RALEIGH - The beginning couldn't have been better for East Carolina and safety Van Eskridge, who returned an interception 23 yards for a first-quarter touchdown.

The ending couldn't have been more bitter.

In contrast to his early zigzag scoring run, Eskridge ambled off the field with somber teammates at the end of a wild Saturday afternoon carrying a heart-shattering 30-24 overtime loss to N.C. State, the first defeat for the storybook Pirates this year.

"We had a chance to win on defense, had a chance to get them them stopped," lamented Eskridge, who also forced a fumble to thwart one Wolfpack drive and delivered one of the game's most violent hits. "But they made plays [down the stretch] and we didn't."

In their 3-0 start, it was the Pirates who had always made the plays, who had always found a way on defense, offense or in the kicking game.

But State's Russell Wilson, flourishing as a quarterback, marshaled the Pack 55 yards for a tying TD, then 25-yards in overtime to snatch what had looked like another treasured ECU triumph.

The Wolfpack drama besmirched the Pirates' perfect record, jolted the No. 15 ranking, and will now test their resolve.

While the Pirates' offense, defense and special teams had some good moments, coach Skip Holtz said all units also blew up at times, sharing in the defeat.

With a 21-17 lead in the fourth quarter, ECU had the ball, first and goal at State's 4-yard line with a chance to send the Pack howling into the twilight. The Pirates failed to score on three rushes before Jon Williams was tossed for a 3-yard loss on fourth down from the 1 on a botched play.

"The decision to go for the touchdown there was all mine," Holtz said. "We had a missed assignment, and one of their guys got in the backfield. I would go for it again [rather than kick a field goal]."

"We had the right plays called, just didn't execute," said quarterback Patrick Pinkney, who helped give ECU the lead by completing 19 of 32 passes for 210 yards and one TD.

In overtime, on the first possession, the Pirates gained a first down at the State 11. But Pinkney, scrambling on a pass play, got hit by the Pack's Shea McKeen and fumbled, and Willie Young recovered.

"I kept saying it was a quick game,'' Holtz said. "You don't have time to run around and hold the ball. Patrick was running out, and [State] had a guy coming from his blind side. Unfortunately, he was able to hit Patrick and poke the ball out."

State's Andre Brown scored moments later, changing the complexion of this rival game from Pirates purple to Wolfpack red.

Holtz gave State proper credit, lavished praise on Wilson and commended his Pirates' valiance.

"I'm proud of these players; they competed their tail off, [didn't do] bad for guys not good enough to play in the ACC conference, huh?" said Holtz, referring to players overlooked in recruiting.

Asked what he told his team, Holtz replied: "Just like I tell them after a win; they have 24 hours to enjoy it, and they have to move on. It hurts ... but they have 24 hours to get the hurt and pain out. ... [Then] we'll move forward."

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.