RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — First-year passer MJ Morris threw for three scores while No. 21 NC State’s defense thrice picked off Sam Hartman to beat No. 20 Wake Forest 30-21 on Saturday night.

Morris threw for 210 yards in becoming the first true freshman in more than 22 years to start for the Wolfpack (7-2, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), following his three-TD effort in last week’s comeback home win against Virginia Tech. This performance, though, came against a ranked instate foe featuring a veteran star QB in Hartman leading a high-scoring offense.

Morris hit Darryl Jones for two of his TDs and Keyon Lesane for another to lead the offense. He also directed a key late drive that took four minutes off the clock and set up Christopher Dunn’s 25-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game with 2:54 left.

Dunn added two other field goals, including a 51-yarder late in the third.

Meanwhile, the Wolfpack’s veteran defense got after Hartman for four sacks and plenty of pressure up front to make things difficult all night.

Hartman threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns, but he was picked off by Jakeen Harris on the Demon Deacons’ first possession. Cyrus Fagan grabbed another on a fourth-down throw into traffic in the third quarter, and then Aydan White tallied the third interception on the first play of the fourth.

He connected with Taylor Morin and A.T. Perry for touchdowns, while Perry had a huge game with 12 catches for 159 yards.

UP NEXT

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons host No. 17 North Carolina next Saturday for a second-straight matchup against a ranked instate ACC team.

NC State: The Wolfpack’s home finale comes next Saturday with a division visit from Boston College.