North Carolina State University quarterback Philip Rivers threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the Wolfpack handed the Lobos a 34-14 loss in the season-opening Black Coaches Association Bowl game in Raleigh, N.C.
The Lobos (0-1) fell behind early, mostly due to the heroics of Rivers, who finished the game 15-of-24 passing for 276 yards, with just one interception. He also rushed for 26 yards on five attempts, two for scores.
"He doesn't get flustered back there," Lobo head coach Rocky Long said in a post-game interview on KKOB-AM. "We got good heat on him, but he got out of trouble."
UNM was out-of-sync on both offense and defense during much of the first half. The Lobo offense looked intimidated and tentative at times while the aggressive defense was neutralized by quick pass plays and Rivers' athleticism.
The Lobos fared better on both sides of the ball in the second half.
UNM cut the lead to 13 twice in the second half, but would get no closer.
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UNM scored early in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to 27-14, but N.C. State put the game away with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to receiver Jerricho Cotchery.
N.C. State came out aggressively from the beginning. The Lobos dodged a bullet on the very first play of the game when Peterson attempted a flea-flicker halfback pass to a wide-open Sterling Hicks. The ball went through the Hicks' hands and N.C. State was ultimately forced to punt.
On its first possesion, UNM started off near midfield but after gaining 5 yards, the Lobos a botched an end around run and took a penalty before being forced to punt.
The Wolfpack started the scoring with less than five minutes in the first quarter when Rivers found Peterson in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown strik. The score closed a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was kept alive by a couple of scrambles for first downs by Rivers.
In the second quarter, UNM linebacker Charles Moss appeared to have Rivers sacked on third down. But Moss was whistled for a 15-yard facemask penalty that gave N.C. State an automatic first down. Moments later, Rivers finished the 11-play, 96-yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone to make the score 14-0.
The Wolfpack scored again with 4:31 left in the second quarter when Rivers and Peterson combined for a 12-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-0.
UNM started with the ball in the second half and looked good in getting three straight first-downs. Combining the running of tailback Quincy Wright and the passing of quarterback Casey Kelly, the Lobos moved into scoring position. But the drive died when N.C. State defender Marcus Hudson intercepted Kelly.
After stopping the Wolfpack, UNM again drove down the field. Wright cut the lead to 21-7 with a three-yard run after a nice pass-and-catch from Kelly to Adrian Boyd set up the Lobos deep in Wolfpack territory.
After the score, UNM needed a defensive stop. It looked as though the Lobos had one when Rivers was hit in the backfield on a third down at midfield. But Rivers somehow got rid of the ball, hitting a wide-open Sterling Hicks, who raced 46 yards inside the UNM five-yard line. Rivers finished off the drive with a touchdown run. The Wolfpack's two-point conversion attempt failed.
Down 27-7 the Lobos were looking for a big play on defense and almost got one when Moss intercepted a Rivers pass deep in UNM territory. Moss returned the ball 15-yards before getting the ball slapped out of his hands from behind. The Wolfpack recovered the ball, but was unable to convert the good fortune into points, missing a 40-plus yard field goal.
Following the missed kick, UNM charged back with an 8-play, 79-yard scoring drive. The Lobos got down near the goal line and set up blockers for Brian Penley and Kelly hit him with the touchdown pass to cut the N.C. State lead to 27-14.
The Wolfpack came right back and finished any hope for a UNM comeback when Rivers floated a perfectly thrown ball to a wide open Jerricho Cotchery who raced in for the game's final score.
Lobo quarterback Kelly completed 20 passes for 168-yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Wright had an impressive game gaining 67-yards on 12 carries and adding another 40-yards on four catches.
Long said he saw positives in UNM's performance.
"I thought Quincy Wright played much better than any of us expected him too and he's a warrior because he even made a couple of tackles on special teams," he said.
The Lobos play the Division I-AA Weber State Wildcats in their first home game, Saturday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on KKOB, 770 AM.
