N.C. State wins with FG in OT
November 4, 2007 // Greensboro News-Record (see original)
MIAMI -- It probably wasn't how N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien scripted out his game plan: Miss a field goal, allow more than 300 yards rushing, relinquish a game-tying field goal that sent it to overtime. But no matter how ugly it might have been Saturday, it was a 19-16 victory over Miami for the suddenly resurgent Wolfpack.
Miami kicker Darren Daly missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt wide left in overtime, and N.C. State's Steven Hauschka played the role of hero, knocking home a 42-yard field goal to seal the Wolfpack's third straight victory.
"My focus on the last kick was just to slow down because everything happens out on the field a lot faster than out in practice," Hauschka said. "I was just happy to be in the situation."
Despite an early miss of a 27-yarder, the player of this game was Hauschka.
A graduate student via Middlebury (Vt.), Hauschka scored the Wolfpack's last 12 points, including the 42-yard kick in overtime. His heroics earned him a ride off the field on his teammates' shoulders.
"I've never had a chance to win a game like that with a kick, so I was really excited to have that opportunity," Hauschka said.
The game ended in excitement, but was marked by ugliness. Miami quarterback Kirby Freeman, replacing regular starter Kyle Wright, was 1-for-14 with three interceptions. His lone completion was an 84-yard touchdown pass to senior Darnell Jenkins, but even that was underthrown.
"I came up, I bit on the play- action pass, they snuck one over our head, and they capitalized on our mistake," said State strong safety DaJuan Morgan of the completion.
The poor performance of Freeman crippled the 'Canes' offense, and the poor special- teams' performance crippled any safety net Miami had.
"Special teams-wise, we've got to kick the field goals. That is just the bottom line," said Miami coach Randy Shannon. "Both of them were chip shots. He's been kicking them in practice, but it's like we've said from Day 1, we've got to find a kicker, and we're going to continue trying to stress it and have competition in practice. If we don't, it is going to be a tough time for us to win games."
N.C. State's run defense struggled as well, allowing three rushers to gain more than 60 yards, including 103 by sophomore Javarris James, a nephew of Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James.
The final field goal in regulation was set up by 15 consecutive rushing plays that gained 70 yards. Ultimately, the defense held strong in the red zone, repeating a familiar theme for the Wolfpack on the day: Bend not break.
"We made the plays at the end," O'Brien said. "You have to give Miami credit, they took the ball over the last six minutes and ran it down the field. We hung in there, got into overtime. We made a kick and they didn't. That's what it comes down to."
N.C. State's intensity never wavered, even when Miami jumped out to a 10-0 lead.
"We just finished the game and we fought, we fought, we fought, and came out victorious," said defensive end Willie Young. "It was like a bowl game. We made sure we didn't lose focus, and everything came out for the best."
Miami (5-4, 2-3 ACC) has been notoriously up and down this season, struggling against Duke and losing to North Carolina. But it appears N.C. State (4-5, 2-3) is hitting its stride for O'Brien, winning three games in a row, including conference victories against Virginia and Miami.
"Mental toughness is a big part of it," O'Brien said. "You got to learn to be tough. Hopefully we are progressing. We are not anywhere near where we have to get to, but we're making strides."
The Wolfpack victory is the first over Miami since the Hurricanes joined the conference in 2004. It's also the first victory over Miami for O'Brien, including one attempt as a player for Navy in 1969 and eight attempts as coach of Boston College.
No matter his personal record, that trivia is meaningless tonight. N.C. State earned its victory Saturday as a team.
"Everybody did what the coaches told them to do by focusing on their assignments," Morgan said. "We came together as one collective group and made it happen."