CHAPEL HILL, N.C.. -- Running back Matt Dayes ran for two touchdowns and North Carolina State built a big early lead and held on to defeat North Carolina 28-21 and reach bowl eligibility Friday afternoon at Kenan Stadium.

The outcome knocked North Carolina out of contention to be the Coastal Division representative in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The Tar Heels (8-4, 5-3 ACC) would have needed a Virginia Tech loss at home Saturday to Virginia for that to happen.

Dayes gained 104 yards on 26 carries as the Wolfpack won a road game in the rivalry for the second time in three years.

The Wolfpack (6-6, 3-5) used an 85-yard drive to begin the second half, with fullback Jaylen Samuels running for a 4-yard touchdown. That made it a 28-7 lead.

North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw touchdown passes of 7 and 48 yards to receivers Thomas Jackson and Bug Howard in a six-minute stretch of the fourth quarter, the latter with 7:52 to play.

The Tar Heels, trailing 28-21, regained possession with 6:53 to play and moved into N.C. State territory with about four minutes left. After a holding penalty, they turned the ball over on downs with 3:10 left and never got the ball back.

Trubisky finished 23-of-38 passing for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

The Wolfpack rang up a 21-0 lead, sparked by a trick play with fullback Jaylen Samuels throwing a 59-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Louis.

North Carolina fumbled its next snap, leading to Dayes' 1-yard scoring run.

Dayes ran for an 18-yard touchdown, taking a direct snap on four-and-1, sending the Wolfpack to a 21-0 lead with 10:33 left in the second quarter.

N.C. State's fumble on its next possession turned into a 4-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky to receiver Ryan Switzer.

N.C. State had a chance to increase its halftime lead but Connor Haskins missed a 26-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the half.

North Carolina moved into N.C. State territory three times in the first 17 minutes and punted each time. The Tar Heels were also stopped inside the Wolfpack 10 on downs in the third quarter.