NC State beats Wake Forest 35-17, breaks road losing streak

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- State's road problems with Wake Forest basically ended after one quarter on Saturday.

The Wolfpack took out nearly two decades of frustration with a first-quarter flurry in a 35-17 road win over the Demon Deacons.

N.C. State (5-2, 1-2 ACC) hadn't won in Winston-Salem since 2001 and only twice in the past 20 years. Matt Dayes and Jacoby Brissett made sure the six-game losing streak at BB&T Field was history.

Dayes ran for two touchdowns, and 144 yards on three carries, as N.C. State built a 28-0 lead in the first quarter. Dayes finished with a career-best 205 yards.Brissett, who had struggled in N.C. State's first two ACC, losses threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the opening quarter.

In all, N.C. State's first four scoring drives took a combined total of nine plays and 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Brissett hit redshirt freshman receiver Maurice Trowell for a 59-yard pass, followed by an 85-yard TD run by Dayes, a 58-yard pass from Brissett to freshman receiver Nyheim Hines and capped off by a 57-yard rushing touchdown by Dayes.

Wake Forest (3-5, 1-4) settled down after the first quarter, cutting the lead to 28-10, but gave up a late 52-yard punt return for a touchdown to Bra'Lon Cherry.

Turning point

N.C. State lost the coin toss for the first time all season. Wake Forest elected to defer to the second half and 53 seconds later the Wolfpack quickly cashed in for the first of four first-quarter touchdowns.

Three who mattered

Matt Dayes: The Wolfpack junior running back ran for a career-best 205 yards and two touchdowns. It was the fifth time this season Dayes has rushed for more than 100 yards.

Mike Rose: The N.C. State senior defensive end had two sacks in the first quarter and three for the game.

Kendall Hinton: The Wake Forest freshman quarterback didn't start the game but gave the Deacons a boost with a 69-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a 1-yard TD in the fourth quarter.

Three key numbers

48 Yards per carry in the first quarter for Dayes.

1995, 2001 The years of N.C. State's previous two wins in Winston-Salem.

2 Redshirt freshman Maurice Trowell's career receptions before Saturday. Trowell had two catches for 68 yards, and his first career touchdown, on the opening drive of the game.

Highlight reel

Reminiscent of his great escape against Florida State last year, Jacoby Brissett shook off Wake defender Wendell Dunn and then scrambled to his right to find a streaking Trowell, who sprinted down the right sideline and dove for the pylon for a 7-0 lead.

Giglio: 919-829-8938, @jwgiglio