N.C. State 52, East Carolina 14

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Jay Davis threw three touchdown passes and North Carolina State allowed only 145 yards in a dominating 52-14 victory over East Carolina on Saturday, spoiling the final game for Pirates&#39; coach John Thompson.<br> <br> Thompson resigned last week effective at the end of the season after athletic director Terry Holland told him he was going to be fired. In two years, Thompson was 3-20.<br> <br> The Wolfpack (5-6) blocked a punt for a score, returned an onside kick for another and had an interception return for a TD nullified by an inadvertent whistle. Davis also scored the first rushing touchdown of his career.<br> <br> But it was N.C. State&#39;s top-ranked defense that stole the show. East Carolina (2-9) played most of the game without starting quarterback James Pinkney, who left in the first quarter with a sprained knee. Backup Des Robinson, a senior playing for the fourth time in 2004, clearly wasn&#39;t comfortable running the offense.<br> <br> He was pressured into two interceptions a few more bounced off the hands of defenders and even when he had time, he missed open receivers. Robinson finished 7-for-23 for 62 yards, including a completion to himself on a batted pass.<br> <br> Still, the Pirates stayed close for most of the first half, tying the score at 7 when linebacker Chris Moore sacked Davis, forced a fumble, then recovered it in the end zone. The Wolfpack led only 10-7 late in the first half when Miguel Scott broke through and blocked Ryan Dougherty&#39;s punt, and he fell on the ball for a touchdown to make it 17-7.<br> <br> The third quarter was miserable to East Carolina, which went three-and-out on all four of its series. Meanwhile, Davis found his rhythm, connecting with John Ritcher and Tramain Hall for TDs and diving in from the 3 on fourth down to put N.C. State ahead 38-7.<br> <br> Davis was 18-of-35 for 227 yards, but also threw his 15th interception. The Wolfpack totaled 392 yards of offense in their most impressive performance of the season, but they won&#39;t be going to a bowl for the first time in coach Chuck Amato&#39;s five seasons.<br> <br> About the only drama in the second half came from the Pirates&#39; offensive ineptitude. Early in the fourth quarter, they had only three first downs for the game, which would have been a school record.<br> <br> They tied that mark on a pass interference penalty, then got four more on a late drive that setup Marvin Townes&#39; 2-yard touchdown run.