RALEIGH — Both versions of N.C. State's football team showed up for Saturday's regular-season finale against Maryland.
The "good" N.C. State, the one that dominated Clemson and North Carolina, and the "bad" N.C. State, the one that lost ugly to Cincinnati and Boston College.
The good version rallied from 27 points in the second half — the biggest comeback in N.C. State history — to knock off the Terrapins in a wild 56-41 win at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The remarkable comeback gave the Wolfpack (7-5) its seventh win of the season and puts it back in a bowl game, likely in Charlotte for the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27, for the third time in four years.
State's Mike Glennon threw for five touchdowns, and ran for another, to do what quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson couldn't do — beat Maryland in a regular-season finale.
The Terps (2-10) had won four of five, and 8 of 11 going back to Rivers' freshman season, vexing the Wolfpack. Last season, with the division title on the line for the Wolfpack, Maryland won at home 38-31. In '07, a 37-0 shutout kept Tom O'Brien's first team out of a bowl game.
The two teams looked like they were headed for a reprise of the '07 game at Carter-Finley, when the Terps used four turnovers and two defensive touchdowns to build a 41-14 lead at 10:50 in the third quarter.
From that point, State scored 42 straight points, with three touchdowns coming as a result of Maryland turnovers.
Safety Earl Wolff's interception, with 10:42 left in the fourth quarter, and 40-yard return started State on the go-ahead touchdown drive. James Washington's 1-yard touchdown run, at 7:08, gave State a 42-41 lead.
George Bryan's 7-yard touchdown catch with 2:29 left, his career-best eighth catch of the game, made it 49-41 with 2:29 left in the game.
C.J. Wilson closed the scoring with 59-yard interception return for a touchdown with 27 seconds left.
Saturday's game started in utter disaster with three fumbles in a 3-minute, 59-second span which led to Maryland's first 14 points, including a 66-yard fumble return by cornerback Dexter McDougle.
Maryland's defense added a interception return for touchdown by safety A.J. Hendy to go up 28-7 at 8:11 in the second quarter.
Glennon, who fumbled on the first possession of the game, threw for two touchdowns, to Tony Creecy and Jay Smith, in the first half.
The second TD pass, 7 yards to Smith, cut Maryland's lead to 28-14 with 3:28 left in the half.
State looked like it was about to cut into Maryland's lead even more but Wolff failed to pick up a Davin Meggett fumble at Maryland's 40-yard line with 3:15 left in the half.
State's defense got turned inside out by Maryland receiver Kevin Dorsey. Dorsey's 24-yard TD catch with 33 seconds left in the half made it 34-14.
The Terps scored on their first possession of the third quarter, a 46-yard touchdown run by Meggett at 10:50 in the third. At that point, State trailed 41-14.
The comeback started slowly, almost 5 minutes later, when Glennon found Tobais Palmer for a 6-yard touchdown.
Creecy's second score, an 11-yard pass from Glennon at 14:56, cut Maryland's lead to 41-28.
Another Meggett fumble, at State's 26, set up a 1-yard TD run by Glennon and it was 41-35.
Still up six points, Maryland got a drive going into State's territory but C.J. Brown was picked off by Wolff at the 8-yard line.
State scored the next 21 points, in a 35-point fourth-quarter outburst, to end the season with a win.
Comments
Awesome
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 16:40 — mad_maxGreat game for the Pack. Loyal fans like myself were definitely rewarded with this one. Most teams and fans would have given up at 41-14...but not us! I know the Hole fans want to come on here and take their shots (which doesn't really make sense, for several reasons), but the truth is, this game was awesome for State's football program. Also, if any of you actually watched the game (unlike Surfer, who is still willing to talk smack), you would have noticed that the stands were still pretty full even when the score was 41-14...even more full than many UNC games I have watched this year.
For a long time, we have had the best fans in the state. Now, TOB has rewarded us by giving us the best football program in the state. Way to go Pack!!! Let's work hard in practice, win this bowl game, and get even better for next year. All the critics, naysayers, and Hole fans can do is just eat their words. The Wolfpack got it done boys.
My preseason predictions here on the blog were NCSU=7-5 and UNC=6-6. Not too shabby if I don't say so myself.
best program in the state
Mon, 11/28/2011 - 12:55 — SurferLOL, glad you said that. Needed a little humor to start the week.
the seats
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 20:16 — gvillegatrwhen I came back into the game at 41-14, the stands were mabye at 60% capacity. Both endzones were noticeably empty. Where the students used to sit (maybe they still do?) in the upper right hand corner was extremely empty and other parts were sporadically empty. I kept telling the folks in my section the game was not over and ncsu would win.
It was a great come from behind victory, but the fans were extremely upset and calling for TOB's head. You could hear the shouts and screams from every direction. No doubt you heard them (or made them) as well.
One come back shouldn't change your prespective one bit. I'm not so sure most fans want TOB around anymore.
As far as "best team in the state" goes. I don;t think so. UNC still holds this title. The Heels consistantly beat ECU, Wake and DUIke, but have struggled to beat ncsu. state consistantly loses to Wake, DUIke and ECU, but has owned UNC. 3/4 UNC to 1/4 for ncsu.
UNC still owns the state of NC. It's really not even close.
..well...considering we only
Mon, 11/28/2011 - 10:19 — wjolly..well...considering we only play Duke every six years...your statement is error prone right off the bat....we beat Wake more often than not..and the same goes for ECU...but UNC can never call itself the best in the state if it can not beat it's most competitive rival...
Shout out
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 11:43 — JPDOhioTo Mike Glennon for not giving up after having as bad a first half as a QB could possibly have.
Bits and pieces
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 09:01 — SurferOnly saw some of this one, but from what it sounds like, NCSU tried their best to give this one away, but just couldn't get the job done. Kudos to State for the "comeback", not sure if Maryland helped them in that regard or not, but State still actually had to get it in the end zone themselves. Best news for all involved, TOB is assured of 3 more years.
well well well
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 03:13 — izzykareemLooks like the wine and cheese state fans are all gathered here today. Gville, good call out, they deserve to be called out.
yes sir
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 16:20 — gvillegatryar8punk appears to go to one game a year and he chooses to leave at HT of that game. Embarrassing. I wouldn't have admitted it and i'm sure he's wishing he had not.
Another Typical TOB year
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 23:54 — Wuffpak66I mean come on....Maryland is what 1-7 in the ACC and we had to come back from a 41-14 deficit. There the worse damn team in the ACC...Are we satisfied with this season? 4-4 in the ACC, yes the ACC not a very strong league. But Tom did his job and is going to a Bowl game,,, yee haw.... Going to Charlotte to play in the Belk bowl against a mid level Big East team... Wow it doesn't get any better than this does it...
Pack Bowl
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 11:27 — Leopard7Washington Post listed NC State as a likely participant in the Military Bowl against one of the Service Academies if one of them qualifies. How is the bowl selection criteria working out?
Welp
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 15:45 — YAR8packInsert Bob Euker's rant in the first of the Major League series.
Nothing to say. No reason this should happen against a 2-9 team. NONE. No consistency in a coach's 5th year. No heart or fight on Senior day. Just nothing. Bunch of nothing.
Glad I chose to be the DD. I probably would've melted down in Carter-Finley had I been inebriated.
The "FIRE O'Brien" chant was nice from the rightfully angry crowd. It'd be nice to can TOB, but it won't happen. The Athletic program can't afford to eat his contract.
Go Wolfpack. Go somewhere. Go home. That's where you want to be.
Nothing
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 15:57 — JPDOhioJust about sums it up.
Wow
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 17:04 — YAR8packNo words. Wow. Awesome.
If it takes me going to Sammy's to watch the Wolfpack in order for a HUGE comeback to happen, I'll gladly do it.
Maybe this team does have some heart and determination. Unfreakinbelievable. Shoulda never been in such a position. But glad Los Lobos did the damn thing.
GO WOLFPACK!
Improbable
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 19:13 — JPDOhioThat's the only way I can describe this win. I never, ever expected the Pack to come back, especially after the Terp's TD on their first possession of the 2nd half.
Give State credit for not giving up, but it was more than that. It was like they finally woke up and decided this was their game. They did almost nothing wrong from that point on, and forced Md to do nothing right.
Great win for the Pack. Looking forward to seeing what bowl they get.
BTW, weren't you supposed to be at the game today?
Yessiree
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 20:01 — YAR8packMy friends and I were in Carter-Finley until halftime. We went out to the parking lot to drown our frustrations (Mountain Dew for me since I was the DD), we then decided to go to the bar and grill Sammy's and grab some grub and watch what we thought was going to be the rest of the blood bath. Hence why I said if it takes my leaving CF to go to Sammy's for a comeback, then that's fine with me.
Hard to believe the comeback happened. Wow.
I'm still peeved about the 2003 loss to Maryland. But this W helps ease some of the sting.
The Wolfpack's going bowling! Go State!
To paraphrase Forrest Gump
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 11:42 — JPDOhioCrazy s**t happens!
I never leave at halftime, because you just never know. I do understand your feelings though, because I almost shut it off after Maryland's first score in the 2nd half. It really seemed over then. But I kept watching and, for once, was rewarded for it.
So the game added to what was a great Thanksgiving Holiday. Hope you had a good one. Back to work tomorrow.
Quitters
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 23:30 — gvillegatrLet's not lose sight of the fact you gave up on your wuffies and left 30 minutes before the game was over. You're a die hard fan, Yar !
Chigger the ACC Now Troll
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 11:06 — YAR8packA few items:
First: If you're going to title your post "Quitters" to try and assail me, you really don't do anything to make people not think of you as ignorant since your subject verb agreement isn't even close to being correct.
Second: Borrowing some of your ignorance--The Wolfpack team knew my crew and I left, and that's why they decided to get their act together. They knew how mad we were. Our absence is the sole reason for the comeback. Debs and TOB called us to say thanks for the spark. <----That's sarcasm, chigger. I know you have a hard time understanding simple things. Maybe one day you'll catch up.
Third: How were your seats to that unbelievable comeback? Pretty good?
Scrrrrrrrratch. Try again, lil chigger.
Yar8punk -- ACCNow's little biotch
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 16:22 — gvillegatr1.) Look at the grammar police showing up on a message board. The Scummiest of scum as been reported by you on more than one occasion.
2.) Look at Yar8punk trying to make light of him and his buddy's walking out of a wuffie game at HT.
3.) My seats were fine, but my brother in-law and I spent most of our time drinking Pepsi's at the truck. The weather was great ! Thanks for asking !
Title and body
Mon, 11/28/2011 - 20:24 — YAR8packYou know the cliche "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." That cliche is proven to its fullest extent from your lame retort. Poor lil chigger. Try as you may, but you'll never be as good as me in the blogosphere.
Are you upset because you didn't get a chance to meet me at the game? Aww. It's okay. Hey, as much as you love going to NC State games, I'm sure you'll be at the bowl game. Maybe I'll allow you in my presence.
GO NC STATE!
lame
Tue, 11/29/2011 - 14:19 — gvillegatrout of material so soon ?