No. 21 Georgia Tech, the nation’s highest-scoring team, scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and went on to beat host North Carolina State 45-35 on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets (5-0, 2-0 ACC) also got an interception return for a touchdown during a 21-point, fourth-quarter spurt after the Wolfpack had cut the deficit to 21-14.

Tech, which avenged last year’s home loss to the Wolfpack, won its fourth straight visit to Raleigh. It would have been a rout had Tech quarterback Tevin Washington not missed several wide-open receivers.

Yellow Jackets star linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (four sacks) was helped off with a leg injury, but the severity was not immediately clear.

Georgia Tech pulled off a fake punt for a 27-yard gain on its first drive, leading to Orwin Smith’s easy 13-yard touchdown run on an option toss. Smith finished with a career-high three rushing scores.

The Wolfpack (2-3, 0-2) got within seven on James Washington’s nifty 46-yard scoring run in the third quarter. But Smith’s diving 3-yard touchdown run, in which he collided with a defender at the 1, pushed the lead back to two touchdowns.

On the ensuing possession, safety Isaiah Johnson sealed it with a 34-yard interception return for a score.

The Yellow Jackets came in leading the nation in scoring (53.2) and total yards (630.5).