This Wolfpack football team just may be for real.
- Photo courtesy NCSU athletics
- N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson had a career day, passing for three touchdowns and running for another as N.C. State improved to 4-0 by winning 45-28 at Georgia Tech in the Wolfpack’s ACC opener.
At 4-0, State is off to its best start since going 9-0 to begin the 2002 season.
Meanwhile UNC (1-2) got a non-conference road win it absolutely had to have, beating Rutgers 17-13.
Wilson completed 28 of 41 passes as the Wolfpack produced 527 yards total offense and scored its most points ever against Georgia Tech (2-2, 1-1).
Dean Haynes had 75 yards on 18 carries for the Wolfpack, which got 68 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries from Mustafa Greene.
Josh Nesbitt had 95 rushing yards on 19 carries for Tech, but completed only five of 18 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Jerrard Tarrant had a 33-yard interception return for the Yellow Jackets to cut the Wolfpack lead to 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, ending the junior Wilson’s NCAA record streak of 379 straight passes without an interception.
For UNC, T.J. Yates hit Ryan Taylor for a six-yard touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead, while Casey Barth added a fourth-quarter field goal for some insurance.
Yates completed 22 of 20 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown with one interception, while Shaun Draughn had 54 yards on seven carries. Johnny White scored the other UNC touchdown on a one-yard run.
