SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 28, 2010
Russell Wilson accounted for four touchdowns to lead North Carolina State to
a huge ACC win over No. 15 Florida State, 28-24 Thursday in
Raleigh, N.C.
North Carolina State star linebacker Nate Irving recovered a Christian Ponder fumble at the Wolfpack 9-yard line with 42 seconds to play to
seal the victory.
With the win, the Wolfpack (6-2, 3-1 ACC) move to the top of the Atlantic Division and have an inside track to the ACC Championship game with a month left in the season.
Wilson rushed for three touchdowns, including two in the third quarter that helped the Wolfpack erase a 21-7 halftime deficit.
Florida State (6-2, 4-1 ACC) regained the lead on Dustin Hopkins' 31-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. But Wilson responded by leading a clutch 70-yard scoring drive, converting twice on fourth down. Wilson capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to George Bryan on 4th-and-goal that put North Carolina State ahead 28-24 with 2:40 to play.
On the ensuing drive, Ponder calmly moved the Seminoles down the field, connecting on big, drive-extending plays to Willie Haulstead and Taiwan Easterling. The Seminoles had a 2nd-and-goal from the Wolfpack 4 yard line, when Ponder botched a fake hand-off and fumbled the ball away.
It was a horrific ending to a solid game for Ponder, who rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another for the Seminoles. Ponder went 17 of 28 for 194 yards and a touchdown. The loss ends the Seminoles' five-game winning streak.
Wilson completed 18 of 28 passes for 178 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He added 69 yards rushing for the Wolfpack.