The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98466
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Bryan Underwood's touchdown catch with 16 seconds remaining versus Florida State set off a big celebration and proved to be the game-winning play in the Wolfpack's 17-16 upset win over the No. 3-ranked Seminoles. photo by ken martin N By Matt Carter C State entered the 2012 football season with expectations of being a sleeper team to contend for the ACC Atlantic Division title. For three weeks in October and then three-plus quarters at UNC Oct. 27, NCSU was on its way to fulfilling those expectations. After defeating No. 3 Florida State 17-16 at home Oct. 6 and then surviving 20-18 at Maryland two weeks later, NCSU was 5-2 and 2-1 in the ACC. If State had won out, the Pack would have played in the ACC Championship Game for the first time in school history. That dream was still alive when the Wolfpack led North Carolina 35-25 going into the fourth quarter in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels, though, scored 18 unanswered fourth-quarter points, and a week later Virginia routed NC State 33-6 to crush any hopes of an ACC title. The month of October exemplified the season that was for NC State: an inconsistent, roller-coaster-like year filled with both euphoric highs and agonizing lows. The Wolfpacker takes a look back at the year that was, remembering the best (and worst) moments of the 2012 season. Biggest Win: No ACC team defeated A Wild Ride The Most Memorable Moments Of The 2012 Season Florida State this season except NC State, and the Wolfpack did it in the most dramatic fashion. Fifth-year senior quarterback Mike Glennon completed three fourth-down passes on the game-winning drive, the last a two-yard touchdown to redshirt sophomore wideout Bryan Underwood with 16 seconds left to give the Pack a stunning 17-16 win over the nation's third-ranked team in a prime-time game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Best Individual Performance, Offense: Glennon had several big-time performances throughout the year, but the honor goes to fifth-year senior wide receiver Tobais Palmer and his record-setting afternoon at Clemson Nov. 17. He caught seven passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns, added eight kickoff returns for 277 yards and set an ACC record for all-purpose yards in a game with 496. Best Individual Performance, Defense: Fifth-year senior cornerback C.J. Wilson did not have the final season he wanted. Wilson was suspended for academic reasons for the first four games and came back fighting for playing time as a reserve after being a starter most of the past three years. That was briefly forgotten against UNC. Wilson forced two red zone turnovers, tipping and then intercepting a pass in the end zone and ripping the ball out of UNC freshman receiver Quinshad Davis' hands while he raced toward the goal line. Wilson was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week for his performance. Best Kicking Performance: Sophomore placekicker Niklas Sade had not been challenged to do much at Maryland. He had made a 21-yard chip shot in the second quarter to put NCSU up 10-3 going into halftime, but that was about it until just 32 34 ■ the wolfpacker 34,36,38.FB Year In Review.indd 34 12/11/12 2:36 PM