Cavaliers Wolfpack Game Recap

Virginia 33, North Carolina State 6: The quarterback combination of Phillip Sims and Michael Rocco took advantage of a lifeless Wolfpack defense as the visiting Cavaliers ended a six-game losing streak and earned their first conference win.

Kevin Parks ran for 115 yards and a touchdown for Virginia (3-6, 1-4 ACC), which returned from its bye week and rushed for 248 yards against shell-shocked North Carolina State. The Wolfpack (5-4, 2-3), who lost their grip on the ACC's Atlantic Division with last week's stunning 43-35 loss to rival North Carolina, came out flat and committed five turnovers.

The Cavaliers, who entered as 9 1/2-point underdogs, were in control from the start. Virginia has alternated between Sims, a sophomore, and Rocco, a junior, at quarterback all season.

Sims started the game and capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run before giving way to Rocco, whose 18-yard touchdown pass to Darius Jennings made it 14-0 late in the first quarter.

Virginia took a 16-0 lead with 3:17 left in the half when Mike Glennon was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, and Sims' 38-yard touchdown pass to Tim Smith early in the third stretched the advantage to 23-0. Sims finished 8-of-10 of for 115 yards while Rocco was 12-of-23 for 83 yards.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Sims and Rocco combined to complete their first eight attempts. ... Virginia's first incomplete pass came from senior RB Perry Jones. ... Glennon was 12-of-23 for 121 yards and two interceptions in the first half. ... The teams combined to go 6-of-30 on third down.

Preview: Virginia Cavaliers at North Carolina State Wolfpack

North Carolina State is reeling after a stunning last-second loss to rival North Carolina caused it to lose grip on the ACC’s Atlantic Division. The Wolfpack have a chance to regain some confidence at home against struggling Virginia on Saturday. North Carolina State rallied from an 18-point deficit and then let a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead slip away in a wild 43-35 loss to the Tar Heels. Giovani Bernard’s 74-yard punt return with 13 seconds left helped the Tar Heels pull off the upset. The Wolfpack will try to rebound against a struggling Virginia squad that has lost six straight and needs to win out just to become bowl eligible. North Carolina State has won three of the last four meetings, including a 28-14 road victory last season.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com. LINE: North Carolina State -9.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA (2-6, 0-4 ACC): It has to drive coach Mike London crazy that the Cavaliers have outgained each of their last four opponents – yet still lost because of turnovers. Virginia committed three more in a 16-10 loss to Wake Forest on Oct. 20 and has the worst turnover margin in the FBS (minus-2.0). It could have been worse, too, as the Cavaliers only lost two of five fumbles against the Demon Deacons. Sophomore quarterback Phillip Sims, who has started the last three games, was 22-of-39 for 253 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Wake Forest.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (5-3, 2-2): The Wolfpack wasted a career-best performance from senior Mike Glennon, who was 29-of-52 for 467 yards and a school-record tying five touchdowns. Glennon was forced to throw, however, because N.C. State trailed 25-7 after one quarter. And after it rallied, the Wolfpacks’ normally stingy defense (23.0 points per game, 41st) faltered again. The defense is 12th in sacks (3.0 per game), but managed to reach the quarterback twice against North Carolina. Meanwhile, the offense has relied on Glennon, who leads the ACC with 306.8 yards per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The 25 points North Carolina scored were the most by an N.C. State opponent in the first quarter since 1997.

2. N.C. State is 108th in passing efficiency defense (278.1), thanks in part to David Amerson’s stunning fall from grace. Amerson set an ACC record with 13 interceptions last season, but has been burned repeatedly in 2012.

3. The Cavaliers are 98th in scoring offense (21.5) and 69th in third-down conversion percentage (39.3).

PREDICTION: North Carolina State 31, Virginia 17