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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Rutgers' high-powered, quick-strike offense, held in check for much of the game, hit the long ball when Mike Teel found his favorite target, Kenny Britt, for a 42-yard touchdown with 8:30 left that restored the lead to the Scarlet Knights in a wild Papajohns.com Bowl.

Daniel Evans, who began the day as N.C. State's third quarterback, led the Wolfpack on a go-ahead scoring drive and a 23-19 lead over Rutgers with 9:21 left. Evans relieved the ineffective Harrison Beck, who came on when All-ACC player Russell Wilson suffered an ankle injury late in the first half.

Evans' 17-yard scoring pass to tight end Anthony Hill put State back on top after it had blown a 17-6 halftime edge. The Wolfpack gained five yards on eight third-quarter plays, one of which was an interception thrown by Beck, who has now tossed seven picks in 80 attempts on the year.

The Scarlet Knights, who trailed 17-6 at halftime, took a 19-17 lead on San San Te's field goal with 13:30 left.

The Pack had reason to suspect it was in trouble when Wilson limped off the field before his teammates after sustaining the ankle injury. Harrison Beck, the often erratic backup, replaced Wilson but has been benched himself in favor of Daniel Evans after going 0-for-4 with an interception in an inconsequential third quarter.

The Knights blitzed furiously against Beck. Only moments after Clem Johnson interecepted a Scarlet Knights pass at the Rutgers 30, Beck responded in kind when he tossed one over the middle and found only Ryan D'Imperio, a Knights linebacker who made the first interception of his three-year career to kill State's hopes of expanding its 17-16 lead.

Rutgers converted that play into a 10-play, 70-yard drive and the field goal by Te, who missed an extra point after the Knights' first touchdown of the day.

State (6-6) is seeking its fifth straight victory in 2008 and its sixth consecutive bowl win. The Scarlet Knights averaged 46 points per game over their final five regular-season games, all of which they won.

Wilson, who hooked up with Owen Spencer for a 44-yard touchdown in the first quarter, is 11-of-23 for 186 yards and no interceptions. He has now thrown 249 passes without being picked off; the NCAA record is 271 and was established by Fresno State's Trent Dilfer in 1993.