Nov. 6, 2004
By KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Reggie Ball made up for a poor performance by throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Levon Thomas midway through the fourth quarter, and Georgia Tech beat North Carolina State 24-14 Saturday.
Third-string tailback Rashaun Grant ran for 122 yards, and the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) held the Wolfpack (4-5, 3-4) to only 131 yards in the final three quarters.
Kenny Scott returned an interception 49 yards for a TD to seal it with about 1{ minutes left.
Georgia Tech won for the first time this season without leading rusher P.J. Daniels. He bruised a knee in the previous game and has missed all or parts of four games, and backup Chris Woods left with a hamstring injury in the first quarter.
Ball finished 9-for-28 for 91 yards and three interceptions, including one near the end of the first half that Marcus Hudson brought back 60 yards for a go-ahead score.
But Ball bounced back in the final quarter. A 26-yard field goal by Travis Bell brought Georgia Tech within 14-10, and Reuben Houston had his second interception on N.C. State’s first play of the ensuing drive.
On third-and-10 from the 31, Ball completed a 27-yard pass to Calvin Johnson. After Hudson was called for pass interference two plays later, Georgia Tech had first-and-goal from the 2.
Three runs netted a single yard, and on fourth down, Ball connected with Thomas on a slant for his second scoring toss. That made it 17-14, and the Yellow Jackets held on from there.
Davis was 22-for-38 for 234 yards and three interceptions, a week after he was picked off five times in a loss to Clemson. Injury-prone tailback T.A. McLendon made it through the entire game but was held to 50 yards on 18 carries.
The Wolfpack certainly had their chances. John Deraney missed three field goals, including from 52 yards with about 3 minutes left that would have tied it. Also, Devonte Edwards’ 57-yard interception return for a touchdown was wiped out by a holding penalty on defensive end Manny Lawson.
The Yellow Jackets, who defeated NC State for the ninth time in the last 10 years, moved into fifth place in the ACC, and if they beat Connecticut next week, they would be bowl eligible for the eighth year in a row.
N.C. State needs to win its final two games to qualify for a bowl for the fifth straight year under coach Chuck Amato, beginning Thursday night against Florida State.
NOTING GEORGIA TECH
Georgia Tech has defeated NC State nine of the last 10 years.
Tech held NC State to just 72 yards rushing, the fourth Tech opponent this year to be held under 100 yards
Reuben Houston grabbed his second and third interceptions of the season. He now has seven in his career.
Kenny Scott’s interception return for a touchdown was Tech’s first defensive touchdown since the 2001 season, also against NC State (fumble return by Chris Young).
Redshirt freshman Rashaun Grant, Tech’s third-string tailback, rushed for a career-best 122 yards
Redshirt freshman placekicker Travis Bell his his ninth consecutive field goal.
