Nov. 25, 2000

Box Score

NC State 32, Wake Forest 14

By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina State was in trouble until Koren Robinson got in the game Saturday.

Robinson, the Wolfpack's star receiver who was suspended by coach Chuck Amato for the first half for violating team rules, returned in the second half to lead N.C. State to a 32-14 victory over Wake Forest.

N.C. State (7-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) accepted a bid to the Micronpc.com Bowl on Wednesday, but had to score 22 points in a span of 6:17 to escape against the Demon Deacons (2-9, 1-7).

The Wolfpack trailed 14-3 in a heavy downpour until Robinson returned a punt 61 yards for a score late in the third quarter and added an 11-yard TD reception from Philip Rivers early in the fourth.

Rivers didn't have a great day in the rain, but passed for 139 yards to become the second player in Wolfpack history to eclipse 3,000 yards in a season.

Wake Forest, which hasn't won at Carter-Finley Stadium since 1984, was leading by 11 points and in control of the game until four special teams miscues turned the tide, leading to 29 straight points by the Wolfpack.

The Demon Deacons had Robinson hemmed in, but let him escape on his long punt return. Robinson's second score came 35 seconds after a muffed punt by Adrian Duncan at his own 20.

The Wolfpack put the game out of reach seconds after a low snap on a punt gave N.C. State the ball at the Wake Forest 16, leading to Ray Robinson's TD run on the first play.

Ray Robinson added a 1-yard TD run five seconds after Davis muffed his second punt of the fourth quarter.

The Demon Deacons were held to 32 yards rushing in the first half, but gained 123 on the ground in the pivotal third quarter to take a 14-3 lead before their late collapse.

Anthony Young raced 66 yards on a QB keeper on the first play of the third quarter to set up a 1-yard scoring run by Tarence Williams - his seventh TD in the last four games.

Young hit Fabian Davis four minutes later on a 40-yard TD pass to temporarily stun the Wolfpack.

N.C. State outgained the Demon Deacons 159-66 in the opening 30 minutes, but Rivers was sacked four times to halt several scoring opportunities as the Wolfpack settled for a 3-0 halftime lead.