Wilson Throws 4 Touchdowns In N.C. State Finale

November 28, 2009
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Football/Baseball Standout Has Big Day In Wolfpack Upset Of Tar Heels

RALEIGH, N.C. – Two-Sport star Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes and head coach Tom O’Brien kept his perfect record against rival North Carolina unbeaten as the Wolfpack finished the 2009 campaign with a 28-27 victory over the No. 23 Tar Heels.

Wilson twice found short-range target Jarvis Williams in the second quarter, throwing touchdown passes of 6 yards and 14 yards. But the Tar Heels took a 24-14 lead into halftime, thanks to a pair of big plays, a 40-yard reverse by Johnny White and a 70-yard pass from T.J. Yates to Jheranie Boyd.

The Pack regained the lead when Wilson twice hit his favorite long-range target, Owen Spencer. The first touchdown went for 56 yards, on a catch that Spencer caught off his helmet and pulled down for the score.

With 14:31 remaining, Wilson hit Spencer again on a 38-yard scoring pass, his 31st touchdown pass of the season, to give the Wolfpack a 28-27 lead.

QB/IF Russell Wilson

QB/IF Russell Wilson

For the game, Wilson completed 20 of his 27 passes for 259 yards through the air. Senior Toney Baker rushed for 62 yards on 17 carries.

Wilson just finished his redshirt sophomore season with the Wolfpack football team.  He completed 224 of 378 passes (59.3%) for 3,027 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season.  He will be a junior on the N.C. State baseball team in 2010.  He and other college baseball/football players (and a swimmer and soccer player who also play baseball) have been featured throughout the fall in the exclusive Collegebaseball360.com Two Sport Reports.  

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to listen to a CB360 podcast interview with Wilson.

The Wolfpack maintained the victory thanks to a pair of big defensive plays. First, as Carolina drove the field late in the game, the drive stalled and Casey Barth came out to try a 38 field goal. But defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash tipped the low line drive right as it crossed the line of scrimmage. The ball fell harmlessly to the ground before reaching the goal line.

Then, after the Wolfpack offense picked up a three first downs before turning the ball over on downs, senior safety Clem Johnson intercepted a deep pass by Yates near midfield.

After Wilson took a knee, the sold out crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium began celebrating its third consecutive victory over the Tar Heels.

N.C. State finishes the season with a 5-7 record overall and 2-6 in the ACC. North Carolina falls to 8-4 and 4-4.

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