Staff photo by Ethan Hyman
N.C.State quarterback Russell Wilson broke a national record in the third quarter on Saturday night.
Wilson's 13-yard pass to James Washington late in the third quarter gave him 326 consecutive passes without an interception dating back to a game against Clemson on Sept 13 of last year.
The crowd gave a hearty cheer as the video boards at Carter-Finley Stadium announced that Wilson had set the record.
Andre Woodson of Kentucky set the previous Division I-A/Football Bowl Subdivision record of 325 passes without an interception in 2006-07.
N.C. State defeated Gardner-Webb 45-14.
Earlier, Wilson lofted a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end George Bryan with 52 seconds remaining in the first half as N.C. State extended its lead to 31-0 over Gardner-Webb at halftime.
The Wolfpack received bad news late in the second quarter, though. Freshman starting cornerback Rashard Smith left the game with an ankle injury and will not return.
Starting wide receiver Owen Spencer suffered a concussion when he landed on his head trying to make a catch at the goal line and will not return to the game.
Two veterans - 2008 cornerback starter DeAndre Morgan and 2007 receiving yards leader Donald Bowens - did return in reserve roles for the Wolfpack after missing the first two games with injuries.
After scoring touchdowns on its first three drives, N.C. State settled for a field goal on its fourth possession against Gardner-Webb.
Josh Czajkowski booted a 41-yard field goal to extend the Wolfpack's lead to 24-0 with 10:23 remaining in the second quarter.
Earlier, Russell Wilson showed off his running and passing ability late in the first quarter as N.C. State extended its lead over Gardner-Webb to 21-0.
In between passes of 28 yards to Jarvis Williams and 24 yards for a touchdown to T.J. Graham, Wilson scrambled 18 yards and got out of bounds to avoid getting hit.
For the second straight week, N.C. State got off to a fast start against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
Toney Baker's second first-quarter touchdown run gave the Wolfpack a 14-0 lead over Gardner-Webb with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter. One week earlier, N.C. State scored 21 first-quarter points in a 65-7 drubbing of Murray State.
On the Wolfpack's second touchdown drive against Gardner-Webb, Wilson completed a 25-yard pass to Darrell Davis on fourth-and-7 from the Bulldogs' 38-yard line.
N.C. State opened the scoring with a 57-yard drive on the game's opening possession. Baker ran 11 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 N.C. State lead with 10:39 remaining in the first quarter.
