GREENVILLE, N.C. _ Make it six in a row for East Carolina.
The Pirates beat N.C. State, 33-30, in a back-and-forth game on Saturday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for their sixth straight win over an ACC team.
This was the first of those for new coach Scottie Montgomery, who led the Pirates (2-0) to their third straight win over N.C. State (1-1).
ECU got a 5-yard touchdown run from running back Anthony Scott at 5:49 in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good.
N.C. State got the ball down to ECU's 25-yard line on the last drive but ran out of time.
The Pirates ran for three touchdowns and quarterback Philip Nelson threw for 291 yards, but N.C. State also hurt itself with special teams mistakes.
The Wolfpack missed two field goals, was stopped on a fake field goal and failed on a 2-point conversion in the first half on a pass by the kicker.
The little things made the difference in a big game for both sides. ECU, with South Carolina and Virginia Tech next on the schedule, gets a shot of confidence in Montgomery's first season.
N.C. State will have to play catch-up after only its second nonconference loss in coach Dave Doeren's tenure, now in its fourth season _ both to ECU.
The Wolfpack got 103 yards from Matt Dayes and 142 receiving yards from Stephen Louis but couldn't get a late drive when it needed it.
N.C. State got a 15-yard option keep from quarterback Ryan Finley to take a 30-26 lead at 13:04 in the fourth quarter. The Wolfpack put together a 12-play, 90-yard drive to give its defense a rest.
But N.C. State's defense couldn't hold ECU. The Pirates capped a 14-play, 87-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by Scott for the 33-30 advantage.
After falling behind 9-0, N.C. State led 13-12 and 20-19 in the first half. A 30-yard field goal by Kyle Bambard gave the Wolfpack a 23-19 lead at 7:05 in the third quarter.
ECU climbed back in front 26-23 after a 15-yard touchdown run by James Summers at 4:04 in the third quarter. Nelson was shaken up on the previous play after a late hit by N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb.
The Pirates' offense didn't miss a beat with Summers, who had a 27-yard TD run in the first quarter.
N.C. State controlled most of the second and third quarters. The Wolfpack scored all 20 of its first-half points in the second quarter.
Running back Reggie Gallasy put the Wolfpack on the board with a 37-yard touchdown run. An interception by cornerback Jack Tocho gave the ball right back to N.C. State's offense.
Jaylen Samuels gave N.C. State a 13-12 lead on a 5-yard touchdown run. N.C. State tried to go for 2 after Samuels' touchdown, with Bambard attempting a pass to backup tight end Clark Eyers but Eyers dropped the pass.
ECU came right back with a 25-yard touchdown catch by Scott to take a 19-13 advantage at 4:26 in the second quarter.
N.C. State had a response of its own. On the next play from scrimmage, Finley hit Louis for an 80-yard touchdown catch and run to make it 20-19 before the half.
The Pirates couldn't have asked for a much better start. They got the Wolfpack offense off the field on a three-and-out and drove down to the N.C. State 6-yard line before their first drive stalled.
Davis Plowman made a 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. N.C. State missed the first of two field goals to give the ball back to ECU. The Pirates got a 27-yard touchdown run from Summers to take a 9-0 lead.
ECU beat N.C. State on the road 42-28 in 2013 and 33-27 in overtime in 2010 in Greenville. The Pirates have won 8 of the past 12 against the Wolfpack.
