MJ Morris, NC State come from behind to beat Virginia Tech, add to home winning streak
N.C. State did more than win a football game Thursday, as exciting as it was in the end.
The No. 24 Wolfpack might have resurrected its season just when it seemed headed to its worst defeat of the season.
It might have found a new quarterback in M.J. Morris, a freshman who stepped into the national spotlight on ESPN and rallied the Pack to a 22-21 victory at Carter-Finley Stadium that had Wolfpack fans giving the team a standing ovation at game’s end.
“What a great comeback win,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “I can’t say enough about the grit and determination of our guys, and the staff. To be down 21-3, a pretty incredible victory.”
The Wolfpack trailed 21-3 in the third quarter as the Hokies got some big plays from quarterback Grant Wells. The junior ran for two scores in the third and burned the Pack with an 85-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Kaleb Smith that had the Virginia Tech sideline energized.
But Morris, who did not start the game, finished it strongly -- and impressively.
He passed to Thayer Thomas for a 35-yard touchdown. He hit tight end Trent Pennix for a 7-yard score. When Morris teamed up with Thomas for an 18-yard score, the Pack had pulled into a 22-21 lead with 7:38 left in the fourth quarter.
A try for a two-point conversion failed but the Wolfpack would not relinquish the lead in winning its 15th consecutive home game. The Pack punched out two first downs running the ball in the final minutes to seal it.
“We just kept playing,” Doeren said, noting the late Jim Valvano’s “Never Quit” mantra. and saying, “That’s something our team has embraced and our university has embraced.”
The Wolfpack defense, solved by the Hokies in the third quarter, chased after Wells and kept Virginia Tech contained the rest of the night.
Morris, who has a quick release on his throws, finished 20-of-29 passing for 265 yards and three scores as the Pack (6-2, 2-2 ACC), became bowl eligible with its second big comeback win of the season -- N.C. State topped Florida State 19-17 after trailing 17-3 at the half at Carter-Finley.
The Hokes (2-6, 1-4 ACC) could do little right against the Wolfpack defense in the opening half, which ended with the Pack leading 3-0. But Wells, a redshirt junior, and the Hokies opened it up in the second half, Wells hitting Smith for the 85-yard score and then connecting with Smith for 50 yards to set up another TD.
Wells twice scored on runs, his 20-yarder giving the Hokies a 21-3 lead with four minutes left in the third quarter.
It was all defense in the opening half for both teams as Christopher Dunn’s 35-yard field goal for the Pack provided the only points. The Hokies had less than 100 yards in total offense as the two teams played a grinding, field-position kind of game that left everyone at Carter-Finley restless.
The Pack, denied the chance at an ACC title after losses at Clemson and Syracuse, will host No. 10 Wake Forest in its next game.
This story was originally published October 27, 2022 at 11:08 PM with the headline "MJ Morris, NC State come from behind to beat Virginia Tech, add to home winning streak."
