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Georgia Tech downs North Carolina State

Oct 2, 2011 - 1:43 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Orwin Smith ran in three touchdowns as 21st- ranked Georgia Tech took a 45-35 win over North Carolina State in ACC play.

Tevin Washington completed just 4-of-12 passes, but did throw two touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets (5-0, 2-0 ACC), who have won four of their five games this season by double-digits.

"I don't think we practiced well this week, and we played that way," said Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson. "You got to play your best, and we didn't play our best. We have to go back, and learn to get better."

Mike Glennon went 20-for-29 with 163 yards, two scores and an interception while James Washington had 20 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown for the Wolfpack (2-3, 0-2), who have dropped their past two games.

"It's [Georgia Tech offense] very difficult to defend," said North Carolina State head coach Tom O'Brien. "The speed of the offense is what gets you. You try to simulate it the best you can in practice. They did a good job with their execution but we shot ourselves in the foot too many times."

The first possession of the game for the Yellow Jackets was a successful one as Smith took the ball into the end zone on a 13-yard run. The 10-play, 64- yard drive was helped by a 27-yard run from Jemea Thomas on 4th-and-10 near midfield.

After Niklas Sade missed a 48-yard field goal, Georgia Tech took over the ball at its own 32 and the first play saw Washington and Stephen Hill hook up on a 40-yard play. Smith's second touchdown of the quarter was a nine-yarder to give the team a 14-0 lead with 3 1/2 minutes left in the quarter.

Another three-and-out from NC State saw Georgia Tech get the ball back close to midfield and on the first play of the second quarter Washington found David Sims for a nine-yard score and a 21-0 lead.

The Wolfpack then went on a drive that lasted close to 10 minutes and saw the team run 19 plays. However, they came away empty after facing a 1st-and-goal at the two that saw the team flagged for a substitution penalty and an unnecessary roughness call. A 4th down play at the nine-yard line saw Glennon's pass fall incomplete.

However, North Carolina's next touch was successful as Glennon and Jay Smith got together for a nine-yard score to make it a 21-7 game near the halftime break.

The Wolfpack made it a one-score game on their first play of the third quarter as Washington took the ball into the end zone on a 46-yard run.

The rest of the third quarter went without a score, but the Yellow Jackets gave themselves some breathing room with a drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters and was capped on a two-yard run by Orwin Smith for a 28-14 lead with 12 1/2 minutes to play.

The first play after the kickoff saw Glennon get picked off by Isaiah Johnson, who took the ball into the end zone from 34 yards out for a 35-14 lead.

North Carolina then turned the ball over on downs as Washington was stuffed on a 4th-and-1 and the next play saw Washington and Roddy Jones connect on a 38- yard score for a 42-14 lead.

The Wolfpack had an answer on their next possession when Glennon and Tyler Purvis got together on a one-yard score, but Justin Moore countered with a 40- yard field goal with 5 1/2 minutes to play.

NC State didn't quit, though, as the team went on a 13-play, 76-yard drive that was ended on a 13-yard touchdown catch by Purvis from Tyler Brosius and the first play after the kickoff saw a fumble that Brandon Bishop recovered and took into the end zone to make it a 45-35 game.

However, that was with 20 seconds to play and Georgia Tech escaped with the win.

Game Notes

Georgia Tech hosts Maryland next Saturday...NC State hosts Central Michigan...Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 18-10...Georgia Tech totaled 413 yards, while NC State had 387...Along with the touchdown catch, Sims had nine carries for 73 yards and Georgia Tech totaled 296 yards on the ground.