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NC State shocks East Carolina in OT

Sep 20, 2008 - 8:36 PM RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Andre Brown busted up any chance East Carolina had at busting into the BCS bowl picture.

Brown scored on 10-yard run in overtime Saturday as North Carolina State rallied for a dramatic 30-24 victory over No. 15 East Carolina.

Brown's touchdown came moments after Shea McKeen forced a fumble by quarterback Patrick Pinkney on East Carolina's first possession of overtime.

The score had to be a bit extra special for Brown, who is native of Greenville - where East Carolina's campus is located. The senior, who also had a 4-yard TD reception in the second quarter, rushed for 63 yards on 11 carries.

Russell Wilson had thrown a 5-yard TD to George Bryan with 72 seconds remaining in regulation, pulling NC State (2-2) into a 24-24 tie.

Pinkney threw for a score for the Pirates (3-1), who were seeking their first 4-0 start in nine years.

"We'll move forward and watch the film, and we'll learn a lot from this game and a lot about us," East Carolina coach Skip Holtz said. "We lost to a good football team?an ACC team. We'll move on and get ready for Houston."

Already owning wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia this season, East Carolina looked like it was poised to continue its winning ways.

Holding a 21-17 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, the Pirates had a 4th-and-goal at the Wolfpack 1. Holtz elected to go for it, but the moved backfired when Jonathan Williams was tackled in the backfield.

"The decision to go for the touchdown there was all mine," Holtz said. "We had a miss assignment and one of their (NC State) guys got in the backfield. Give NC State a lot of credit. They had to make some big plays to stop us and they did."

However, the Pirates were able to recover and took a 24-17 lead with 4:27 to go in regulation on Ben Hartman's 21-yard field goal.

But NC State, who has been abysmal offensively this season, drove 55 yards in seven plays for the tying score. Wilson capped the march with the 5-yard TD to Bryan, who made a juggling catch.

Wilson completed 21-of-31 passes for 231 yards and three TDs.

Harrison Beck, who also sees time at quarterback for NC State, got off to a rough start when he was intercepted by Van Eskridge, who returned it 23 yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter.

Wilson got NC State on the board seven seconds into the second quarter with his 4-yard TD pass to Brown. It marked the Wolfpack's first TD against an FBS opponent in 14 quarters.

"I think they listen to the trash about how they can't score and how they've been scoreless for so many halves," NC State coach Tom O'Brien said. "It bothers our young guys; our veterans are more used to it and don't take it to heart. This win got the weight off of their shoulders and showed them how it feels to win a big game."

The Pirates answered with an eight-play, 77-yard drive capped by Pinkney's 39-yard scoring strike to Davon Drew. Pinkney went 19-of-32 for 210 yards and an interception.

After Wilson threw a 20-yard TD pass to Jarvis Williams with 10:56 left in the third quarter, the Pirates moved back in front just over a minute later on Norman Whitley's 42-yard TD run.

Josh Czajkowski kicked a 41-yard field goal with just over a minute left in the third quarter, pulling the Wolfpack within 21-17.