NC State
Ohio
Wolfpack Beats Ohio University, 27-7
11/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov 24, 2001
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.--In an emotional ceremony prior to Saturday's regular season finale against Ohio, NC State and head football coach Chuck Amato recognized the Wolfpack's 14 seniors, who were about to play their last home game at Carter-Finley Stadium. But the celebration would not have been complete without a victory over the 1-9 Bobcats.
Ironically, it was a little-used senior who came off the bench to give the Pack a lift after starting quarterback Philip Rivers was force to leave because of a toe injury. After replacing Rivers in the third quarter, senior Olin Hannum rushed for 87 yards on 16 carries and scored his first career touchdown as NC State finally put Ohio away, 27-7.
It wasn't easy. Like many in the holiday weekend crowd of 38,025, NC State had a difficult time getting over last week's excruciating loss to Maryland. But as Saturday's game wore on, the Wolfpack--and its fans--were up to the challenge against the ball-hogging Bobcats.
Now 7-4 for the second year in a row, NC State will probably have to wait a week before it can make postseason plans. More than likely, the Wolfpack will end up in either the Peach or Tangerine Bowls. But until next weekend's games involving North Carolina, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Florida State shake out, the Pack's ultimate destination won't be known.
"I'm leaving to go recruiting at 8:30 tomorrow morning," NC State head coach Chuck Amato said after the game. "We'll be able to stay up on it. A month a go we were concerned if we would even get into a bowl game. Now there's a likelihood that there are a couple of possibilities. We'll go whichever one picks us. We'll go there to have a good time, but to win as well."
Saturday's win didn't come easy. After senior tailback Ray Robinson gave NC State a 7-0 lead on a four-yard run in the opening period, the Bobcats answered with a score of their own. Chewing up time and yards with its option offense, Ohio responded with an 11-play drive that covered 72 yards. Tailback Jamel Patterson tied it with a 27-yard run right through the middle of the NC State defense.
With Ohio employing soft coverages in the secondary, the NC State offense was forced to settle for smaller gains and shorter passes that also shortened the game. The Wolfpack finally broke back on top when Rivers hit receiver Jerricho Cotchery on a slant pattern from six yards out to push the Pack back out in front 14-7 right before halftime.
Although both clubs went scoreless in the third quarter, the period was eventful because of two things that happened. First, with 5:28 left in the third, Wolfpack safety Terrence Holt leaped high in the air to block Kevin Kerr's field goal attempt from the NC State 23. For Holt, it was his fourth block of the season and the seventh of his career.
"I thought the blocked field goal was the turning point," Amato said. "We said it in the lockerroom: every time we do something in the kicking game it excites our team and ignites the fans. That field goal block certainly did ignite things and get us going."
But one play after Holt's block, Rivers would come up limping. On a one-yard scramble, the sophomore quarterback twisted his left foot awkwardly. Unable to put much pressure on the foot, Rivers stayed on the field for two more plays before Amato insisted that he leave the field.
"That's Philip," Amato said. "He's tough guy, not only for a quarterback, but for any position. It shows you what kind of competitor he is. But there comes a point where you have to put your foot down and say, `hey, get out of here, we're ahead.'"
Enter Hannum, who had become so frustrated with his lack of playing time at the quarterback position this season that he actually begged the coaching staff to let him cover kick offs.
But with Rivers hobbled by what was diagnosed as `turf toe,' Hannum was now in charge. It didn't take him long to get it going as NC State would march 59 yards in 12 plays to get into field goal range. Adam Kiker's 36-yard boot was good, but only after hitting the left upright and bouncing through. Hannum took care of most of the yardage on the drive by carrying the ball four times for 36 yards. He also mixed in a pass of 16 yards to tight end Andy Vanderveer.
"You don't know if [Hannum] is going outside, you don't if he's going inside or if he's going to throw the thing," Amato said in discussing Hannum's running ability. "When your quarterback becomes a part of the running game, it's tough to stop."
Ohio wouldn't disagree. After another Kiker field goal made it 20-7, Hannum added the final touches by scoring his first career touchdown on a 10-yard quarterback draw with 4:16 left. Though he played only a little more than a quarter, Hannum finished as the game's leading rusher.
"They get ready for Philip who is a drop back passer and when I come in, I roll out and I move," Hannum said. "It's two different offenses out there."
Other highlights from Saturday: With his two field goals, Kiker is now 13-of-14 since replacing the injured Austin Herbert prior to the September 28th game against North Carolina. His only miss was a blocked attempt against Virginia.
Before leaving the game, Rivers connected on 22-of-26 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. He is expected to be ready for the bowl game.
The 185 yards of total offense by Ohio was the lowest by an NC State opponent this season, and the lowest since SMU had only 176 yards last season.
NC State finished with 422 yards on the day and actually won the time of possession battle (32:47 to 27:13) against a team that usually hangs onto the ball for long periods of time.
"One of the reasons for that, unfortunately, is what happened to Philip," Amato said. "We put Olin in there and he kept it on the ground. Our kids have gotten better and better as the year has gone on. Whenever you win your last game at home the seniors go out happy."
And thanks to a marvelous relief effort by Olin Hannum, the seniors will have a chance to play one more game.
