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NCAA Football Recap (San Diego St-North Carolina)
Posted: Tues December 22, 1998 at 5:38 p.m. EST NORTH CAROLINA 20, SAN DIEGO ST 13LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- Freshman quarterback Ronald Curry ran for a 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter and linebacker Keith Newman intercepted Brian Russell at the goal line in the final minute as North Carolina held on for a 20-13 victory over San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl. North Carolina appeared to have the game wrapped up with just under three minutes to play when Curry, on 3rd-and-1 from his own 29-yard line, escaped two defenders after rolling out and gained two yards for a first down. But two plays later, freshman running back Anthony Saunders fumbled and linebacker Joe Tuipala recovered and was tackled by Curry at the at the North Carolina 23. "When I picked it up I thought I could make a touchdown but Curry caught me from behind," said Tuipala. "I have to tip my hat off to him." After an incompletion, Russell hooked up with Damon Gourdine on a 13-yard gain to the 10. On the next play Russell had a pass knocked down in the left corner of the end zone and San Diego State saw its hopes end moments later when Russell's pass over the middle was tipped by linebacker Brandon Spoon and picked off by Newman. "I tried to get the ball at its highest point," said Newman. "We fought for it and I got it." Curry, who is expected to join the North Carolina basketball team within the week, kneeled down on the next two plays and the Tar Heels (7-5) celebrated their fourth straight bowl victory by dousing first-year coach Carl Torbush. Torbush was actually coaching in his second bowl game, having taken over the team for last season's Gator Bowl victory over Virginia Tech after Mack Brown departed for Texas. Under Torbush, the Tar Heels opened the season 0-3 but won three of their final four regular-season games to become bowl eligible. "We came back from 0-3 this year," Newman added. "This was a big bowl win for us. We never gave up. Other teams would have thrown in the towel." The Tar Heels, who were appearing in their seventh consecutive bowl game, improved their postseason record to 11-12. They are 9-4 in their last 13 bowl games. San Diego State (7-5) was in a bowl game for the first time since a 28-17 loss to Tulsa in the 1991 Freedom Bowl. The Aztecs are winless in the postseason since a 27-7 triumph over Boston University in the 1969 Pasadena Bowl and are 3-4 all-time in bowls, having dropped three straight. North Carolina led 20-10 at halftime and maintained the advantage until late in the fourth quarter. With 9:49 to play, the Aztecs took control on their own 6 and began a march that covered 75 yards in 13 plays and took 5:58 off of the clock. But the march eventually stalled and Nate Tandberg booted a 38-yard field goal with 3:51 left. The Tar Heels started the ensuing possession on their 20 and two plays later were faced with the 3rd-and-1. On what appeared to be a broken play, Curry was forced to roll right, where star defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was waiting. Curry avoided the tackle and then leaped past the dive of linebacker Joe Jackson for the first down. But Saunders, one of three freshman in the Tar Heels' backfield, coughed up the ball and was forced to watch in solitude from the sidelines until his defensive teammates saved the game. Curry was named the game's offensive Most Valuable Player after leading the team in rushing with 93 yards on 10 carries. He completed just one of his two passes for three yards in relief of starter Oscar Davenport, who was 3-of-11 for 30 yards. San Diego State won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. With the wind blowing at nearly 50 miles per hour, the Tar Heels decided to go with the elements in the second quarter and kicked to the Aztecs to open the game. "It (the wind) took the passing game away," Curry said. "We knew we'd have to run the ball and throw short passes." The strategy backfired on the game's second play from scrimmage. The Aztecs handed the ball to Jonas Lewis, who fumbled, but running back Lonny Mitchell scooped up the loose ball and dashed 60 yards to give SDSU a 7-0 lead. Josh McGee booted a 32-yard field goal for North Carolina, which proceded to stop the Aztecs on the ensuing possesion and take over at the San Diego State 20 following a 15-yard punt into the stiff wind by Don Copeland. The Tar Heels wasted the golden opportunity and settled for McGee's 23-yard field goal. Time was winding down in the first quarter when North Carolina took control on its own 49. After two plays that gained three yards, Curry burst through the middle and sprinted down the left sideline for the score on the last play of the period. North Carolina was flagged for excessive celebration following the play, and the ensuing extra point sailed wide left, leaving the Tar Heels with a 12-7 advantage. While the first quarter began on a high note for the Aztecs, the second period was just the opposite. Punting from his own goal line, Copeland's kick was blocked by Quinton Savage and recovered in the end zone by fellow safety David Bomar. Curry followed by hitting freshman Kory Bailey in the end zone for the two-point conversion to make it 20-7. While Copeland was having trouble with the wind -- he also had a 12-yard punt in the third quarter that gave UNC great field position -- North Carolina's Brian Schmitz was shining. Schmitz continually backed up San Diego State with impressive kicks and even set a Las Vegas Bowl record with a 66-yard punt into the wind in the second quarter. "I tried to get it low and drive it," said Schmitz of the wind. "I'm from Chicago, so this was like an average day." Tandberg's 32-yard field goal with 2:16 remaining in the first half brought the Aztecs within 20-10. Russell completed 10-of-22 passes for 99 yards and was picked off once. Gourdine caught three passes for 31 yards and Lewis gained 61 yards on 25 carries for San Diego State. "We knew we had to play a tough game," said Tuipala. "Our offense wasn't able to produce as they usually have." © 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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