2014 NC STATE FOOTBALL BOWL GUIDE / XXXX 1

2015 NC STATE FOOTBALL BOWL GUIDE / BOWL REVIEWS
1998 MICRON PC BOWL
DECEMBER 29, 1998
MIAMI 46 • NC STATE 23
MIAMI, FLORIDA • PRO PLAYER STADIUM
The 1998 Micron PC Bowl had all the makings of an
offensive showdown. NC State boasted one of the
nation’s best receivers in All-American Torry Holt, and had
beaten top-15 teams Florida State and Syracuse soundly earlier in the season.
The Wolfpack’s opponent, Miami, had one of the nation’s top running backs in
Edgerrin James and had ended the regular season by knocking UCLA out of the
national championship picture.
Once the game started, however, the teams didn’t quite stick to the script, as the
Wolfpack outrushed the Hurricanes and the Hurricanes had more passing yards.
They did combine to roll up more than 1,000 yards of offense and score 69 points,
a Micron PC Bowl record. James rushed for two touchdowns and Miami QB Scott
Covington threw for two more to lead the Hurricanes to a 46-23 victory over the
Wolfpack.
Miami got the fireworks started on it’s first possession, driving 71 yards in nine plays
and taking a 7-0 lead when Covington floated a pass to Andre King in the left corner
of the end zone. The Wolfpack answered with a 12-play, 84-yard march and tied
it when Jamie Barnette barreled his way into the end zone for a one-yard score.
The Hurricanes retaliated by mounting another 71-yard drive, resulting in James’
five-yard run with 3:15 to go in the first quarter. Miami added to the lead on their
next possession. After a field goal attempt from Pack kicker Danny Deskevich
sailed wide right, his first miss of the season, Miami struck immediately when
Covington fired a strike down the right side to Santana Moss, who had gotten
behind the secondary and raced for a 80-yard score.
Deskevich redeemed himself when he split the uprights from 28 yards out with
1:37 to play in the half, but the Hurricanes quickly drove down the field, where
James scored on a two-yarder that gave the Hurricanes a 27-10 halftime advantage.
The Hurricanes’ Andy Crosland started the third quarter with a 31-yard field
goal to push the lead to 20 before the Wolfpack’s Rahshon Spikes scored on a
30-yard run for the Wolfpack just over five minutes later. Spikes, who carried 24
times for a Micron PC Bowl and NC State bowl record 176 yards, assumed the
bulk of the Wolfpack’s ground game after Ray Robinson, the ACC rookie of the
year, broke his arm early in the first half.
Miami put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter. James Jackson
scored on a 13-yard run 27 seconds into the period and
burst free for a 25-yard TD just 2:25 later.
Barnette, who finished the game 22-for-41 for 201 yards, hit Chris Coleman on a
seven-yard score midway through the quarter for NC State before Miami booted
a 29-yard field goal to complete the scoring.
Holt, who spent most of the night in double coverage, caught seven passes but
for 92 yards, while Coleman racked up 98 yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
SCORING SUMMARY 1 2 3 4 F
MIAMI 20 7 3 16 46
NC STATE 7 3 7 7 23
UM King 4 pass from Covington (Crosland kick)
NCS Barnette 1 run (Deskevich kick)
UM James 5 run (Crosland kick)
UM Moss 80 pass from Covington (Crosland kick blocked)
NCS Deskevich 28 FG
UM James 2 run (Crosland kick)
UM Crosland 31 FG
NCS Spikes 30 run (Deskevich kick)
UM Jackson 13 run (Covington pass failed)
UM Jackson 25 run (Crosland kick)
NCS Coleman 7 pass from Barnette (Spikes rush failed)
UM Gaitan 29 FG
Team Statistics UM NCS Team Statistics UM NCS
First Downs 27 31 Fumbles-lost 2-2 3-1
Rushes-Yards 38-269 40-297 Penalties-Yards 7-75 3-88
Comp.-Att.-Int. 18-27-0 22-44-5 Punts-Avg. 2-34.5 3-29.3
Passing Yards 325 201 Possession Time 29:07 30:53
Total Yards 594 498
Individual Leaders:
RUSHING: UM – James 20-156, Jackson 11-99, Davenport 4-13, Williams, 1-6, Hart
1-(-2), Covington 1-(-3). NCS – Spikes 24-176, Barnette 8-81, Clark 3-20, Berry 1-11,
Holt 1-6, Robinson 3-3.
PASSING: UM – Covington 17-24-0, 320, 2TD, Kelly 1-3-0, 5. NCS – Barnette
22-41-3, 201, 1TD, Berry 0-3-2, 0.
RECEIVING: UM – Moss 5-141, Franks 4-72, King 3-20, James 2-38, Moser 2-24,
Williams 1-26, Davenport 1-4. NCS – Holt 7-52, Coleman 6-98, Hamrick 2-16,
Butler 2-15, Robinson 2-7, Spikes 2-6, Johnson 1-7.
ATTENDANCE: 44,387
1995 PEACH BOWL
JANUARY 1, 1995
NC STATE 28 • MISSISSIPPI STATE 24
ATLANTA, GEORGIA • GEORGIA DOME
NC State tied the school record for victories in a season
with its ninth win, a 28-24 upset of Mississippi State in the
Peach Bowl. The Wolfpack persevered by finding a way to
stop the Bulldogs’ massive offensive line and by staving off a rally that would
have given Mississippi State a lead in the closing minutes of the contest.
Winning the toss, the Bulldogs set the tone with its huge offensive line, which led
them down the field for a field goal less than three minutes into the game.
The Pack responded with a sustained drive of its own, going 80 yards in 10 plays for
a touchdown. Tailback Tremayne Stephens, who would earn Offensive MVP honors
after rushing for 105 yards on the day, had gains of 12 and 14 yards in the push,
then capped the drive by taking Terry Harvey’s pitch the final two yards for the
touchdown. The Steve Videtich PAT was good, and the Pack was on top 7-3.
Mississippi State once again used its massive offensive line to full advantage to
pick its way 76 yards to NC State’s 10. The Pack defense dug in there and held the
Bulldogs to a 21-yard field goal.
NC State wasted little time on their next possession, using only 1:39 off the
clock. Videtich extended the Pack’s lead back to four, 10-6, by hitting a 45-yard
field goal.
Mississippi State, undaunted, marched 78 yards in 12 plays to regain the lead.
Running back Michael Davis went 11 yards into the end zone for the touchdown
and a 13-10 advantage. The Bulldogs missed a golden opportunity after intercepting
the Pack on its next possession. Three plays netted negative five yards,
and Mississippi State failed to capitalize off the turnover when Rogers’ 49-yard
attempt sailed wide left.
With the momentum and determined not to be behind at halftime, the
Wolfpack got the ball back with 5:27 left on the clock. Videtich connected on a
36-yard attempt with just eight seconds remaining in the half, tying the game
at 13.
By all indications, NC State appeared to fall apart at the start of the second half.
On their first possession, the Pack was unable to gain enough yards for a first
down and was forced to punt. A high snap allowed Andre Bennett to block the
punt attempt. The Pack’s Adrian Hill was able to land on the ball near the goal
line, but his momentum carried him into the end zone where the Bulldogs were
awarded a safety.
From there, the Bulldogs added two more third-period field goals – 29 and 36
yards – by Rogers, the second coming after a Wolfpack turnover. Mississippi
State now had a 21-13 lead with 8:36 remaining in the third quarter.
NC State managed to refind itself, though, and just as it had all season, they
began chipping away at their opponent’s lead. They went 69 yards in 16 plays
for a three-yard, Harvey-to-Dallas Dickerson scoring play. Harvey then followed
with a key two-point conversion and a 21-21 deadlock.
The Pack’s defense held the Bulldogs to end the quarter, and NC State opened
the fourth period by scoring quickly. The offense traveled 80 yards in four plays,
one of which was a 62-yard pass play from Harvey to Jimmy Grissett. Carlos
King then took the pitch from Harvey and covered the final 11 yards for the
score. Videtich split the uprights, giving the Pack a 28-21 lead.
Mississippi State took over the ball, but the Wolfpack’s defense took over the
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