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University of Minnesota Athletics
NORTH CAROLINA STATE RALLIES FOR 38-30 VICTORY OVER MINNESOTA
12/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
On the second play of the game, Justin Hall intercepted Phillip Rivers' pass at the Wolfpack 23-yard line. Four plays later, Redmon ran it in from 12 yards out. The Golden Gophers would strike again on a seven- play, 74-yard drive which was capped off with a Travis Cole three-yard run. Minnesota would add a third touchdown in the opening period when Redmon capped off a five-play, 72-yard drive with a two-yard scamper. Minnesota amassed 222 yards in total offense in the quarter.
In the second period, Dan Nystrom increased the lead to 24-0 with his 27-yard field goal. It was his school record 23rd field goal of the season. N.C. State finally got on the board with a drive that took 5:31 off of the clock. On third and goal from the two, Rivers found Andy Vanderveer alone in the endzone for the score. The Wolfpack then converted its two-point attempt to cut the lead to 24-8.
The third quarter was owned by the Wolfpack. On fourth down, North Carolina State blocked Preston Gruening's punt attempt and on the next play, Koren Robinson ran it in on the reverse from 19 yards out. N.C. State was successful on the two-point conversion again which made it 24-16. The Wolfpack would strike again on their next drive with a 37 yard field goal by Kent Passingham.
N.C. State completed the comeback as Ray Robinson ran it in from three yards out and the Wolfpack led 25-24.
The overwhelmed Golden Gophers responded in the fourth with an 11-play, 60-yard drive which was capped with a 23-yard Dan Nystrom field goal. Leading 27-25 with 11:57 to play. N.C. State responded in quick fashion with a four-play, 48-yard drive which resulted in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Koren Robinson. The two-point conversion failed.
Minnesota took the ensuing kickoff 68 yards on 12 plays, but failed to get into the endzone. Nystrom collected his third field goal of the game which made it 31-30.
The Golden Gopher defense held the Wolfpack, forcing a punt with just over four minutes to play. Inside their own 20-yard line, Cole kept the ball on a draw but was stripped just as he passed the line of scrimmage. The Wolfpack recovered and scored from eight yards out on the very next play.
Trailing 38-30 with less than three minutes to play, the Golden Gophers were unable to get past midfield. Cole was knocked out of the game in the final minute and backup Asad Abdul-Khaliq's desparation throw was intercepted.
The 38-30 loss was Minnesota's third straight bowl defeat. The Golden Gophers did not help their cause with 14 penalties.
Redmon did it all for the Golden Gophers and set new Micronpc.com Bowl record for yards and carries. N.C. State's Phillip Rivers was named MVP of the game with his 24-of-39 performance with 310 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Golden Gophers failed to get one sack on Rivers. Koren Robinson finished with seven catches for 157 yards and a touchdown and six kickoff returns for 151 yards.
Minnesota finishes the year with a record of 6-6. The 14 wins over the past two seasons is the most in a two-year span since 1967-68.
