9/7/2002 - Football
NC State 65, Navy 19
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Annapolis, MD (Sports Network) - Phillip Rivers threw for 309 yards and a
school-record five touchdowns to power the 21st-ranked North Carolina State
Wolfpack over the Navy Midshipmen, 65-19, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial
Stadium. Rivers also ran for a score, as the Wolfpack (3-0) opened a season
with three straight wins for the first time since starting the 2000 campaign
with four victories.
Kyle Eckel scored twice for Navy (1-1), which was trying to start 2-0 for the
first time since 1996.
This was the first meeting between the two schools since Navy scored a 40-0
rout back in 1921.
NC State, which outgained Navy 499-276, wasted little time jumping out in
front on the Midshipmen and on the third play from scrimmage Rivers hit Bryan
Peterson down the middle for a 64-yard score.
Navy then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which Lamont Reid scooped up and took
30 yards for a touchdown and the Wolfpack led 14-0 just 1:19 into the game.
On Navy's next drive Eric Roberts, who fumbled the first kickoff, again
coughed it up and NC State took over at the Navy 28. Rivers took advantage of
the opportunity and hit Sterling Hicks with an 18-yard touchdown pass five
plays later and the rout was on.
The Middies finally got on the board when Eckel's eight-yard touchdown run
capped a nine-play, 72-yard drive with 6:34 left in the opening quarter.
However, the extra point was no good and Navy trailed 21-6.
Navy then stopped NC State on its next drive and forced the Wolfpack to punt
for the first time in the game. The Middies then went three-and-out and were
forced to kick from deep in their own territory. NC State, though, blocked the
punt and took over at the 10.
Three plays later Rivers punched it in from a yard out and the Wolfpack led
28-6 with 2:27 remaining in the first quarter.
After Eckel scored for the second time in the game to pull Navy within 16, the
Midshipmen went for two, but failed. That would be as close as they would
get.
NC State closed the half with a 32-yard field goal from Herbert Austin and a
22-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Sean Berton to carry a commanding 38-12
advantage into the locker room.
Rivers completed eight passes in the first 30 minutes with three touchdowns
and also ran for a score.
The Wolfpack picked right up where they left off in the first half and after
Navy turned the ball over on downs with its opening possession, NC State went
65 yards on five plays to run the lead to 45-12. Greg Golden capped the drive
with a three-yard burst.
Golden ended the game with 87 yards on 18 carries.
Rivers threw for another score, this one from 88 yards out to Peterson, and
the Wolfpack blocked another punt, which was recovered by NC State in the end
zone to push the lead to 58-12.
After Rivers' fifth TD pass of the day made it a 53-point game, Navy
quarterback Craig Candeto scored from four yards out just four seconds into
the final quarter making it 65-19.
Candeto carried the ball 17 times for 58 yards.
Game Notes: The Wolfpack hadn't scored as many as 65 points in a game since rolling up 67
against Western Carolina in 1990...Before the game the Naval Academy added
Operation Enduring Freedom to the list of battles on the facade of Memorial
Stadium...Navy has dropped 32 straight games to ranked opponents. Its last win
versus a team in the Top-25 came on September 20, 1985 when the Midshipmen
upset 20th-ranked Virginia...Peterson caught just two passes for 152 yards and
two touchdowns...Navy still leads the all-time series 6-3.
