RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina State hasn't scored a point in nine consecutive quarters. Now, the injury-plagued offense will be without two key players this week.

Coach Tom O'Brien said Monday that neither starting quarterback Russell Wilson nor tight end Anthony Hill is expected to play in the Wolfpack's home opener against William & Mary.

Wilson was carted off the field with a concussion during last week's 34-0 loss at South Carolina, and Hill -- the team's leading receiver in 2006 who missed '07 with a knee injury -- is likely out with a chest injury.

Top wide receiver Donald Bowens already out for the season for the Wolfpack with a back injury and tailback Jamelle Eugene slowed by an ankle injury that kept him out of the opener.

It's a tough situation for the Wolfpack, who lost to Maryland 37-0 in their 2007 season finale and have been shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since 1956.

"It hurts to be shut out twice and still have that bitter taste from last year in our mouths," tailback Andre Brown said.

The injury to Wilson, who spent Thursday night in a hospital before returning to campus, leaves the Wolfpack (0-1) with senior Daniel Evans under center and Harrison Beck as the backup. The trio combined to complete just 5-of-20 passes against South Carolina, with Evans tossing a pair of interceptions.

N.C. State had some success on the ground, with Brown rushing for 101 of his team's 138 yards of total offense, but the Wolfpack was forced into obvious passing scenarios once the Gamecocks pulled ahead.

"The moral of that story is let's not get in that situation," O'Brien said. "Let's be able to run when we want to run and throw when we want to throw."

Establishing that kind of balance could be important for a team lacking big-play ability. N.C. State managed just three plays longer than 10 yards -- none longer than 19 -- against South Carolina.

If N.C. State isn't going to strike quickly, it must find a way to control the ball to protect its defense. The Wolfpack limited South Carolina to 161 yards through three quarters, but the Gamecocks erupted for 208 yards in the fourth as N.C. State's defenders tired and began cramping.

"This is a big game for us, especially coming off that loss last week," Brown said. "It's a very respectable opponent, a very good team, especially with the offense capable of putting up points like they can. We feel as an offense that we're going to have to go out there and put up some points, and I'm pretty sure we'll do that."