RALEIGH, N.C. — Russell Wilson threw a fourth-down touchdown pass to George Bryan with 2:40 left to help North Carolina State rally from a big halftime deficit and beat No. 16 Florida State 28-24 on Thursday night.
Wilson also ran for three scores for the Wolfpack (6-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who trailed 21-7 at the break before ending a three game losing streak to the Seminoles (6-2, 4-1). With the victory, North Carolina State surpassed its victory total for last season while earning a key victory in a matchup of Atlantic Division contenders.
Trailing 24-21, the Wolfpack drove to the Florida State 1-yard line and appeared to have a winning score within easy reach. But the Seminoles stopped Wilson on two sneaks, then stuffed James Washington’s leap over the line on third down. The Wolfpack appeared ready to kick a field goal, but called timeout and sent the offense back out on the field.
This time, Wilson rolled to his right on a play-action fake, then found Bryan alone near the back of the end zone for the 28-24 lead.
Still, Christian Ponder - who ran for two scores and threw for one - nearly rallied the Seminoles, driving Florida State all the way to the North Carolina State 4 in the final minute. But on what looked like a play-action fake, Ponder fumbled when tailback Ty Jones appeared to bump him as he ran by.
North Carolina State linebacker Nate Irving pounced on the loose ball at the 9 with 48 seconds left, sealing a dramatic victory in a game that was statistically even much of the night.
Wilson finished with 178 yards on 18 for 28 passing against the league’s top scoring defense.
Wilson’s winning touchdown toss allowed him to bounce back from an interception on a badly thrown ball around the Florida State 10 early in the fourth. The Seminoles converted that turnover into a field goal from Dustin Hopkins for a 24-21 lead with 9:07 left.
Ponder had a similar night, throwing for 196 yards and an 11-yard touchdown to Willie Haulstead to go with two rushing scores - all in the second quarter. He also had his own critical miscue, fumbling deep in his end of the field to set up Wilson’s 20-yard score that tied the game in the third.
GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE NORTH ALABAMA 31, DELTA STATE 7
CLEVELAND, Miss. - Wes Holland rushed 12 times for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns as North Alabama held one of the nation’s top Division II offenses to just seven points in a key Gulf South Conference battle on Thursday.
North Alabama (7-2, 4-2), which built a 14-0 halftime lead and forced three Delta State turnovers in the second half, snapped a two-game losing streak.
Quarterback Lee Chapple completed 19 of 28 passes for 220 yards and 1 touchdown. The Lions outgained Delta State 426-379 as the Statesmen lost a fumble, threw three interceptions and missed two field goal attempts.
North Alabama has won seven of its last nine meetings against Delta State since 2005.
Sports, Pages 25 on 10/29/2010