N.C. State owns the state

Led by the brilliant play of freshman quarterback Russell Wilson, NCSU continues its resurgence

CHAPEL HILL -- N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien never changed his stone-faced demeanor Saturday as he twisted the dagger his team had plunged in North Carolina's back.

Minutes earlier, the Wolfpack players had pranced off the field bragging that they had kicked 25th-ranked North Carolina's behind in a 41-10 drubbing in the bitter cold at Kenan Stadium.

The win improved N.C. State to a perfect 4-0 this season against the other Football Bowl Subdivision teams in North Carolina.

"What it speaks to is that we're the best football program in the state, without question," O'Brien said.

After all the progress North Carolina has made under coach Butch Davis, it was difficult to stomach a rival coach making such a proclamation at Kenan Stadium. But on this day, at least, it was difficult for the Tar Heels (7-4, 3-4 ACC) to argue that it wasn't true.

North Carolina came in with an AP ranking and more than enough wins to be bowl eligible. The Tar Heels also entered with a plus-12 turnover margin, but lost three fumbles and threw three interceptions.

N.C. State (5-6, 3-4) did not commit a turnover and ended the Tar Heels' slim hopes of winning the ACC Coastal Division to reach the conference championship game.

"It is extraordinarily disappointing and frustrating to play as poorly as we played today," Davis said. "The things we did today during the course of the game give you absolutely no chance to win the ballgame."

N.C. State dominated the line of scrimmage as quarterback Russell Wilson directed an efficient offense. Wilson passed for a career-high 279 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 50 more.

The Wolfpack totaled season highs in total yards (466), passing (279) and rushing (187). The 31-point margin of victory was the largest in the series since North Carolina won 52-20 in 1996.

It could have been even more lopsided if Owen Spencer and Jamelle Eugene hadn't dropped passes in the end zone in the first half.

"We ran the ball well," N.C. State running back Andre Brown said. "Threw the ball well. It was a great victory. It all starts with those big guys up front."

Pregame speculation centered on whether North Carolina would start sophomore T.J. Yates or junior Cameron Sexton at quarterback. Yates set school records for passing yards and touchdowns last season and was returning from a fractured ankle.

He got the nod over Sexton, who was 4-2 as a starter and also led the Tar Heels to a comeback win over Miami. Yates fared miserably, completing 10 of 22 passes with an interception.

After Sexton entered in the fourth quarter, two of his six passes were intercepted.

"Nothing was going right, nothing was in rhythm and nobody was in sync," Yates said.

As satisfying as the win was for N.C. State, O'Brien urged his players to look ahead to next Saturday's regular-season finale against Miami in Raleigh.

Last season the Wolfpack defeated North Carolina to improve to 5-5 and then went 0-2 in its final two games with bowl eligibility at stake.

On Saturday, N.C. State needs to defeat the Hurricanes to become bowl eligible.

"Last year this team stopped after they beat North Carolina and thought the season was over," O'Brien said. "That's what we have to guard against this week. We haven't done all this work to get to this position, not to play the best game we can play of the year next week when Miami shows up."