The year was 2008. Last game of the season, but to set the stage for this one, you had to go back a year. Last year, the Pack entered the final game with a chance to get bowl eligible, and they totally laid an egg. Now this year, after a 2-6 start, State had rebounded with three straight over in-state opponents including a 41-10 thrashing of UNC. Now at 5-6, the only thing standing between the Pack and the postseason was 7-4 Miami.
The crowd was cold, but electric as the game started. It couldn't have started any more perfectly for the Pack. A quick 3 and out by Miami, gave NC State the ball after a 61 yard punt on the 4 yard line. First play from scrimmage, Senior Andre Brown showed he wasn't going to be denied on this day. A 15 yard run by Brown carrying tacklers got the ball out of harm's way, and started a 96 yard drive that culminated in a 2 yard pass from Russell Wilson to Brown for the TD. 7-0 Pack!
Another defensive stop by the Pack and the momentum was clearly with the Red & White. But Miami followed with a stop of their own, and on their first play of the next drive, Robert Marve threw a 69 yard TD pass and suddenly we had a ball game. That play seemed to stun the Pack, and on the next drive a halfback pass by Andre Brown was intercepted, which this time led to a long Miami drive that resulted in another TD early in the 2nd quarter, and now Miami led 14-7.
But all it took to get the momentum back was a little Russell Wilson magic. NC State took the ball at the 36 and marched all the way to the Miami 13. However, on first down a bad snap rolled all the way back to the 29, and NC State was looking at 2nd and very long. On the snap, no one was opened, so Russell scrambled to his right, avoided the sack, cut up field, the started to cross the field, angled to the corner of the end zone, picked up a Spencer block, and he was in for the score. It was simply a thing of beauty!
On the next drive, Miami drove into Wolfpack territory, and picked up a first down into the red zone, but on the next pass, Bobby Floyd got the deflection and DeAndre Morgan got the pick to keep it tied at 14.
As the 2nd quarter was winding down, NC State embarked on another long drive, and this time Josh Czajkowski hit a 39 yard field goal and NC State led 17-14 going into halftime.
State had the ball to start the second half and they drove it down the field again, this time with some big plays by Jamelle Eugene. The Pack got all the way to the 3, but ultimately had to settle for another field goal. 20-14 State.
Miami had an answer of their own driving for 64 yards and a TD which put them up 21-20, and put some uneasiness back in the crowd. But it was just meant to be the Pack's day. On the next drive, a 42 yard pass to TJ Graham, was followed up with a 32 yard TD to Owen Spencer and the Pack was back on top. Throw in a 2 point conversion to Eugene, and it was 28-21.
As the 4th quarter began, NC State's ground game continued to pound away at the Miami defense, and with another long drive, the Pack picked up another field goal, and led 31-21 with just 8:57 to play. Miami tried to cut the Pack lead, but with 5:23 Nate Irving came up with the back breaker. An interception of Jacory Harris that was returned 40 yards deep into Miami territory that pretty much sealed the deal. On the next possession, the Pack went with Senior Andre Brown on five straight plays, and he delivered with a 4 yard TD run that was icing on the cake (youtube clip) NC State now led 38-21 with only 2:35 to play.
A late Miami touchdown and offside kick recover with 43 seconds to play kept the suspense going for a few more minutes, but a Jeremy Gray interception officially sealed the deal. As a final tribute, senior Daniel Evans, who had a few spectacular wins of his own in his career, got to take the final kneeldown and the Pack was going bowling! The only business left was to track down Coach O'Brien with the Gatorade bucket.
Game Highlights from youtube here
Today's honorable mention:
2007 NC State over Miami 19-16
Up next tomorrow: Virginia Tech
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