NC State Wolfpack at Virginia Cavaliers

Beau Pribula dazzles in Virginia debut as Cavaliers overwhelm NC State 34-8 in season, ACC opener

Pribula, who started his career at Penn State and played last season at Missouri, threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 110 yards, becoming the first Virginia quarterback to run for 100 yards in a game since Brennan Armstrong in 2022.

“I thought he was very decisive, very efficient with the ball,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said. “He protected it, didn't put it in jeopardy for the most part. He was looking for checkdowns. If it wasn't there, he was pulling it down, keeping us ahead of the chains. It was fun to watch him play.”

Behind a balanced offense and stifling defense, the Cavaliers jumped out to a 17-0 lead at the half.

Virginia, playing without star linebacker Kam Robinson (knee), had no trouble containing CJ Bailey and the Wolfpack. It opened the game with a pair of three-and-outs and then intercepted a tipped pass on NC State’s third possession.

The Wolfpack never threatened. Bailey finished 12 for 23 for 84 yards and an interception. He also lost a red zone fumble.

“The world’s not going to end, but it was disappointing as hell, to say the least, to see how we played today,” North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren said. “I own that. That’s on me. Everybody can blame the head coach. That’s great. I’m going to go in there and work my (backside) off for these guys and help them.”

Running back group Running back is one of the deepest positions on Virginia's roster and the Cavaliers leaned into that Saturday. Five different backs had at least six carries, led by Jekail Middlebrook's 15 carries for 64 yards. Xavier Brown had 40 yards on eight carries, plus a pair of receptions, including the 45-yard score. Xay Davis, Noah Vaughn and Peyton Lewis, the highly touted Tennessee transfer, combined for 44 yards on 19 carries.

“We're going to need all five of those guys throughout the course of the year,” said Elliott, after the Cavaliers ran for 258 yards.

The takeaway North Carolina State: Bailey and the offense could not get going, and the Wolfpack defense was dominated by Virginia's offensive line. NC State will need to address both those issues if it wants to avoid squandering Bailey's talents.

Virginia: Expectations are running high in Charlottesville, and Saturday's performance will only add to them. Virginia was as advertised: a team that can control the game by running the ball and playing suffocating defense.

Up next Virginia: After an open date, UVA hosts Norfolk State, coached by former Virginia Tech star Michael Vick, in a Friday night game on Sept. 11.

North Carolina State: The Wolfpack will look to bounce back when it faces another Virginia school, FCS Richmond, in Raleigh on Friday, Sept. 11.

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