Wilson sets record as Wolfpack rips Bulldogs

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 20, 2009

RALEIGH

Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes to give N.C. State plenty of breathing room. Then, with a short pass, he made history.

Wilson passed for a career-high 345 yards and set an NCAA passing record in the Wolfpack's 45-14 rout of Gardner-Webb last night.

For most of the game, the only question was whether Wilson would play long enough to break the NCAA record of 325 consecutive passes without an interception, a mark set by Kentucky's Andre Woodson (2006-'07).

Wilson entered the game 32 attempts behind Woodson but passed him late in the third quarter with a 13-yard dump-off over the middle to running back James Washington.

"It speaks to his decision making," Coach Tom O'Brien said. "We got lucky a couple of times through the streak, but you have to get lucky a couple of times."

There wasn't anything lucky about this performance. Toney Baker had two early touchdown runs before Wilson threw touchdown passes covering 17 and 12 yards to George Bryan, 24 yards to T.J. Graham and 16 yards to Jarvis Williams for the Wolfpack (2-1).

But while the remaining fans cheered Wilson's record, Wilson didn't give himself any time to savor the mark.

"I had to make sure we got the next play off. ... (The Wolfpack) had to keep going, had to keep pushing the offense," Wilson said. "We had to score again."

Six plays later, Wilson threw his fourth touchdown pass -- the strike to Williams that capped his night and extended the pick-free streak to 329.

Wilson's 26 completions and 36 attempts were career highs, and he easily sailed past his 279-yard outing in last year's 41-10 upset of North Carolina.

"We've got to keep the streak going, and keep the wins going," Wilson said.

N.C. State scored the first four times it touched the ball, led 24-0 before Gardner-Webb crossed midfield and routed a Football Championship Subdivision team for the second time in eight days.

Coming off last week's 65-7 rout of Murray State, N.C. State expected more of a test from the Bulldogs.

Gardner-Webb 0 0 7 7 -- 14

N.C. State 21 10 7 7 -- 45

First Quarter

NCSU--Baker 11 run (Czajkowski kick), 10:39.

NCSU--Baker 2 run (Czajkowski kick), 5:11.

NCSU--Graham 24 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), :49.

Second Quarter

NCSU--FG Czajkowski 41, 10:23.

NCSU--Bryan 17 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), :52.

Third Quarter

NCSU--Bryan 12 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 10:17.

GWU--Sanders 18 run (Gates kick), 6:30.

Fourth Quarter

NCSU--Ja.Williams 16 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 14:56.

GWU--Doolittle 1 run (Gates kick), 2:42.

A--53,452.

TEAM STATISTICS

GWU NCSU

First downs 13 29

Rushes-yards 36-101 31-112

Passing 112 365

Comp-Att-Int 14-22-0 29-40-0

Return Yards 0 47

Punts-Avg. 9-40.9 2-38.0

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 11-106 6-65

Time of Possession 30:16 29:44

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Gardner-Webb, Peoples 9-36, Sanders 1-18, Hall 12-18, Montgomery 2-12, Doolittle 9-9, B.Jackson 3-8. N.C. State, Baker 10-71, Barnes 6-27, Washington 6-25, R.Wilson 7-15, Glennon 1-(minus 5), Team 1-(minus 21).

PASSING--Gardner-Webb, Doolittle 14-22-0-112. N.C. State, R.Wilson 26-36-0-345, Glennon 3-4-0-20.

RECEIVING--Gardner-Webb, Perry 4-28, Miller 3-28, Patmon 2-34, Melton 2-14, Sanders 1-8, Lyndo.Leslie 1-5, Montgomery 1-(minus 5). N.C. State, Bryan 6-89, Graham 5-52, Davis 4-71, Baker 3-36,

Ja.Williams 2-49, T.Gentry 2-19, Bowens 2-17, Washington 2-16, Howard 1-7, Watson 1-6, Ritcher 1-3.