{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
North Carolina 45, North Carolina State 34
When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 28, 2015
Where: Carter Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina
Temperature: 69°
Head Official: David Epperley
Attendance: 57600

RALEIGH, N.C. -- No. 14 North Carolina regained supremacy in its home state.

The Tar Heels aim to be kingpins in the Atlantic Coast Conference next.

Running back Elijah Hood rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns as North Carolina built a huge early lead on the way to defeating rival North Carolina State 45-34 Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.

"The phrase of 'I've got your back' was repeated throughout the entire game," North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said. "It didn't matter what happened in the game today, but everyone was very positive and that's the epitome of who this team is."

The Tar Heels (11-1, 8-0 ACC) take an 11-game winning streak into next week's ACC championship game against top-ranked Clemson in Charlotte.

North Carolina reached 11 wins for the fourth time in program history, compiling 553 yards of total offense in avenging a lopsided loss to N.C. State from last year.

"The running game was working, so let's not go away from it," quarterback Marquise Williams said of the approach that resulted in 374 yards on the ground. "Just the tempo. The tempo was getting to those guys. You could tell they wanted to substitute out."

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett had two touchdown runs and two touchdown passes for N.C. State (7-5, 3-5), which has failed to win consecutive games since dominating an underwhelming non-league slate in September.

Brissett's 4-yard run with 3:46 to play in the third quarter drew the Wolfpack within 35-23 before a failed two-point conversion run.

North Carolina responded with an 11-play drive, scoring with Hood's 1-yard run on the third play of the fourth quarter. A third-down pass from Williams to wide receiver Ryan Switzer kept the drive alive.

Earlier, North Carolina put up 35 first-quarter points, tying a school record for points in a quarter (with 51 seconds to spare). The Tar Heels had 423 yards of offense in the first half.

"The first quarter put us in a difficult position where it was very difficult for us," N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. " ... When you give up that many (rushing yards), it's difficult to win the game."

Williams threw for 174 yards, completing 19 of 30 passes. Hood did his damage on 21 carries, and running back T.J. Logan added 100 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.

"We just ran what we were running because they hadn't taken it away," Fedora said.

Brissett threw for 206 yards -- with two touchdown throws to tight end David Grinnage -- and rushed for 128 yards.

"Our players kept fighting," Doeren said. "Our coaches made some adjustments. Guys kept playing and kept battling, but we didn't score enough, didn't stop them enough."

North Carolina led 14-0 less than six minutes into the game, with backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who entered the game for a play as Williams went to the sideline, throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Quinshad Davis and Logan sprinting 42 yards for a touchdown.

"I thought it was a pretty good start to the game," Hood said.

The Wolfpack answered with Brissett's 4-yard touchdown run on third down to complete an 87-yard drive.

But after a third-down penalty on the Wolfpack extended the Tar Heels' next possession, Williams connected on a 53-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Mack Hollins on the next play.

Logan's 40-yard run pushed the edge to 28-7.

On the next snap, North Carolina linebacker Andre Smith's interception and 28-yard return to the N.C. State 6 set up Hood's 1-yard run.

North Carolina racked up 308 yards of total offense in the first quarter despite needing to go only 6 yards for its last touchdown.

NOTES: North Carolina leads the all-time series 66-33-6, though N.C. State won 35-7 last year. That was the score at the end of the first quarter in North Carolina's favor Saturday. ... N.C. State honored 10 seniors before the last home game. ... North Carolina had a streak of scoring in 22 of 23 quarters entering the game but failed to put up points in the second and third quarters. There was a scoreless second quarter a week earlier at Virginia Tech. ... N.C. State faced its third Top 20 team this season (also losing to Clemson and Florida State), marking the most since three such encounters in 2006. ... N.C. State awaits a bowl assignment for its final game.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
North Carolina   North Carolina State
Elijah Hood Player Jacoby Brissett
21 Attempts 20
220 Yards 128
10.5 Avg Yards 6.4
2 Touchdowns 2
0 Long 0
Receiving
North Carolina   North Carolina State
Mack Hollins Player Jaylen Samuels
3 Receptions 6
65 Yards 97
21.7 Avg Yards 16.2
1 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
North Carolina 553 374 179 6 1 1 4.0 0
North Carolina State 514 308 206 4 2 1 0.0 2