Wilson propels Wolfpack

RALEIGH, N.C. - Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes and Alan-Michael Cash blocked a field goal with about five minutes left to help North Carolina State rally past No. 23 North Carolina 28-27 yesterday.

Wilson, a former Collegiate star, completed 20 of 27 passes for 259 yards. He connected twice with Owen Spencer for scores, including the go-ahead 38-yard touchdown two plays into the fourth quarter that gave the Wolfpack (2-6 ACC, 5-7) a third straight win against its next-door neighbors and fiercest football rival.

T.J. Yates threw two touchdown passes to Jheranie Boyd for the Tar Heels (4-4, 8-4), while Johnny White scored on a 40-yard run that helped North Carolina take a 10-point halftime lead.

But the Tar Heels repeatedly cost themselves with penalties and a goal-line fumble that wiped out what should have been a short TD run in the first quarter.

The win capped an emotional week - and morale-draining season - for the Wolfpack. N.C. State learned earlier this week that offensive coordinator Dana Bible had been diagnosed with leukemia and would not be with the team yesterday.

The Wolfpack has won all three meetings under Tom O'Brien against Butch Davis' Tar Heels.

No. 1 Florida 37, Florida State 10

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Tim Tebow's final home game went as everyone expected. Tebow threw for three TDs, ran for two scores and Florida beat rival Florida State for its sixth consecutive victory in the rivalry.

The Gators stayed unbeaten heading into next week's Southeastern Conference showdown against No. 2 Alabama, extended the nation's longest winning streak to 22 games and improved to 12-0 for just the second time in school.

Tebow may have even secured a third consecutive trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. Tebow completed 17 of 21 passes for 221 yards. He also ran 15 times for 90 yards against a defense that has been among the worst of any Florida State team under Bobby Bowden.

The Seminoles (6-6) lost for the second time in six games.

In other games

SOUTH CAROLINA 34, NO. 15 CLEMSON 17: Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes and South Carolina's defense slowed down Clemson star C.J. Spiller in a victory over the Tigers in Columbia, S.C.

Spiller opened the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, an NCAA record-setting seventh of his career. But the Gamecocks (7-5) bottled up Spiller and Clemson's high-scoring offense after that to end the Tigers' six-game win streak.

Clemson (8-4) had won two straight, six out of seven and 10 of 12 against the Gamecocks.

WAKE FOREST 45, DUKE 34: Riley Skinner passed for a career-high 372 yards and a school-record five touchdowns to help Wake Forest defeat Duke in Durham, N.C.

Skinner completed 28 of 38 passes and did not throw an interception for the Demon Deacons (3-5, 5-7), who ended their season by snapping a five-game losing streak.

Devon Brown caught a pair of TD passes to help Wake Forest get its 10th consecutive win over Duke. Marshall Williams added eight catches for 119 yards and a TD for the Demon Deacons.

Thaddeus Lewis passed for 387 yards, three touchdowns and an interception for the Blue Devils (3-5, 5-7).

NO. 19 MIAMI 31 SOUTH FLORIDA 10: Javarris James rushed for two touchdowns, Jacory Harris threw for two more, and Miami took a big early lead on the way to beating South Florida (7-4) in Tampa, Fla.

Dedrick Epps and Leonard Hankerson caught touchdown passes for Miami (9-3), which ran out to a 21-3 halftime lead and capped its first nine-win regular season since 2005.

Damien Berry rushed for 114 yards for Miami.

BOSTON COLLEGE 19, MARYLAND 17: Montel Harris ran for 142 yards, Dave Shinskie threw a 66-yard touchdown pass, and Boston College beat host Maryland (1-7, 2-10) to seal the Terrapins' first 10-loss season.

Steve Aponavicius kicked four field goals for Boston College (5-3, 8-4). But the standout senior was wide right on a 31-yarder, ruining what had been a perfect season. Aponavicius made 37 straight conversions and was 12 for 12 on field goal tries before the third-quarter miss.

He did, however, secure the victory with a 42-yard field goal with 3:59 left.