The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1513610
30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER points, which tied the Tar Heels' lowest scoring total of the season. In his final game at Carter-Finley Stadium, Wilson led the host team with 15 total tackles, adding a sack and an interception. The Wolfpack now holds a three- game winning streak against its in-state rival. Individual Offensive Performance Of The Year Concepcion committed to the Wolf- pack over the Tar Heels out of Charlotte (N.C.) Chambers High. He did not need anyone to explain the importance of the rivalry, and he showed up on the prime- time stage. The freshman wide receiver led the Pack in both rushing (11 carries, 55 yards) and receiving (7 catches, 131 yards, 2 touchdowns). Concepcion made a huge impact in his first rivalry win over the Tar Heels, helping the Pack jump out to a 26-7 lead at halftime. Individual Defensive Performance Of The Year NC State held Miami to a pair of field goals in its 20-6 win on Nov. 4 at Carter-Finley Stadium, and Wilson was a huge reason why. He helped the Wolfpack record a second-half shut- out against the Hurricanes with a sea- son-high 16 tackles (7 solo, 1 for loss), flying around the field to expand his conference-leading total. Wilson also recorded 2 defended passes against the Pack's conference foe. Top Three Offensive Plays of the Year 1. Freshman wide receiver Kevin "KC" Concepcion's 48-yard touch- down catch at Virginia. Armstrong threw a strike over the middle to Con- cepcion, who did the rest on this scor- ing play — his second touchdown of the game and his career. Concepcion caught the ball at the left hash mark on Virginia's 28-yard line be- fore he cut back across the field to make a pair of defenders miss. After that, it was off to the races with Concepcion cruising into the end zone. 2. Graduate tight end Trent Pen- nix's 62-yard touchdown recep- tion against Marshall. It had looked initially as though Pennix was going to block, but the play ended in a career- long touchdown for the Pack's mainstay at tight end. Pennix had already scored in the contest, but this touchdown was his most impressive play of the 2023 season. Pennix lined up as a fullback and pre- tended as if he was going to take on a safety as a run blocker. He sold it well enough to take off downfield, and soph- omore quarterback MJ Morris was able to hit him for an easy score. 3. Redshirt sophomore wide re- ce ive r Da ca r i Co l l i n s ' 2 0 -ya rd touchdown grab against North Car- olina. With a UNC defender draped around his right side as he bounded into the end zone, Collins looked up and saw the ball headed toward him. He was able to fight off the cornerback and came down with his second touchdown of the season. Collins withstood both the fall to his knees and the Tar Heels' player punching at the ball, giving NC State a 33-7 lead over its archrival. Top Three Defensive Plays of the Year 1. Graduate linebacker Payton Wil- son's 15-yard pick six against Clem- son. Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik dropped back to pass near his own end zone in the third quarter, and junior line- backer Devon Betty rose up to bat it away. The tipped ball ended up in Wilson's hands, and he ran untouched to the end zone at Carter-Finley Stadium. Graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong regained the starting position after MJ Morris decided at midseason to redshirt. The Virginia transfer guided NC State to wins over Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and North Carolina to wrap up his lone regular season with the Pack. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP