NC State football finally found its rushing game Saturday as the Wolfpack topped Virginia 35-21.

Freshman running back Ricky Person had 108 rushing yards on 14 carries for the Pack (4-0, 1-0 ACC) graduate quarterback Ryan Finley completed 22 of 32 pass attempts against the Cavaliers (2-2, 1-1 ACC) for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Junior receiver Kelvin Harmon had six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore receiver Emeka Emezie had five catches for 90 yards and a score.

“Really proud of our coaching staff, players and appreciative of the fans,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “I thought our guys played really hard and physical against a very good football team. …Offensively, to be able to run the football effectively against a very good defense was great. I thought Ricky Person really sparked us.”

The Pack’s defense played a very strong game, holding Virginia to just 234 yards before the fourth quarter. NC State’s pass rush got after Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins, sacking him four times, led by redshirt junior defensive tackle Larrell Murchison with three.

“We all bought in, we’re playing hard together and we’re having a blast doing it,” redshirt junior defensive end James Smith-Williams said. “We took away [Perkin’s] strengths and that’s what allowed us to win this game.”

The Wolfpack struck first, getting the ball first after receiving the initial kickoff, needing only three passes from Finley to get just outside the redzone. The drive stalled at the 17-yard line, and freshman kicker Chris Dunn made a 34-yard field goal to put the Pack up 3-0.

The Cavaliers struck back with a eight-play, 67-yard drive capped off by a 35 yard touchdown hookup from Perkins to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus.

Down 7-3, the Wolfpack found its groove in the second quarter. Sophomore wideout Emeka Emezie stole a sure interception free safety Brenton Nelson in the endzone for his second touchdown of the season.

“I’m very happy that [Finley]’s starting to gain trust in me,” Emezie said. “It’s a very big thing; I’ve worked my butt off… He sees that I’ve been able to make plays.”

Ricky Person came alive during State’s ensuing possession, with three straight rushes for a total of 55 yards. The rushing attack had been a prominent concern for the Wolfpack, but offensive coordinator has held fast to the principle in establishing the run both as a means of controlling time of possession and opening up the passing game.

“[The running game] helps a lot,” Emezie said. “It takes a lot of pressure off of Ryan and the receivers. Ricky was running amazing today; it was awesome to see that.”

The Wolfpack put some distance between itself and the Cavaliers as Finley lofted a beautiful pass into the end zone over Virginia linebacker Robert Snyder. Redshirt sophomore tight endCary Angeline brought the ball in as it passed over his shoulder, his first catch of the year a 14 yard touchdown.

NC State’s defense got the ball right back to the offense after junior cornerback Nick McCloud jumped an out route for his first interception of the year.

“It felt great,” McCloud said. “I’ve gotten my hands on some balls earlier in the season but it always feels good to get an interception.”

NC State’s secondary has something it lacked last year, and it’s not just forcing turnovers. It’s swagger. The Wolfpack’s defensive backs have a newfound confidence that McCloud credits to the work they put in each and every day.

“It’s really just preparation,” McCloud said. “We worked hard all offseason trying to make sure we could put ourselves in position to make plays. The same way we play on Saturdays, it’s the same way we play in practice every day.”

The Wolfpack got into field-goal position with three seconds left in the half, and Dunn split the uprights with a 44 yarder to give NC State a 20-7 lead going into the half.

Both teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. Eight minutes into the frame, senior running back Reggie Gallaspy bruised his way through goal line defense for a 2-yard touchdown run, and Virginia answered with a nine-play, 82-yard drive which ended with Zaccheaus finding the end zone for the second time off of 9-yard throw from Perkins.

In the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack looked to put the Cavaliers away. After a 38-yard run from Person, Finley found junior receiver Kelvin Harmon on a NFL-caliber 16-yard back shoulder toss to the front pylon of the end zone.

Virginia drove 75 yards in 4:51 to make the game competitive at 35-21 after a 7-yard rush from senior tailback Jordan Ellis.

After the Cavaliers successfully recovered the ensuing onside kick, defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable dialed up the pressure on Perkins. Redshirt junior defensive tackle Larrell Murchison got to Perkins twice, bringing his total on the day to three.

“[Perkins] definitely seemed frustrated, he started scrambling around there at the end,” Smith-Williams said. “We started getting after him; Larrell’s three sacks are a testament to that.”

NC State’s defense finally closed the door on Virginia with a Dexter Wright interception off a tipped ball, his first of the year.

The Wolfpack will return to action next Saturday against Boston College at Carter-Finley Stadium with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.

“It’s huge to be 1-0 in this conference,” Smith-Williams said. “We hope to make it 2-0 next week.”