CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- T.A. McLendon rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as the 11th-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack exploded in the second half and matched their best start in 35 years with a 34-17 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over intrastate rival North Carolina.
Sparked by their freshman running back, who has begun to take some pressure off quarterback Philip Rivers, the Wolfpack (7-0, 2-0 ACC) are off to their best start since also winning their first seven games in 1967. Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato was a player on that squad.
The Wolfpack had to work to reamain unbeaten as they trailed 17-7 early in the third quarter before reeling off the game's final 27 points.
Rivers scored on a one-yard run with 7:33 left in the third and, after a turnover, McLendon scored on a four-yard rush 24 seconds later to give North Carolina State the lead.
Darian Durant passed for two touchdowns for North Carolina (2-4, 0-2), which still leads the all-time series, 60-26-6.
