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NC State upsets Virginia, ends Cavaliers' winning streak

Oct 28, 2007 - 4:04 AM RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The series of close victories finally came to an end for Virginia.

Daniel Evans passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns as North Carolina State upset the 21st-ranked Cavaliers, 29-24, in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown Saturday.

The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for Virginia (7-2, 4-1 ACC Coastal), which had won five games by five points or less this season - including the last three by a combined four points.

"We pass-protected well enough to allow Daniel to get the ball off," N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said. "Daniel made some great throws, and there were also some great catches made out there."

N.C. State (3-5, 1-3 Atlantic) trailed by one point midway through the fourth quarter when Evans hit Donald Bowens down the right side for a 30-yard touchdown that gave the Wolfpack a 29-24 lead with 7:37 remaining.

"We are just executing," Evans said. "We are doing the right things. People are taking the right steps and making the right blocks and doing the things we need to do to win ballgames."

Bowens had a career day in his second career start, hauling in 11 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns for the Wolfpack, who snapped a nine-game conference losing streak dating to last season.

"He's a guy who bought into what we were teaching from day one," O'Brien said. "I've always said that you have to grab on to opportunities that present themselves and he's an example of that.

"Donald got an opportunity and seized it. Tonight, he made some great grabs and gave a lot of effort."

Virginia had one last possession to try to regain the lead. But the Cavaliers were unable to move the ball into N.C. State territory during the final minute.

Jameel Sewell completed 24-of-43 passes for 260 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Cavaliers, who now hold a one-half game lead over second-place Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division of the ACC.

On the opening possession of the game, an interception gave the Wolfpack the ball in Virginia territory, and Evans found a wide-open Bowens down the right side for a 40-yard touchdown just 2:30 into the contest.

"It was a big game," Bowens said. "I just tried to make big plays. We're all trying to win. With it being a new season, I just wanted to help our team win."

Trailing, 13-3, late in the second quarter, the Cavaliers answered with a shovel pass from Sewell to Mikell Simpson for a 13-yard score to cut N.C. State's lead to 13-10 with 3:04 left in the first half.

After N.C. State answered with a touchdown of its own, Virginia got back within three right before the half. Sewell found Cary Koch in the left corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to make the score 20-17 with 26 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Cavaliers took their first lead of the day when Simpson scored his second touchdown of the game less than two minutes into the fourth quarter. His 5-yard run gave Virginia a 24-23 lead with 13:12 remaining.

"N.C. State played a good game and you have to give them credit," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "We need better coaching, special teams, offense, defense, pass defense and rush defense. We just didn't do enough to win tonight"