Turnovers doom NC State in 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt

North Carolina State University

Turnovers doom NC State in 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt

By Aaron Schoonmaker

Dec 31, 2012

comments

Nashville, Tenn. — North Carolina State turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions Monday against Vanderbilt, setting the tone for a 38-24 loss in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

Quarterback Mike Glennon was intercepted three times in his final game for the Wolfpack, including one time in the endzone, as the Commodores scored 17 of their 38 points on possessions following turnovers.

“It was certainly what got us in a hole but to be honest that’s coaching, I take the blame for that,” said head coach Dana Bible. “ When you play against a team like Vanderbilt, you can’t make mistakes like that. We practiced hard through December to make sure ball security was toward the top, but obviously we didn’t get that done.” Slideshow Slideshow: Wolfpack fall to Vanderbilt in Music City Bowl, 38-24

Despite scoring 38 points, Vanderbilt (9-4) had just one drive of over 50 yards, starting in NC State Territory nine times. NC State also did not help their cause committing nine penalties for 90 yards.

NC State senior safety Earl Wolff, who led the team with nine tackles, said he can’t remember ever playing in a game in which the defense was put in short-field situations that many times.

“That’s adversity but football is a game of adversity and that’s how we looked at it,” Wolff said.

Vanderbilt took the lead on the game’s opening possession as they went 65 yards in 10 plays on a drive capped by a 5-yard pass from Jordan Rodgers to Chris Boyd.

The Commodores added a sore early in the second quarter on a 6-yard run by Zac Stacy. The senior running back carried 25 times on the game for 107 yards and the one touchown.

NC State was able to get on the board midway through the second quarter on a 1-yard Tony Creecy run that finished off an 84-yard drive. More Info NCSU offensive leaders

Vanderbilt responded on the next possession with a Wesley Tate touchdown run after a big kick return set them up at the NC State 45-yard line.

The highlight-play of the day for NC State came via a 94-yard kick return by Tobias Palmer. After mishandling two previous kickoffs, Palmer fielded the kick off clean and went through the middle of the wedge, out-running the Vanderbilt coverage once he got through the first wave.

Rodgers, the younger brother of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, added a touchdown pass late in the first half after a Wolfpack turnover and ran for a score in the fourth quarter. For the day, Rodgers was 16-for-25 for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

“Today, it started with the defense and they put us in great positions,” Rodgers said. “They did an unbelievable job and really dictated the game.” More Info More NCSU Stories

Glennon threw for 383 yards and a touchdown on 53 attempts as NC State played from behind. Palmer led all receivers with eight catches for 111 yards. Creecy was just shy of 100 combined yards for the game amassing 43 yards on the ground and 50 receiving.

With the win, Vanderbilt tied a program-high with nine wins, a record that dated back to 1915. The Commodores also hold the longest winning streak in the SEC with seven in a row.

Most Recent Comments

View All Comments

RE: Turnovers doom NC State in 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt

Wow Rivers sure won alot at N.C. State. 4th place in the ACC is best he could do. Rivers makes the all hype team. Over 40 turnovers in a year in a half. Great QB?
- Posted by Toddler10-21

I hear ya, Toddler, but the only year State had double digit wins was when Rivers was under center. He had some good years with the Bolts, but the past few years haven't been good. Maybe with a coaching change he can return to his glory days. There was a time that Rivers was considered a top tier QB (at least by the so-called "experts" on ESPN, anyway).

Was State 4th best in the ACC the year State played in the Gator Bowl? If so, the ACC was a lot better then than now, which is possible.

RE: Turnovers doom NC State in 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt

Wow Rivers sure won alot at N.C. State. 4th place in the ACC is best he could do. Rivers makes the all hype team. Over 40 turnovers in a year in a half. Great QB?

RE: Turnovers doom NC State in 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt

Glennon ...really a first round QB? Are u kidding me?
- Posted by davidecu

I think I have a better chance at winning the powerball than him going first round with that performance.

I am glad he is gone. I never was confident with his performance. While he had an arm, he wasn't a play maker. We need someone with the likes of Rivers or Wilson in as a QB.
- Posted by rsmith6120

Rivers and Wilson are hard acts to follow for sure. Glennon impressed me with the way he kept his cool in late game situations, like the FSU game this year. He was also pretty good at third down conversions IMHO.

RE: Turnovers doom NC State in 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt

How bout that Russell Wilson!! I stopped my life long allegiance to the Redskins when they released Art Monk for salary cap reasons..switched to the Panthers but they will never be good with the cheeeeeeepest NFL owner ever. I am now a Seahawk fan!!!
- Posted by rushbot

Don't you think RG3 is having a pretty special season for the 'Skins? I'm a Panthers fan, and it's been a tough year. I'm glad Rivera still has a job, at least for now; no telling what will happen when they find a new GM.

RE: Turnovers doom NC State in 38-24 loss to Vanderbilt

Thank goodness the 2012 football season for NCSU is over. The 2012 team simply wasn't very good and wouldn't have been good regardless of who was coaching them.

Only a little over 2 hours to go until 2013. Few ACC football fans will long for another season like this one.
- Posted by cjw6105

Different reasons for different schools, but I tend to agree with you about 2012.

View All Comments

WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University