Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mike Teel passed for 319 yards and Rutgers capped its comeback season with another rally, defeating North Carolina State 29-23 in the Papajohns.com Bowl Monday.
Teel threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt with 8:30 to play for what proved to be the winning touchdown. Britt, a third-team All-American, made a juggling catch as he crossed the goal line and finished with six catches for 119 yards.
Teel, a senior, was the game’s most valuable player.
The Scarlet Knights (8-5) began the season 1-5, but finished with a seven-game winning streak, led by Teel.
NC State (6-7) held a 17-6 halftime, led by quarterback Russell Wilson who was 11-for-23 for 186 yards and a score. But Wilson left the game with a strained knee late in the first half and did not return.
His replacements were mostly ineffective and threw three interceptions to aid the Rutgers comeback. Wilson threw only one interception this season.
The Scarlet Knights scored 10 consecutive points in the third quarter on a 31-yard field goal by San San Te and an 11-yard pass from Teel to Tiquan Underwood.
Rutgers took a 19-17 lead with 13:31 to play on a 28-yard field by Te after a 10-play 70-yard drive.
The Wolfpack came right back as reserve quarterback Daniel Evans drove them 64 yards in eight plays and hit Anthony Hill with a 16-yard touchdown pass to give NC State a 23-19 lead.
But it was only two plays later when Teel hit Britt for the go-ahead score.
Louisiana Tech 17, N. Illinois 10
SHREVEPORT, La. — Phillip Livas returned a kickoff 97 yards and Daniel Porter rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown as Louisiana Tech won the Independence Bowl Sunday night.
It was Louisiana Tech’s first postseason win since the 1977 Independence Bowl and the Bulldogs’ seventh come-from-behind win of the season in what was essentially a home game. The Bulldogs (8-5), from nearby Ruston, haven’t won eight games since 1999.