The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525890
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER tidal wave of emotion to a then-school- record eight regular-season victories, beat Georgia 14-7 in the Liberty Bowl for its first postseason win and finished with a 9-2 overall record. No. 16 NC State 23, South Carolina 22 Nov. 1, 1986 | Raleigh It will forever be the unlikeliest finish in the history of Carter-Finley Stadium, when Erik Kramer found wide receiver Danny Peebles in a crowded end zone on a scoring play that began after time had expired. Just like in 1957, when Dick Christy kicked the winning field goal on a play following a defensive interference pen- alty, the Wolfpack was awarded a 0:00 play against the Gamecocks, thanks to an offsides penalty on the defense as the clock expired. On a pass route that was literally drawn up in the dirt on the sideline by head coach Dick Sheridan, a scrambling Kramer threw a 33-yard Hail Mary into a swarm of receivers and defend- ers in the southwest end zone. The ball fell into the arms of Peebles, the speedy two-sport ju- nior star from Raleigh, for a 23-22 victory that is still celebrated as the most memorable play in the stadium's nearly 60-year history. The win was costly, however, with Kramer suffering a severely sprained ankle on the play, forc- ing him out of the starting lineup for the Pack's next game at Vir- ginia. A win against the Cavaliers could have secured the program its first ACC title since 1979. Alas, the Cavaliers won, 20-16. The Wolfpack finished the season with an 8-2-1 record and earned a spot in the Peach Bowl, its first postseason berth in eight years. NC State 10, Notre Dame 3 Oct. 8, 2016 | Raleigh The day after Hurricane Mat- thew came ashore as a Category 1 storm on the Carolina coast, his- toric rainfall flooded the Triangle just in time for NC State, North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest to host home football games. The seven inches of rain that was recorded at Raleigh-Durham In- ternational Airport had the biggest ef- fect on the Wolfpack's sold-out game against the Fighting Irish on what was supposed to be a lavish 50th anniversary celebration of Carter-Finley Stadium. Instead, water gushed through every portal of the grandstands, and players from both teams wondered if drowning was in their future. The Wolfpack handled the water- soaked adversity better than the Irish, slipping and sliding with glee — and holding on to the ball in a sustained ground attack. Throughout the day, rain fell and winds howled around the few hearty fans who stayed throughout the scuba-diving game. Running back Matt Dayes splashed for 134 yards on 23 carries and outgained the entire Notre Dame offense by 21 yards. The game turned on one big play, made by tight end Pharaoh McKever, who broke through the line and blocked Notre Dame punter Tyler Newsome's kick into a puddle. Teammate Dexter Wright managed to control the ball and run it in for the game's only touchdown. NC State 24, No. 15 Iowa 14 Aug. 29, 1992 | East Rutherford, N.J. It was a big deal in the early 1990s to have the opportunity to play 13 games in a season. It was an even bigger deal to do it on a nationally televised stage against a prominent opponent from the Big Ten. Dick Sheridan, in his seventh season, had recorded a win over coach Hayden Fry's Hawkeyes in the 1988 Peach Bowl, 28-23. This preseason Kickoff Classic, however, meant even more. For the longest time in the second half, it seemed as if neither team would take charge of the 14-14 contest. A 46-yard field goal by kicker Steve Videtich with 6:50 remaining in the game gave State a tenuous 17-14 lead. Wolfpack safety Mike Reid returned an interception 22 yards to set up the game's final score. The victory allowed NC State to post its second consecutive nine-win season under Sheridan and earned the team an invitation to the Gator Bowl, where it faced SEC foe Florida in what turned out to be Sheridan's final game as head coach. NC State 8, No. 13 Florida 7 Sept. 20, 1975 | Raleigh Trailing coach Doug Dickey's Gators 7-0 with less than four minutes remain- ing, the Wolfpack looked as if it could lose another critical nonconference game on its home field, as it had done against the Gators in 1966 in the second game ever played at Carter Stadium. But then Pack defensive back Dan Meier recovered a fumble on the Flor- ida 38-yard line late in the fourth quar- ter. On the next play, quarterback Dave Buckey hit wide receiver Elijah Marshall on a post pattern for a touchdown. As he did throughout most of his four seasons with the Pack, head coach Lou Holtz elected to gamble for the win, sending sophomore Johnny Evans into the game as a fullback. Evans took the pitch in for a two-point conversion to give the Wolfpack the upset victory. NC State 12, No. 7 Penn State 7 Nov. 9, 1974 | Raleigh The nationally ranked Nittany Lions were awaiting a postgame invitation to Due to a penalty, NC State was given an extra play after time had expired against South Carolina in 1986. Erik Kramer took advantage, throwing a 33-yard touchdown pass to Danny Peebles to lift the Pack over the Gamecocks, 23-22. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS