Grading the three keys A- Contain Russell Wilson. North Carolina State’s sophomore quarterback didn’t have terrible numbers. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 234 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

BLACKSBURG This time last year, quarterback Russell Wilson was leading North Carolina State to wins in its final four games, which made the Wolfpack 6-6 and eligible for a bowl game. A redshirt freshman, Wilson impressed everyone with his poise, and after the season, he was named ACC rookie of the year and became the first freshman quarterback in league history to be chosen first-team all-conference.

RALEIGH, N.C. Russell Wilson said he doesn’t remember much about the only interception he’s thrown as N.C. State’s quarterback. He hasn’t forgotten what he was thinking afterward, though. “I remember telling myself, ‘I’m not throwing one again,‘“ Wilson said. Incredibly, Wilson hasn’t thrown an interception since Clemson’s Crezdon Butler grabbed that errant, desperate pass on Sept. 13 of last year. Wilson has thrown 293 passes since, which ESPN’s research department has determined gives him the second-longest streak in Division I-A/Football Bowl Subdivision history without an interception.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Riley Skinner scored on a 1-yard keeper with 2 seconds remaining and Wake Forest rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat Stanford 24-17 yesterday. Skinner finished 18 of 26 for 187 yards with a touchdown pass for the Demon Deacons (1-1). His 44-yard pass to third-stringer Lovell Jackson with less than a minute left set up his winning score.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. When North Carolina’s Marvin Austin looks around the state, he sees plenty of chances for payback. Leave it to the Tar Heels’ wisecracking defensive lineman to embrace the challenge of chasing around so many returning quarterbacks. “It’s going to be pretty fun, because I can go get after all of them,“ Austin said with a laugh. “I didn’t get them all like I wanted to last year, so I think I’ve got an opportunity this year to go and get after that ball and pay them a visit.“

RALEIGH, N.C. - Russell Wilson knows that almost any talk about North Carolina State’s chances of competing for an Atlantic Coast Conference championship this year starts with him. “I’m an athlete - there will be expectations, good or bad, every year,“ Wilson said yesterday during the team’s preseason media day. “You can’t really worry about it. You’ve just got to focus on what you can do and what you can control and things you can get better at.“

North Carolina State coach Tom O’Brien believes his sophomore starting quarterback, Russell Wilson, prefers baseball over football. Moreover, O’Brien doubts Wilson will stick around for his senior season, instead opting to graduate and play professional baseball. Wilson, a Collegiate School graduate and two-time Times-Dispatch player of the year, is entering his third year at State and his second as the Wolfpack’s starting quarterback. Last season, he threw for 177.7 yards a game and had 17 touchdowns and one interception. He was named ACC rookie of the year and made first-team all-ACC.

The Gastonia Grizzlies’ home opener in late May included a twist. Instead of customary pregame introductions—players jogging from the dugout to the baseline and tipping caps in response to applause—Grizzlies were positioned around the top of the grandstand. When announced, each walked through the crowd of 3,400 to the field. “Fans, welcome from N.C. State, the leadoff hitter, No.1, Russell Wilson!“

First freshman to be named first-team all-ACC quarterback
ACC rookie of the year
Threw for 17 touchdowns, only one of his 275 passes was intercepted
Completed 54.5 percent for 1,955 yards
Ran 116 times for 388 yards and four touchdowns
Helped the Wolfpack finish the regular season with four consecutive wins after a 2-6 start

Second-year coach Tom O’Brien has the Wolfpack playing its best football of the season at just the right time. State hammered rival North Carolina 41-10 on Saturday for its third consecutive win.

THIS WEEK
  Miami—The Hurricanes have won five consecutive games, tied with Virginia Tech for the longest winning streak in the ACC this season. Of course, the Hurricanes beat the Hokies last Thursday. Miami (4-2 ACC, 7-3) will make the ACC championship game if it closes the regular season with wins over Georgia Tech and N.C. State.