State 14 - Virginia 14

3rd Quarter:

Virginia begins the half with a steady diet of J'Mari Taylor. After grinding the ball down the field for 61 yards on 10 plays, the Cavs are held short on a 3rd and 4 from NC State's 14 yard line.

Virginia settles for a 32-yard FG from Will Bettridge, but not before slicing 5:44 off the clock.

Down 17-14, NC State's offense kicks into gear and marches down the field without much resistance from Virginia's defense. The Wolfpack seem to be in good shape with a first down at the Cavs' 18 yard line.

The tide changes as Virginia's Kam Robinson shoots the gap and forces Hollywood Smothers to fumble on an inside zone. The Cavs recover at their 16.

Virginia does not waste time and scores on a Kaelin 11-yard keeper to cap a 6-play, 84-yard drive after a busted coverage by NC State's safeties.

NC State ends the quarter with a 46-yard FG from Kanoah Vinesett and trails by 7.

End of 3rd: Virginia 24 - NC State 17

4th Quarter:

After bending but not breaking throughout most of the game, NC State's defense turns up the heat.

Virginia is caught off guard by a corner blitz as Daniel Kaelin rifles a pass into the waiting arms of NC State CB Brandon Cisse at the Wolfpack's 44-yard line.

NC State is re-energized.

The Wolfpack's tempo starts to wear on Virginia. CJ Bailey works the ball down the field with a series of RPOs and quick screens. The 56-yard drive is capped off with a 9-yard TD run up the middle by Hollywood Smothers.

Bailey leads NC State down again and scores a TD on a 4-yard QB draw to give NC State a 31-24 lead with 5:58 left in the game.

The Cavs answer with a TD drive of their own as Kaelin finds Trell Harris in the corner of the endzone on 3rd and goal from the 7.

After holding NC State to a 3 and out, Virginia receives the ball at their 28-yard line down 31-31 with 1:47 left in the game.

Daniel Kaelin and J'Mari Taylor perform admirably as the Cavs look to get into FG range. Kaelin finds Harrison one last time for a 12-yard out to put Virginia at NC State's 31-yard line with 0:04 left on the clock.

Will Bettridge's 48-yard kick has the distance, but sails just wide right.

We are going to overtime.

OT:

Virginia gets the ball first and settles for a 37-yard FG after NC State's Cian Slone sacks Kaelin on 3rd down.

NC State needs only 3 plays. Bailey finds Justin Joly for 19 yards to the 6, then Smothers punches it in from 2 yards out for the win.

Final (OT): NC State 37 - Virginia 34

Summary:

CJ Bailey cements his status as one of the top returning QBs in the ACC as NC State outlasts Virginia in a Week 0 thriller in Charlottesville. Despite trailing by 7 in the 4th, the Wolfpack defense forced the key turnover that changed momentum. Virginia showed flashes of last year's 11-win team, but couldn't close.

Notable stats:

CJ Bailey - 26-34, 287 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int

14 rushes, 68 yards, 1 TD

J'Mari Taylor - 21 rushes, 124 yards

5 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD

Hollywood Smothers - 19 rushes, 94 yards, 2 TD