d says the Highlanders will be intent on proving they are

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Miami didnt back away from its ground game, even as it went nowhere against one of the nations top run defenses through Saturdays first half.Eventually, coach Mark Richt figured, the Hurricanes would break a few runs.Mark Walton responded by running for three second-half touchdowns, turning in a huge performance to help the Hurricanes beat North Carolina State 27-13.Walton ran 120 yards for the Hurricanes (7-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) to crack the 1,000-yard mark on the season. The last of that production came when he bounced off two tacklers and sprinted free for the 24-yard clinching score with 2:06 left.The line did a great job for me, coach was trusting in me, Walton said. The first half, it didnt go so well for our running game. The second half we came out and we ran the ball well.Indeed. Walton ran for 102 yards after halftime, including a 30-yard score as one of two third-quarter touchdowns against a run defense ranked fourth in the Bowl Subdivision and tops in the ACC by holding opponents to 99.4 yards per game.Those two TDs broke a 3-3 halftime tie to put the Wolfpack (5-6, 2-5) in catch-up mode.Sometimes youve got to chip away -- youve got to chip away and eventually something will break, Richt said. And youve got to stay patient running the ball. You cant just avoid the running game completely and chuck it every down. Its not healthy for anybody.Matt Dayes ran for 76 yards and a touchdown to become N.C. States first 1,000-yard rusher since 2002. But the Wolfpack committed just too many mistakes to make comeback, including an end-zone interception thrown by Ryan Finley, a penalty negating a fourth-quarter TD run by Dayes and BraLon Cherrys fumbled punt return -- all in the second half.Finally, cornerback Jack Tocho committed a pass-interference penalty on third down with 2:56 left, giving Miami a first down and setting up Waltons clinching run.We didnt make enough plays when we needed to, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. It was a hard-fought first half but we just didnt play well enough to win.BIG PICTUREMIAMI: A week after securing bowl eligibility for the ninth straight season, the Hurricanes closed the regular season at 4-2 on the road after managing a combined three road wins over the past two seasons -- another positive sign in Richts first year.N.C. STATE: This game just about summed up the Wolfpacks season full of missed opportunities as N.C. State tried to become bowl eligible for the third straight year, falling right in line with a dropped late interception to potentially seal a win against Florida State and a missed short field goal to upset Clemson on the road.Its tough right now because theres a lot of mistakes made out on the field and a lot of missed opportunities, Dayes said. Thats why it hurts so bad.MILESTONESIn addition to Dayes and Walton reaching 1,000 yards on the season, Miami receiver Ahmmon Richards broke the Hurricanes single-season freshman receiving record (840 yards) set by program great Michael Irvin in 1985. He finished with nine catches for 117 yards.UP NEXTMIAMI: The Hurricanes close the regular season at home against Duke, a year after beating the Blue Devils on an eight-lateral, final-play kickoff return that officials later determined shouldnt have counted in a controversial finish.Hopefully we wont get to that point next week, said Walton, who was on the field during that final return. Were not trying to get to that moment again. ... I dont want to revisit that play.N.C. STATE: N.C. State closes the regular season with a trip to rival North Carolina for a Friday afternoon matchup over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in a final shot to go to a bowl. The Wolfpack won the last visit there, a 35-7 romp in 2014.Weve still got one more game left, safety Josh Jones said. Its not too late.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college football at http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 Air Max 90 Store . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Cheapest Yeezy 350 V3 . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. http://www.cheapestairmaxstore.com/fake-stan-smith-cheap.html . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Cheapest Nike Basketball Shoes . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Nike Basketball Shoes Store . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game.Jimmy Gopperth believes the Hurricanes will use the pain of last years Super Rugby final loss to go one better in 2016. The Hurricanes won 14 of their 16 regular season games last year but were defeated 21-14 by New Zealand rivals the Highlanders in the decider at Westpac Stadium.Wasps fly-half Gopperth made 51 appearances and scored 354 points during his three seasons at the Hurricanes, and he told Rugby Club Agenda that he expects them to push on this year. Obviously Ive got a soft spot for the Hurricanes and I do like the look of their team this year, he said.They have got a few young guns coming in and some good strike power. Theyre definitely going to be pushing at the top. All the New Zealand provinces are strong this year. Its going to be really interesting. Jimmy Gopperth Last year was the first where they had a really consistent year, only to lose at the last hurdle. I think they can build on that.Theyve got some really great coaches in Chris Boyd and John Plumtree. I had the pleasure of working with them for a number of years in Wellington. They install a really good belief in the squad and theyll use last year as fuel in looking to push on. Sean Fitzpatrick and Michael Lynagh look ahead to the new Super rugby season Gopperth believes another of his former sides, the Blues, could be this years dark horses until the guidance of Tama Umaga, and says the Highlanders will be intent on proving they are not one-season wonders.ddddddddddddIts always tough going back to back but the Highlanders were outstanding last year, said Gopperth.I know Jamie Joseph well and he will drill them. Theyll be hungry just to show it wasnt a fluke or a one-off.All the New Zealand provinces are strong this year. Its going to be really interesting. Super Rugby season preview Sean Fitzpatrick looks at the New Zealand conference Meanwhile, Gopperth says it is a three-horse race in the battle to succeed Dan Carter as All Blacks fly-half.Beauden Barrett was the back-up No 10 at the World Cup but Aaron Cruden has returned from the knee injury that saw him miss the tournament, while Lima Sopoaga steered the Highlanders to Super Rugby glory last season.Aaron Cruden has got silky skills and has played for the All Blacks for a number of years, said Gopperth. He was unlucky with his injury before the World Cup. Beauden Barrett had a great World Cup and it was a great way to finish with a try in the final.Lima Sopoaga came on the scene last year, on the back of the Highlanders doing really well. He is a gifted ball player and a great goalkicker.Losing Dan Carter, and given that the goalkicking of the other two is a bit come and go, Sopoaga could be the dark horse. Watch the Blues v Highlanders and Brumbies v Hurricanes live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Friday from 6am. Catch both matches for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract. Also See: New Zealand Conference preview Australia Conference preview South Africa Conferences preview Super Rugby fixtures ' ' '