Wolfpack Beats Ga. Tech In OT

Philip Rivers rallied undefeated North Carolina State again, throwing three touchdown passes to Koren Robinson in the Wolfpack's 30-23 overtime victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday night.

The rally by the freshman quarterback was the third in four games as the Wolfpack won their Atlantic Coast Conference opener and improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1994.

Rivers hit Robinson from 23 yards out in the right corner of the end zone on the second play of OT. Robinson's reception gave him 122 yards - the ninth time in his last 10 game he's gone over 100 yards.

Georgia Tech (2-2, 0-2) failed on its final chance when Kerry Watkins, who scored the game-tying touchdown moments earlier, couldn't haul in George Godsey's pass at the 5.

Wolfpack fans then stormed the field and tore down the goal posts.

Terrence Holt, the younger brother of St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt, intercepted Godsey's pass deep in Wolfpack territory and his 34-yard return set up Kent Passingham's 34-yard field goal with 4:51 remaining.

Godsey's interception was his first in 122 attempts dating to last season.

However, a 50-yard kickoff return by Kelly Campbell gave the Yellow Jackets excellent field position, and Godsey connected on a fourth-down TD pass to Watkins to tie it with 1:20 left, setting the stage for N.C. State's second OT win this season.

Rivers, second in the nation in total offense, was 21-for-36 for 262 yards and two interceptions.

The Wolfpack closed the gap to 13-7 in the third quarter after the teams combined for three turnovers in five plays. Levar Fisher recovered a fumble at the Georgia Tech 43 - and less than a minute after Rivers threw an interception - Fisher caused a fumble that resulted in J.J. Washington's 1-yard TD return.

The Wolfpack tied it less than six minutes later when Rivers escaped a sure sack and threw a short pass to Robinson, who ran 48 yards as Rivers celebrated at midfield.

N.C. State's lead was short-lived though. Luke Manget kicked a 39-yarder late in the third for his third field goal of the game as the Yellow Jackets regained the lead.

Joe Burns' 31-yard scoring run early in the first quarter, and Manget's field goals of 50 and 43 yards staked the Yellow Jackets to their first-half lead.

Georgia Tech had won five straight against N.C. State.

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