The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/266935
84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY RYAN TICE R ussell Wilson might not have put up the biggest numbers in the Super Bowl, but he did more than enough to lead the Se- attle Seahawks to a 43-8 rout of the Denver Broncos Feb. 2. The defense led the way for the Se- ahawks' first Super Bowl victory in fran- chise history, but their second-year quar- terback was an efficient 18-of-25 passing for 206 yards with two touchdowns for a passer rating of 123.1. He also carried the ball three times for 26 yards. There might have not been much pres- sure on the quarterback with how his de- fense performed, but Wilson was at his best when it mattered the most. He helped his team convert 7 of 11 third-down at- tempts (the failed 12th third-down attempt came with backup Tarvaris Jackson under center), connecting on 7 of 8 passes for 83 yards in those situations (with six comple- tions coming on scoring drives). He finished the postseason with three touchdown throws against no interceptions and a passer rating of 101.6. "I thought that there was always more production, there's always more yardage out there for us, but I thought he demon- strated the finish in the playoffs," said head coach Pete Carroll, who was a defensive assistant at NC State from 1980-82. "I thought it was just an exquisite effort by the quarterback. His play was perfectly fitted to our football team and the plans that we needed to win the games, and it couldn't have been more obvious than it was in the Super Bowl. That was a near- perfect game for him." Wilson became the third-youngest field general to pilot his team to the Lombardi Trophy at 25 years old, and the victory also clinched him the NFL record for most wins by a quarterback in his first two seasons with 28. The former third-round draft pick is also just the second ACC quarterback to start for the victorious team in the Super Bowl, joining FSU's Brad Johnson (2002). Former NC State kicker Steven Haus- chka led all players with 11 points scored, thanks to a pair of field goals and five extra points for the Seahawks. That marked the most points ever scored in the big game for a former NCSU letterman, while fellow former Wolfpacker J.R. Sweezy started at right guard for a unit that paved the way for 135 rushing yards on 29 carries (4.7 yards per attempt) and did not surrender a sack. In addition to the aforementioned ties to NCSU, Seahawks quarterbacks coach Carl Smith was the offensive coordinator in Raleigh during the 1982 campaign. Former NC State star Nate Irving had a memorable effort in the loss for the Bron- cos. The linebacker started on the strong- side for the injured Von Miller and finished with four tackles and a huge pass broken up in the second quarter that temporarily denied his former co-captain at NCSU, Wil- son, his first Super Bowl touchdown throw. Super Bowl XLVIII marked the first time NC State had four players in the final game, and it was also the first time in pro- gram history that the school had a trio of former players on the championship squad. ■ NBA Player Updates Through Feb. 23 • Lorenzo Brown (Played at NC State 2011-13), PG, Philadelphia 76ers: Has logged action in 24 games as a reserve for the 15-41 76ers … Averaging 2.7 points, 1.7 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 0.5 steals in 9.0 minutes per game. • J.J. Hickson (2008), F, Denver Nuggets: Has played in every game with 52 starts for 25-30 Denver … Aver - aging 27.6 minutes, 11.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the floor … Ranked 15th in the league in rebounding, 19th in double-doubles (21) and 27th in field goal percentage. ■ Russell Wilson completed 18 of 25 throws for 206 yards with two touchdowns to help lead Seattle to a 43-8 victory over Denver in the Super Bowl. PHOTO COURTESY SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ■ PACK PROS Three Wolfpackers Earn Super Bowl Rings 84.Pack Pros.indd 84 2/25/14 2:44 PM