The Sports Xchange
Nov 28, 2015
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Running back Elijah Hood rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns as No. 14 North Carolina built a huge early lead on the way to defeating rival North Carolina State 45-34 Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Tar Heels (11-1, 8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) take an 11-game winning streak into next week's ACC championship game against top-ranked Clemson in Charlotte.
North Carolina reached 11 wins for the fourth time in program history, compiling 553 yards of total offense in avenging a lopsided loss to N.C. State from last year.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett had two touchdown runs and two touchdown passes for N.C. State (7-5, 3-5), which has failed to win consecutive games since dominating an underwhelming non-league slate in September.
Brissett's 4-yard run with 3:46 to play in the third quarter drew the Wolfpack within 35-23 before a failed two-point conversion run.
North Carolina responded with an 11-play drive, scoring with Hood's 1-yard run on the third play of the fourth quarter. A third-down pass from Williams to wide receiver Ryan Switzer kept the drive alive.
Earlier, North Carolina put up 35 first-quarter points, tying a school record for points in a quarter (with 51 seconds to spare). The Tar Heels had 423 yards of offense in the first half.
Quarterback Marquise Williams threw for 174 yards, completing 19 of 30 passes. Hood did his damage on 21 carries, and running back T.J. Logan added 100 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
Brissett threw for 206 yards -- with two touchdown throws to tight end David Grinnage -- and rushed for 128 yards.
North Carolina held a 14-0 lead less than six minutes into the game, with backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who entered the game for a play as Williams went to the sideline, throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Quinshad Davis and Logan sprinting 42 yards for a touchdown.
The Wolfpack answered with Brissett's 4-yard touchdown run on third down to complete an 87-yard drive.
But after a third-down penalty on the Wolfpack extended the Tar Heels' next possession, Williams connected on a 53-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Mack Hollins on the next play.
Logan's 40-yard run pushed the edge to 28-7.
On the next snap, North Carolina linebacker Andre Smith's interception and 28-yard return to the N.C. State 6 set up Hood's 1-yard run.
North Carolina racked up 308 yards of total offense in the first quarter despite needing to go only 6 yards for its last touchdown.
NOTES: North Carolina leads the all-time series 66-33-6, though N.C. State won 35-7 last year. That was the score at the end of the first quarter in North Carolina’s favor Saturday. ... N.C. State honored 10 seniors before the last home game. ... North Carolina had a streak of scoring in 22 of 23 quarters entering the game but failed to put up points in the second and third quarters. There was a scoreless second quarter a week earlier at Virginia Tech. ... N.C. State faced its third Top 20 team this season (also losing to Clemson and Florida State), marking the most since three such encounters in 2006. ... N.C. State awaits a bowl assignment for its final game.