NC State Wolfpack wins Bitcoin Bowl 34-27: Holiday Cheer

Christmas may have been the day before, but for NC State fans there was one present left to open…and it came at the expense of the University of Central Florida.  Friday night in St Petersburg, Florida, NC State defeated UCF at Tropicana Field in front of a partisan UCF crowd 34-27 to win the 2014 Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl.  Though the Wolfpack was well represented, the game amounted to little more than a home game for the Knights who hailed from Orlando, Florida about an hour drive away.  UCF (9-4) entered the game with a nationally ranked defensive unit and a chance to win 10 games for a third consecutive season.  NC State (8-5) had other ideas.

The Wolfpack had a great opportunity to build upon a good season that saw improvement toward the end.   They saw an opportunity and they seized it.  From the opening kickoff to the victory formation, the Wolfpack played smart and with confidence.

NC State Wolfpack Game Recap

The game began reasonably well for the Knights of  UCF as they marched with ease down the field only to be stymied around the 20 yard line.   UCF’s Shawn Moffitt kicked a 40 yard field goal for an early Central Florida lead.         UCF 3 – NC State 0

NC State’s opening drive was not only a statement to the heralded Central Florida defense, but it was also a thing of beauty.  With a balanced attack using all available tools, Brissett passed to David Grinnage and Bo Hines, ran the ball with Shadrach Thornton and orchestrated a scramble or two that culminated with a spectacular play.  Brissett on a quick pitch to Thornton, who then threw an 18 yard  halfback pass to true freshman Jaylen Samuels in the right corner of the end zone for the touchdown.  Game on.   NC State 7- UCF 3

On the ensuing drive the Wolfpack defense stepped up and forced UCF’s first punt.

On its next offensive possession, Brissett hit Johnathan Alston for a 37 yard touchdown on a 8 play  78-yard drive to take a 2^nd quarter lead.  The Wolfpack would never trail again.      NC State 14 – UCF 10

The American Athletic Conference co-champions and top ranked defense would have no answers for Brissett and company all evening.   The only blunder of the game came late in the 2^nd quarter when Jacoby Brissett did the one thing he was told not to do:  take a sack.  With the Pack out of timeouts and at the UCF 16 yard line, NC State was sure to get at least 3 points out of this drive.  It was third down and the UCF defense was obviously tired and winded when the inexplicable happened as Brissett took the sack and time expired without any opportunity to kick a field goal.

Dec 26, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack running back Matt Dayes (21) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Central Florida Knights during the 2014 St. Petersburg Bowl at Tropicana Field. The North Carolina State Wolfpack defeated the Central Florida Knights 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Halftime:  NC State 17 – UCF 10

Clearly a bit perturbed (during sideline interview) at the missed opportunity at the end of the half,  coach Dave Doeren’s locker room message had been heard loud and clear.

The Wolfpack took the 3rd quarter kickoff and marched the ball downfield with little resistance.  The drive ended successfully when Florida native Matt Dayes scampered 24 yards up the middle capping a 9 play 75-yard drive.                         NC State 24 – UCF 10

The Wolfpack had scored on 4 of their 6 drives.

Dayes would score again in the quarter on another burst up  the middle for 15 yards pushing the lead to 31-13.  NC State would edge its lead to 21 points when Niklas Sade kicked a 45 yard field goal.   NC State 34 – UCF 13

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To the Wolfpack’s credit, offensively they did not sit on the lead with conservative play as evidenced by a pitch to receiver Bo Hines who threw it back to Jacoby Brissett for a 20 yard pass reception.

UCF would not quit as they mounted two late fourth quarter drives against an aggressive blitzing Wolfpack defense that made Central Florida quarterback Justin Holman earn every yard as he took hit after hit.  NC State 34 – UCF 27

With 1:42 remaining NC State’s Tyler Purvis recovered the onside kick effectively ending the game.  The Wolfpack had completed the largest one year turnaround of the season ending with an 8-5 record.  Four of their loses were against Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Louisville.  When put in perspective, the fact that NC State was the only  ACC school to play all four (Top 25 ranked ACC teams), the season looks even better.

FINAL:  NC State 34  – UCF 27

QUICK STATS:

Jacoby Brissett- 15/26 for 262 yards, 1 TD, 14 carries for 31 yards

Matt Dayes- 13 carries for  78 yards, 2 TDs

Shadrach Thornton- 17 carries for 96 yards, 1 passing TD

Bo Hines had 3 catches for 79 yards,

Johnathan Alston and Jaylen Samuels each had 3 catches and a TD

NC State- 187  yards rushing

NC State-  300 yards Passing

NC State – 487 total yards