[Tuck4Bama]

RALEIGH, N.C. - Jamelle Eugene ran for three touchdowns, including the go-ahead 1-yarder with 1:41 left, to help North Carolina State hold off North Carolina 31-27 in a wild finish Saturday.

Eugene finished with 159 yards rushing for the Wolfpack (5-5, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who won their fourth straight game overall and ended a three-game losing streak in the instate rivalry. Daniel Evans also threw for a score as N.C. State blew a 17-point first-half lead before forcing a late turnover to set up Eugene’s final score.

The Tar Heels (3-7, 2-4) certainly made it interesting after a terrible start, returning two interceptions for long touchdowns and getting a 50-yard fullback pass as their only offensive score of the game. But they couldn’t answer Eugene’s final plunge, driving all the way to N.C. State’s 7-yard line with 6.9 seconds left before coming up empty when T.J. Yates couldn’t connect with Hakeem Nicks in the end zone on fourth down.

Eugene’s 3rd TD helps Wolfpack hold off Tar Heels, 31-27