NC State
Virginia
Robinson Helps Wolfpack Pitch Shutout Against Cavs, 24-0
10/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 27, 2001
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.--NC State may have done more than just win a football game on Saturday. The Wolfpack may have also salvaged its hopes for a successful season. Leading just 3-0 at the half, the Pack exploded for 21 unanswered points in the third quarter in route to a surprisingly easy 24-0 victory over the University of Virginia in front of a sold out crowd of 51,500 at cool and blustery Carter-Finley Stadium.
The shutout was NC State's first in conference play since a 16-0 win over Duke in 1990. The Pack posted a non-conference shutout victory over SMU last season.
Ray Robinson ignited what had been a stagnant running game with 105 yards rushing on 26 carries and quarterback Philip Rivers completed 21-of-30 passes for 217 yards as the Wolfpack (4-3, 2-3 ACC) snapped a two-game ACC losing streak. In dropping its fourth straight game, Virginia fell to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
After receiving the second half kickoff, NC State immediately grabbed control of the momentum by putting together one of its best looking drives of the season. On first down and 10 from the Wolfpack 28-yard line, freshman receiver Sterling Hicks turned a short flanker screen into a big gainer of 40 yards down to the Uva 32. Two plays later, Bryan Peterson made something out of nothing on what was supposed to be a reverse pass. After taking the pitch, Peterson was looking to throw downfield to Rivers on a play that went for a touchdown at North Carolina last year. But when Rivers was covered, Peterson tucked the ball away and scampered 12 yards to the Virginia four. On first and goal, Robinson used a crushing block by Cotra Jackson to walk into the end zone to give the Pack a 10-0 lead.
"We had the ball and the wind, and by going down and doing what we did, we had a 10-point lead," said NC State coach Chuck Amato. "There's no question that the drive put a little jump into our step."
The score also seemed to take the wind out Virginia's sails. Following a Cavalier punt, the Wolfpack took over at its own 38 and wasted no time in putting together another scoring drive. Robinson's one-yard dive, which concluded a 61-yard drive in seven plays, made it 17-0 in favor of the Pack.
But NC State's big third quarter wasn't over and neither was Virginia's nightmare. On Uva's next possession, cornerback Brian Williams broke through the Cavalier protection to block the fifth punt of his career. On the very next play, Rivers crashed over from the one to make it 24-0.
From that point on, it was up to the NC State defense to preserve the shutout. In a drive that started late in the third quarter, the Cavaliers had a great chance to finally put the ball in the end zone when they had first and 10 at the Wolfpack two. But a spectacular goal line stand by the Pack not only kept Virginia out of the end zone, it also kept the shutout in tact. Freshman cornerback Marcus Hudson finished off the stand by dropping Cavalier tailback Alvin Pearman for a six-yard loss on fourth and one.
"We do live goal line every Tuesday and we go against each other," Amato said. "Every time either defense allows a score, they run a gasser after practice. This is our second goal line stand of the year, the first one was in the same end zone when it was first and goal at the one and we stopped it (against Clemson). What that does is really get the crowd into the game and gets the electricity back. Our defensive front did a yeoman's job."
There wasn't very much electricity during the opening half. Although neither team did a good job sustaining drives, both clubs did have some scoring opportunities. For NC State, Adam Kiker had a 43-yard field goal attempt blocked in the opening quarter. And near the end of the half, the Pack moved down to the Virginia six before Rivers was intercepted on third down by cornerback Jamaine Winborne, who wrestled the ball away from Peterson in the end zone.
Virginia also wasted some scoring chances in the opening half when kicker David Greene missed two field goal attempts and had another blocked by Terrence Holt, who blocked a field goal for the third straight week. Holt now has six blocks in his career.
With Virginia sitting back in a two-deep zone coverage most of the day, Robinson became a weapon with his running and pass catching abilities. The senior from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was also the Pack's top receiver with seven catches for 44 yards.
Robinson, who has had a frustrating year running the football, ran for more than 100 yards for the first time in 11 games. In doing so, he moved into sixth place on the all-time all--purpose yards list at NC State. His two touchdowns were the 26th and 27th of his career, which left him in fourth place in the school record book.
"After watching a lot of film I knew that teams had run on them, so I was just determined to go out there and make things happen," Robinson said. "I've to give all the credit to the offensive line and Cotra for making holes. Cotra told me to trust him and run in behind him and he would make things happen. That's the kind of bond we're getting as a team right now where guys really trust each other."
NC State had it most productive day of the season with 413 yards of total offense. Virginia had only 215 yards on the afternoon.
