Brennan Armstrong returns as QB, leads NC State past Wake Forest

Field Level Media|published: Sat 11th November, 17:36 2023

Nov 11, 2023; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Brennan Armstrong (5) tries to outrun Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive back Malik Mustapha (3) during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. credits: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Brennan Armstrong was back as North Carolina State's starting quarterback and he made time in that role count by throwing and rushing for touchdowns in the Wolfpack's 26-6 road victory against Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Armstrong had been a backup for the previous four games as MJ Morris was at the controls, but Morris' decision to sit out the rest of the season to qualify for a redshirt thrust Armstrong, a graduate transfer from Virginia, back into the starting position.

Armstrong completed 12 of 17 passes for 111 yards and rushed for 96 yards on 15 attempts.

The Wolfpack (7-3, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third straight game. It marked just the second NC State victory in Winston-Salem in the last 11 trips to its in-state rival.

Morris was 3-1 as a starter this year before the midweek revelation that he has opted to take a redshirt season. Another game played would have put him over the maximum number of games permitted to preserve a redshirt season.

Wake Forest (4-6, 1-6) has dropped three in a row and six of its last seven games.

Wake Forest tried quarterbacks Mitch Griffis and Michael Kern. The Demon Deacons avoided a shutout when Kern's fourth-down pass was caught by diving receiver Deuce Alexander for a 19-yard touchdown with 7:15 remaining. Even that thrill lasted only so long because Jaylon Scott intercepted a two-point conversion pass and raced 100 yards for a two-point defensive conversion.

NC State went 84 in three plays for the game's first points on Armstrong's 20-yard pass to Julian Gray. The big play was KC Concepcion's possession-opening 65-yard run on a reverse.

The Wolfpack were up 14-0 early in the second quarter. Armstrong plowed into the end zone on a fourth-down run from 1 yard out.

Armstrong's 38-yard run to the Wake Forest 1 set up Delbert Mimms III's 1-yard plunge for a 21-0 lead.

The Wolfpack's only second-half points on offense came when NC State turned Sean Brown's interception and 33-yard return into Brayden Narveson's 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

—Field Level Media