N.C. State rallies to nip ECU 30-24 in overtime

N.C. State led 15th-ranked East Carolina for one play yesterday.

It was the one that counted, the last one.

The Wolfpack, teetering on the edge all afternoon, rallied in the final five minutes to force overtime, caused a fumble on ECU's overtime possession and won 30-24 on Andre Brown's 10-yard run.

The victory evened N.C. State's record at 2-2 and revived State's passionate fans, somewhat subdued after the team lost four straight games against top-level NCAA opponents and failed to score an offensive touchdown for 13 straight quarters (excluding a tense win over William & Mary, a team from the Championship Subdivision).

Although the scoring skid extended to 14 quarters against the favored Pirates, the crowd of 57,583 never stayed quiet for long. State players never let up, staging one rally after another and holding ECU to a late field goal when a touchdown could have ended the game.

The persistence satisfied Coach Tom O'Brien, four games into his second season. "For the first time since I've been here," he said, "we have finally played 60 minutes of tough, hard-nosed football. It paid off in the end."

The end arrived a tad beyond the 60th minute, and it touched off a raucous celebration.

Receiver Jarvis Williams explained the Wolfpack's emotional revival: "It was a rival game. Anybody with the name Carolina on their jerseys, they have to go down."

The Pirates (3-1) went down hard, their chances for an unbeaten record and major bowl all but wiped out. Coach Skip Holtz effusively lauded State's performance. He said that the Pirates would concentrate on their next opponent, Houston, and the Conference USA race.

"I'm certainly not going to hang my head or pout," Holtz said.

Quarterback Patrick Pinkney, a big-play offense and jarring tackles kept ECU ahead much of the afternoon.

The Pirates scored first, when free safety Van Eskridge returned an interception 23 yards midway through the first quarter.

Russell Wilson, the Wolfpack's freshman quarterback, matched that by whipping a 4-yard pass through the ECU defense to Brown on the opening play of the second quarter.

"I think they listen to the trash about how they can't score and how they've been scoreless for so many halves," O'Brien said. "It bothers our young guys. Our veterans are more used to it and don't take it to heart."

The teams went back and forth, alternating scores on dramatic plays. Pinkney hit tight end Davon Drew for a 39-yard touchdown. State's Wilson threw a 20-yarder to Williams early in the third quarter for a 14-14 tie.

Norman Whitley, the 5-9 ECU runner, took advantage of State's overloaded pass defense by churning down the left side for a 42-yard touchdown.

Ahead 21-14, the Pirates controlled the issue as they marched to the State 1. The Wolfpack stuffed ECU runs on two straight plays, leaving Holtz a decision on fourth down. He went for it, even though a field goal would have meant a seven-point lead. State smothered Jon Williams for a 3-yard loss.

Holtz said later that he wanted a two-score advantage, not a close-to-the-vest strategy. Besides, he pointed out, State promptly punted the ball back.

ECU, taking over on its 40, drove to the State 3. When two plays lost a yard, Holtz ordered Ben Hartman's 21-yard field goal, which increased the margin to 24-17 with 4:27 left.

That's when Wilson (21 of 31 for 210 yards and three touchdowns) took over. Passes to Williams and Brown moved the ball deep into ECU territory. Two passes to tight end George Bryan did the rest -- although the 5-yard touchdown was ruled incomplete until a replay review showed that freshman Bryan had gotten his hands between the ground and the ball while making the catch.

The extra point tied the score with 1:12 left, and a penalty mangled the Pirates' final regulation possession.

ECU had the first OT series, starting with a first down at the State 25. A pass and a Whitley run carried the ball to the 11, but on first down from there Pinkney scrambled to his right.

Defensive end Shea McKeen pursued Pinkney from the blind side -- because a confused lineman missed his blocking assignment, Holtz said. McKeen hit Pinkney, causing a fumble that State's Willie Young recovered.

"I didn't even see the ball when I was chasing him," McKeen said. "I didn't even know it came out until I saw Willie going after it."

On State's first OT possession, Brown (73 yard rushing) was ready for business.

"When the defense goes out there and plays like they played, getting that turnover in overtime, I just said I didn't want to rely on the kicker, to be honest with you," Brown said. "I wanted to go out there, put that boy in and get out of here."

Brown ran 16 yards on second down and 10 yards for the winner, but the Wolfpack didn't go anywhere for quite a while. Finally ahead, and ahead for good, it was time to revel in the moment.

■ Lenox Rawlings can be reached at lrawlings@wsjournal.com.

East Carolina 7 7 7 3 0 -- 24


N.C. State 0 7 10 7 6 -- 30

First Quarter

ECU--Eskridge 23 interception return (Hartman kick), 7:47.

Second Quarter

NCSU--Brown 4 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 14:53.

ECU--Drew 39 pass from Pinkney (Hartman kick), 9:00.

Third Quarter

NCSU--Ja.Williams 20 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 10:56.

ECU--Whitley 42 run (Hartman kick), 9:40.

NCSU--FG Czajkowski 41, 1:10.

Fourth Quarter

ECU--FG Hartman 21, 4:27.

NCSU--Bryan 5 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 1:12.

Overtime

NCSU--Brown 10 run.

A--57,583.

TEAM STATISTICS

ECU NCSU

First downs 18 19

Rushes-yards 30-173 34-127

Passing 210 257

Comp-Att-Int 19-32-1 24-39-1

Return Yards 47 22

Punts-Avg. 6-44.8 6-45.5

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-1

Penalties-Yards 3-25 4-29

Time of Possession 26:58 33:02

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--ECU, Whitley 9-83, Williams 6-43, Pinkney 9-38, B.Simmons 6-9. N.C. State, Brown 12-73, R.Wilson 12-26, Eugene 9-25, Beck 1-3.

PASSING--ECU, Pinkney 19-32-1-210. N.C. State, R.Wilson 21-31-0-210, Beck 3-8-1-47.

RECEIVING--ECU, Harris 10-88, J.Bryant 5-45, Drew 2-61, Taylor 1-9, Freeney 1-7. N.C. State, Eugene 7-50, Bryan 5-58, Brown 4-35, Ja.Williams 3-49, Graham 2-49, Spencer 1-11, Howard 1-4, Weaver 1-1.