North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Opens Amato Era With Double Overtime Win
9/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
North Carolina State's Ray Robinson (5) tries to break away from
Arkansas State's Hanis Bowens (21) in the first half.(AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) |
NC State's first game under new head football coach Chuck Amato had a little bit of everything. There was the obligatory monsoon that traditionally dampens Wolfpack home openers. There were also bizarre plays, untimely penalties and normal first game mistakes. And finally, there were two overtime periods.
After Ray Robinson's one yard run had given the Pack a seven point lead in the second extra period, the NC State defense rose up and forced an Arkansas State fumble to preserve the Wolfpack's 38-31 victory.
"The seniors wouldn't let us lose, and how about that kicker?" Amato asked rhetorically, in praise of Kent Passingham, who sent the game into the first overtime with a clutch 33-yard field goal with just one second remaining in regulation. "The kid was scrutinized last year, but when he needed to do it, he did it. I'm as happy as a lark."
Happy and relieved. NC State was on the ropes several times during the night, especially in the second half.
North Carolina State coach Chuck Amato walks the sidelines during the
first half against Arkansas State. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) |
With 5:27 remaining in the third period, Hanis Bowens scooped up a blocked field goal and raced 80 yards to give the underdog Indians a 17-7 advantage. Suddenly, the rain drenched gathering in the Carter-Finley seats sensed a disastrous beginning to the long-awaited beginning of the Amato era.
But as it would throughout the third and fourth quarters, the Pack bounced back. A 35-yard pass from freshman quarterback Philip Rivers to first year wide receiver Andy Bertrand brought NC State back within three near the end of the third quarter. Then, with 13:40 left in the game, a nifty Rivers to Joe Gray scoring pass gave NC State its first lead of the night at 21-17.
But Arkansas State wouldn't go away.
A 50-yard kick off return by Nick Gatto to the NC State 35 got the Indians started. And when Jon Adams ran it in from the five to end a seven-play drive, Arkansas State was up 24-21 with 10:30 left.
Arkansas State could have put the game away with just over two minutes left, but on fourth and goal from the two, running back Danny Smith was stopped for a nine-yard loss by NC State cornerback Brian Williams.
North Carolina State coach Chuck Amoto congratulates quarterback Philip Rivers (17).
(AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) |
So there was freshman quarterback Philip Rivers, standing at is own 11-yard line with 2:18 remaining, needing to get his team in position for a tying field goal. The patient drive opened with a draw play to tailback Ray Robinson, who galloped 12-yards to the 23. Several plays later, NC State faced another do-or-die situation, but on fourth down, Rivers hit sophomore Bryan Peterson for 24-yards on a crossing pattern. Five plays later, Passingham nailed the field goal that would send the game into overtime.
In his first game as NC State's quarterback, Rivers was 29-of-57 for 397 yards with three touchdown passes.
"I thought he (Rivers) showed great poise and great leadership," Amato said. "I thought he was getting tired at the end, but when I asked him during a time out if he was, he said 'no.' He sees so much of the field and he doesn't get rattled."
But in the overtime periods, NC State turned to its running game, but only after Arkansas State had grabbed a 31-24 advantage in the first extra period when quarterback Cleo Lemon hit tight end Anwar Cooper with a six yard scoring pass.
Then it became the Ray Robinson show.
North Carolina State's Chuck Amoto celebrates his
first win as coach of the team.(AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) |
The junior tailback, who finished the night with 150-yards on 27 carries, scored on the third of three straight carries from five yards out. Passingham's extra-point tied it at 31-31.
The Wolfpack had the first possession of the second overtime and called on Robinson again. Five times the Pack called Robinson's number and on the fifth play, he responded with the one-yard run that would prove to be the difference.
"They (the Arkansas State defense) were tired," Rivers responded when asked about NC State's grind-it-out strategy in the overtimes. "It was something our coaches noticed up in the press box and something our line kept telling me. We just pounded it right at 'em. You also want to be safe in overtime because if you don't score, you lose."
North Carolina State's
Corey Smith (48) tries to hold on to a scambling Arkansas State
quarterback Cleo Lemon during the first half. (AP Photo/ Karl DeBlaker) |
Following Robinson's go-ahead score, it was still up to the defense to preserve the win. On second down from the NC State seven, Arkansas State fullback Jacquis Walker ran head-on into an NC State blitz, and coughed the football up. And when Wolfpack linebacker Edrick Smith came up with the ball, the opening day marathon was over.
The Wolfpack didn't blitz very much during regulation play, but during the extra periods it was a different story.
"There was no question we were going to turn them loose," Amato said. "I told the kids before we went out that we weren't going to play to lose. I told them to let it all hang out and whatever it takes, we'll go down swinging."
NC State finished the night with 539 yards of total offense compared to just 331 yards for the Indians. And rain wasn't the only thing that littered the field; yellow flags were everywhere as the two teams combined for 25 penalties.
Though, as a unit, it came together late in the game, NC State's offensive line may have lost Keegan Weir for a good portion of the season. The junior center broke his right leg late in the game. It was a repeat of last year when Weir broke the same leg in the opener at Texas.
