North Carolina State University Athletics
1992 Gator Bowl Recap
1/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Florida 27, NC State 10
December 31, 1992
Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, Fla.
Looking to set a school record for wins in a season, NC State entered the 1992 Gator Bowl against No. 14 Florida. Unfortunately, the Wolfpack didn’t record its 10th win of the year, falling to the Gators 27-10 in the foggy affair.
Fans in the upper areas of the stadium were left with virtually zero visibility toward the field. By the end of the third quarter, the field was not visible at any elevation above ground level. In fact, NC State’s coaches in the press box left during the third quarter and returned to the field.
State’s game plan was to establish a ball-control offense and keep the ball out of the hands of record-setting Florida quarterback Shane Matthews. But the Wolfpack’s running game couldn’t do much with the Gator defense, netting just 54 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, Florida became the first team to put points on the board with a Judd Davis 26-yard field goal.
After the Gators kick, the Pack drove the ball from its own 15 to the Florida 27. But on second-and-six from the Florida 27, fullback Greg Manior fumbled an exchange from Jordan that was recovered by Florida. The Gators wasted no time, promptly driving 72 yards on eight plays for its first touchdown and a 10-0 lead, just as the heavy fog began rolling into the stadium.
The Gators added to their lead on their first possession of the second half, marching 57 yards in seven plays, capped by a Matthews to Willie Jackson 17-yard touchdown strike.
The Pack got a break when Florida fumbled a punt, which was recovered by long snapper David Inman at the Gators 29. State managed to move to the Florida six, but three shots at the end zone forced the Pack to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Steve Videtich.
The Gators came right back late in the third quarter on another field goal from Davis, a 42-yarder.
NC State scored a late touchdown with just 2:14 remaining in the game to cut the deficit to 20-10. An attempted on-sides kick failed to cover the required 10 yards and Florida took over at the NCSU 44. It took the Gators four plays to cover the distance and finish off the Pack, 27-10, when Matthews hit Harrison Houston over the middle for 34 yards and a touchdown.
| SCORING SUMMARY | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Florida | 0 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
| NC State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
UF Davis 26 FG
UF Matthews 1 run (Davis kick)
UF Jackson 17 pass from Matthews (Davis kick)
NCSU Videtich 23 FG
UF Davis 42 FG
NCSU Shaw 11 pass from Jordan (Videtich kick)
UF Houston 34 pass from Matthews (Davis kick)
| TEAM STATISTICS | UF | ST |
| First Downs | 26 | 13 |
| Rushes-Yards | 50-198 | 25-54 |
| Passing Yards | 247 | 213 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 19-38-0 | 22-42-2 |
| Fumbles-lost | 3-2 | 2-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 6-44 | 1-10 |
| Punts-Avg. | 5-41.0 | 11-39.8 |
| Possession Time | 33:43 | 26:17 |
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - (FLA) Rhett 39-182
(NCSU) Barbour 11-50
Passing - (FLA) Matthews 19-38-0, 247
(NCSU) Jordan 22-42-2, 213
Receiving - (FLA) Rhett 7-60
(NCSU) R. Lawrence 5-77
ATTENDANCE: 71,233
