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Wolfpack linebacker Audie Cole celebrates with his classmates following N.C. State's victory over Carolina. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
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Wolfpack head coach Tom O'Brien signals the band to start performing N.C. State's alma mater following the Wolfpack's victory over the Tar Heels. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
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N.C. State's Tony Baker is wrapped up by Tar Heel Bruce Carter. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
CARTER-FINLEY STADIUM/RALIEGH "N.C. State here we go," a man dressed all in red shouted as he exited Carter-Finley Stadium, his team having just defeated its bitter rival for the third straight year. "TOB (Tom O'Brien) 3-0. Here we go. Butch Davis, what do you have?"
"Stop, you're making a spectacle," his girlfriend told him sharply.
"But this is all we've got," he sheepishly replied.
He's right, N.C. State's season is done, and Davis' team now moves on to a yet-to-be-determined bowl game, but what they've got matters one heck of a lot. Ask O'Brien who said after the game this was his most challenging season in a three decades as a college coach. Or talk to one of the nine seniors on the team who end their careers victorious. Sure, on its face this 28-27 win that closed the books on a 5-7 season might not seem like a big deal, but boy is it.
"We could play this team in the McDonald's parking lot and it would be a bowl game," wide receiver Owen Spencer said.
The odds seemed long at halftime. UNC had dominated offensively scoring touchdowns of 35, 40 and 70 yards on the way to a 24-14 lead. The Wolfpack's much-maligned defense turned things around in the second frame, and quarterback Russell WIlson was able to create big plays of his own, twice finding Spencer deep over the middle for scores. Senior Alan-Michael Cash blocked a Casey Barth 38-yard field goal attempt with 4:45 to play and N.C. State was able to pick up key first downs before giving the ball back to Yates on the 28-yard line with just 23 seconds to play. Yates overthrow Greg Little on a corner route, and Clem Johnson picked the ball to seal the win.