The football team (6-7) lost 23-29 in its first bowl game since 2005 to Rutgers (8-5) in the third annual Papajohns.com Bowl Monday. The Wolfpack gave up 437 total offensive yards to the Scarlet Knights including 319 through the air by senior quarterback Mike Teel. Coach Tom O’Brien said turnovers — the Pack had four — were the primary reason the Pack lost the game.
“They played a good game,” O’Brien said. “We certainly didn’t play what we feel is our best game, but we played hard and overcame some things. We turned the ball over too much, and I think that was the story of the game.”
State began the game shakily in front of a mostly friendly crowd of 38,582 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Al. On the first play from scrimmage, tailback Jamelle Eugene fumbled the ball away, giving Rutgers possession at midfield. After the Wolfpack defense stiffened near the goal line, Rutgers ran a fake field goal play in which holder Rob Cervini took the ball into the endzone. After Hickory, N.C. native San San Te drove the extra point into the ha to put the Scarlet Knights up a touchdown.
State blocked the ensuing PAT and State’s second play from scrimmage came with the Pack down 6-0.
State drove downfield slowly, but when a hurried Russell Wilson hurled a 44 yard pass into the end zone, sophomore Owen Spencer was there to haul in the touchdown catch. A Josh Czajkowski PAT put the Pack up 7-6. Czajkowski added a field goal on the Wolfpack’s next possession and when the first quarter ended, State was on top 10-6.
Late in the first half another Rutgers’ trick play set up Hickory, N.C. native San San Te for another short field goal, but the Hickory High graduate again didn’t put the ball through the uprights as State tipped the low kick giving the Wolfpack possession with 4:38 left before halftime.
The four and a half minutes proved to be plenty of time for Wilson to drive upfield, slinging the ball to several receivers and running circles around the Rutgers’ defense to set up Andre Brown for a four-yard touchdown plunge. After a Czajkowski PAT the score was 17-6 going into halftime.
While the scoring drive increased the Wolfpack’s lead, it came at a cost. Wilson came up limping after the critical run that set up the touchdown. Wilson was diagnosed with a sprained knee and would not return to the game. Although the loss of Wilson greatly impaired State’s ability to move the football, O’Brien is not willing to make it an excuse.
“You can’t blame [the loss] on injuries,” O’Brien said. “We had our opportunities in the third quarter, but we couldn’t seem to make a play. We make a play here or there we have a chance to win the football game and we didn’t do it.”
Rutgers began the second half with a 58-yard drive resulting in a Te field goal to narrow the margin to 17-9. The Wolfpack struggled to answer with junior Harrison Beck now under center in place of the injured Wilson. Beck’s first two series resulted in three-and-outs–the first of which ended with a blocked Bradley Pierson punt. Rutgers converted the block into it’s second touchdown of the game, bringing the score to 17-16 N.C. State.
After a Clemm Johnson interception deep in Rutgers’ territory, the Pack had a chance to answer. But two plays later, Beck threw an interception of his own into the hands of Scarlet Knights defender Ryan D’Imperio.
Rutgers then drove 70 yards resulting in a 28-yard Te field goal to put the knights up 19-17. With graduate student Daniel Evans in the game, the Wolfpack marched 64 yards down the field on its next drive on a pair of Anthony Hill receptions to go ahead. And after a failed two-point conversion, the Pack found itself with a 23-19 lead. Evans, who was competing in his final collegiate game, relished the opportunity to get back on the field.
“I’ve been on the scout team for nine or 10 weeks, so it was fun to be back out there competing for real,” Evans said.
Jarvis Williams, who finished the game with seven receptions for 126 yards, said Evans motivated the team during a crucial moment.
“Daniel [Evans] came in and fired us up and said were still in this game,” Williams said.
Teel’s next play from scrimmage was a 23-yard strike to Denni Campbell, and on the following play, he threw a 42-yard touchdown strike to wideout Kenny Britt to put the knights up 26-23.
State failed to move the ball on offense for the remainder of the fourth quarter, and the Knights added a field goal to secure the 29-23 win.
