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Wolfpack races to 65-7 rout of outmanned Murray State
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Published: September 13, 2009
RALEIGH
N.C. State found the end zone last night for the first time this season, and kept returning with ease while demolishing outmanned Murray State.
The Wolfpack, scoring on its first 10 possessions, with nine drives producing touchdowns, exploded to a 65-0 lead with 4:47 left in the third quarter and settled for a 65-7 win at Carter-Finley Stadium to even its record after two games.
A hard-hitting defense, led by tackle Leroy Burgess, forced and recovered fumbles on Murray State's first two possessions that helped N.C. State take a 28-0 lead after the first play of the second quarter with 14:57 left before halftime.
"Anger is a great motivator," Burgess said. "It can fuel so many things. We had a little anger from the South Carolina game."
The winning margin was N.C. State's largest since Sept. 1, 1990, in a 67-0 win over Western Carolina. The points were the most ever scored by a Tom O'Brien-coached team in his 13 seasons, including 10 at Boston College.
Burgess recovered both fumbles, the first recoveries of his career, and had a sack, leading a defense that didn't allow Murray State to cross midfield until 3:04 remained in the third quarter.
Murray State got only its second first down of the game in reaching N.C. State territory on a pass to the 40, and kept the drive going to score its touchdown.
"We were a little mad at missing a shutout," Burgess said, "but the goal is to get a win. When you come in after losing a close game to South Carolina, obviously you're a little mad and you want to prove what you can do."
Both teams are 1-1. N.C. State took out nine days of frustration after losing its opener to South Carolina by a 7-3 score.
N.C. State had 25 first downs to Murray State's five, four of which came when it was 65-0 and the subs were playing. Russell Wilson led an offense that totaled 484 yards on 77 plays. Murray State ran 45 plays for 36 yards, including 1 yard rushing.
Wilson fired touchdown passes on N.C. State's first three possessions. His first scoring pass covered 27 yards to Jarvis Williams, the second was for 19 yards to Owen Spencer, and the third was 5 yards to James Washington, a reserve running back.
Wilson said he thought the win was exactly what the Wolfpack needed. "It gives us a little confidence, but at the same time we're not satisfied," he said. "We're never satisfied. We've got to keep getting better each and every week."
Wilson increased his streak of passes without an interception to 290. He completed 15 in 21 attempts for 228 yards and had four touchdown passes overall.
Wilson's streak is the second-longest in NCAA history, behind only a run of 325 passes by Andre Woodson of Kentucky, who set the mark in 2006 and 2007.
Toney Baker, a senior, continued his comeback from a knee injury that forced him to miss most of the last two seasons by scoring three touchdowns, one on a pass, and rushing for 74 yards. His first touchdown came on a 1-yard run and made it 28-0. He had not scored a touchdown since the 2006 season finale.
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com
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Murray State 0 0 0 7 -- 7
N.C. State 21 24 20 0 -- 65
First Quarter
NCSU--Ja.Williams 27 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 13:33.
NCSU--Spencer 19 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 10:15.
NCSU--Washington 5 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 4:13.
Second Quarter
NCSU--Baker 1 run (Czajkowski kick), 14:57.
NCSU--Washington 1 run (Czajkowski kick), 11:57.
NCSU--FG Czajkowski 36, 5:38.
NCSU--Baker 39 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), :44.
Third Quarter
NCSU--Baker 3 run (Ojala kick), 12:38.
NCSU--Washington 4 run (kick failed), 11:30.
NCSU--Barnes 2 run (Ojala kick), 4:47.
Fourth Quarter
Murray State--Ard 2 pass from Yantko (Cullen kick), 14:16.
A--55,510.
TEAM STATISTICS
MSU NCSU
First downs 5 25
Rushes-yards 25-1 48-191
Passing 35 293
Comp-Att-Int 9-20-1 21-29-0
Return Yards 0 80
Punts-Avg. 8-40.9 2-37.5
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-23 6-60
Time of Possession 24:29 35:31
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Murray State, Harris 1-18, Nwagbara 8-18, Jordan 9-15, D.Nelson 1-1, Trotter 1-(minus 3), Ehrhardt 1-(minus 11), Yantko 3-(minus 14), Team 1-(minus 23). N.C. State, Baker 12-74, Barnes 19-52, Washington 12-35, R.Wilson 4-26, Glennon 1-4.
PASSING--Murray State, Yantko 8-19-1-30, Ehrhardt 1-1-0-5. N.C. State, R.Wilson 15-21-0-228, Glennon 6-7-0-65, Imhoff 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING--Murray State, Townsel 2-(minus 1), D.Nelson 1-14, Trotter 1-11, Harris 1-5, Nwagbara 1-5, Ard 1-2, Jordan 1-0, Robertson 1-(minus 1). N.C. State, Ja.Williams 3-63, Spencer 3-47, Washington 3-28, Davis 2-39, Howard 2-19, Bryan 2-16, Ritcher 2-15, Baker 1-39, Barnes 1-18, T.Gentry 1-5, Graham 1-4.
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