| | |
NCAA Football Recap (Miami Fla-No Carolina St)
Posted: Wed December 30, 1998 at 1:11 a.m EST MIAMI FLA 46, NO CAROLINA ST 23MIAMI (Ticker) -- Edgerrin James ran for two touchdowns in perhaps his final collegiate game and Scott Covington threw for two scores as Miami traveled across town and routed North Carolina State, 46-23, in the renamed Micron PC Bowl. The Hurricanes' offense, flowing with confidence after scoring 49 points in a regular season-ending victory over UCLA, torched a North Carolina State defense that looked slow in comparison. Miami (9-3) twice scored touchdowns on 71-yard drives in the first quarter and Covington and Santana Moss hooked up on the longest TD pass in the school's bowl history, an 80-yarder in the second period. James Jackson ran over the Wolfpack for TDs of 13 and 25 yards in the final quarter to blow open the game. James, who is expected to bypass his senior season and enter the NFL draft, carried 20 times for 156 yards. He plowed his way for a five-yard score in the first quarter and added a two-yarder in the second that gave the Hurricanes a commanding 27-10 halftime advantage. James set the Miami mark with 19 rushing TDs this year and is the only back in school history with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The victory was the Hurricanes' second straight in a bowl game and gave them a 12-11 all-time postseason record. Miami broke a three-game bowl losing streak with a 31-21 triumph over Virginia two years ago in this game, known formerly as the Carquest Bowl. Miami matched its best offensive performance in a bowl. The Hurricanes, who averaged 36.5 points per game this season, routed Texas, 46-3, in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day 1991. The 69 combined points were a record for the game's nine-year history, as was Miami's total. The Carquest Bowl was renamed the Florida Sunshine Classic for this season, but Micron PC took over sponsorship before the game could be played under the previous moniker. The contest was played in Pro Player Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. The Hurricanes' home stadium hosts the Orange Bowl on Saturday. North Carolina State (7-5) had its bowl record drop to 8-9-1 in the Wolfpack's first postseason appearance since a 28-24 victory over Mississippi State in the 1995 Peach Bowl. Andy Crosland's 31-yard field goal 4:55 into the third quarter gave Miami a 30-10 lead before Rahshon Spikes scored on a 30-yard run for the Wolfpack just over five minutes later. Spikes, who carried 24 times for 176 yards, was forced to assume the bulk of North Carolina State's ground game after Ray Robinson, the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the year, broke a bone in his right elbow early in the first half. But Miami put away the game by dominating early in the fourth quarter. Jackson, a 5-11 sophomore, scored on a 13-yard run 27 seconds into the period and busted free for a 25-yard TD just 2:25 later. Jamie Barnette hit Chris Coleman on a seven-yard score midway through the quarter for North Carolina State before Miami's Jorge Gaitan booted a 29-yard field goal to complete the scoring. Miami displayed its offensive dominance on the game's first possession, driving 71 yards in nine plays and taking a 7-0 lead when Covington floated a pass to Andre King in the left corner of the end zone. The Wolfpack answered with a 12-play, 84-yard march and tied it when Barnette barreled his way for a one-yard score. But the Hurricanes mounted another 71-yard drive, resulting in James' five-yard run with 3:15 to go in the first quarter. Danny Deskevich missed a field goal after N.C. State got the ball, and Miami struck immediately when Covington fired a strike down the right side to Moss, who beat the secondary and raced untouched for the 81-yard score. Covington completed 17-of-24 passes for 320 yards without an interception and was named Most Valuable Player. Moss hauled in five passes for 141 yards. Deskevich connected from 28 yards with 1:37 to play in the half, but the Hurricanes drove right down the field and James' two-yard TD run gave them a 17-point halftime advantage. Barnette was 22-for-41 for 201 yards but was picked off three times for North Carolina State. Torry Holt caught seven passes but for only 92 yards, while Coleman racked up 98 yards on six receptions. © 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
|
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
|
