Wolfpack hopes one brilliant quarter signals turnaround

RALEIGH, N.C. - The defense didn&#39;t allow a single yard and the offense put together three long touchdown drives. In one quarter, North Carolina State showed off how dominant their players can be.<br> <br> ``We all came together,&#39;&#39; tight end T.J. Williams said Monday.<br> <br> That third-quarter effort was enough for a come-from-behind, overtime victory over Wake Forest last week. It was a slice of utopia after a dispassionate first half, and certainly no one would expect a similar level of domination Saturday against North Carolina.<br> <br> Still, that doesn&#39;t make the performance any less impressive.<br> <br> ``It was the difference in the football game,&#39;&#39; N.C. State coach Chuck Amato said. ``What the defense did in that quarter ... .&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Amato didn&#39;t finish his sentence, but his point was well taken. Wake Forest had gained 180 yards in the first half the Wolfpack came into the game allowing an average of 163 through three games and took a two-touchdown lead.<br> <br> Suddenly, plays that had gone for long gains earlier were stuffed behind the line of scrimmage. And just as importantly, quarterback Jay Davis and tailback T.A. McLendon gave the offense the boost it needed to move up and down the field.<br> <br> ``It got us motivated,&#39;&#39; N.C. State cornerback Dovonte Edwards said. ``Not only the defense, but the offense. That was definitely exciting.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Wolfpack (3-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) joined No. 4 Miami at the top of the ACC, but their schedule gets much tougher after a visit with the Tar Heels. N.C. State has games left with No. 23 Maryland and No. 8 Florida State, as well as the Hurricanes.<br> <br> A fifth straight bowl game is anything but assured, but the chances sure are a lot better after the victory against Wake Forest.<br> <br> And Amato doesn&#39;t care that it came down to the final play for the second straight week, when McLendon bulled his way into the end zone from 8 yards out to end the game.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re 3-1 and happy to be there,&#39;&#39; Amato said. ``If we could have seven more games like that, we&#39;d take them right now. It&#39;s so difficult to win now.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> A little more than a week ago, a Virginia Tech field-goal attempt sailed right just before the end of the game, and the Wolfpack hung on to win 17-16. The nail-biter against the Deacons followed, and Williams hopes for a little more breathing room this week.<br> <br> ``A win is a win, don&#39;t get me wrong,&#39;&#39; he said. ``But it&#39;s kind of teeth-chattering like that. I would prefer to be further ahead.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> If the offense continues clicking as it did in the second half against the Demon Deacons, that just might happen. Davis played only the first two series of the game before giving way to backup Marcus Stone, then returned after the break.<br> <br> He finished 18-of-24 for 244 yards and one touchdown, a 57-yarder to Sterling Hicks that started the comeback. McLendon finished it off.<br> <br> ``A lot of people live their lives on the edge,&#39;&#39; Edwards said. ``It&#39;s all about poise, and being able to look adversity in the face and not flinch. We&#39;re a pretty poised team.&#39;&#39;