2014 St. Petersburg Bowl
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = St. Petersburg Bowl
| subheader = 7th St. Petersburg Bowl
| title_sponsor = Bitcoin
| image =
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 26
| year_game_played = 2014
| football_season = 2014
| stadium = Tropicana Field
| city = St. Petersburg, Florida
| visitor_school = North Carolina State University
| visitor_name_short = NC State
| visitor_nickname = Wolfpack
| visitor_record = 7–5
| visitor_conference = ACC
| visitor_coach = Dave Doeren
| visitor_1q = 7
| visitor_2q = 10
| visitor_3q = 14
| visitor_4q = 3
| home_school = University of Central Florida
| home_name_short = UCF
| home_nickname = Knights
| home_record = 9–3
| home_conference = The American
| home_coach = George O'Leary
| home_1q = 3
| home_2q = 7
| home_3q = 3
| home_4q = 14
| MVP = NC State QB Jacoby Brissett[http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/122714aaa.html MVP] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227151422/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/122714aaa.html |date=December 27, 2014 }}
| anthem = Carolyn Malachi[https://twitter.com/accnow/status/548641717629362176 National Anthem sung by...]
| referee = Don Willard (MAC)
| halftime =
| payout = 537,500
| us_network = ESPN/ESPN Radio
| us_announcers = Adam Amin, John Congemi, and Kaylee Hartung (ESPN)
Dave LaMont, Anthony Becht, and Cara Capuano (ESPN Radio)
| ratings =
| different_previous = 2013
}}
The 2014 St. Petersburg Bowl, the seventh edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game that was played on December 26, 2014 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The game matched the NC State Wolfpack of the Atlantic Coast Conference against the American Athletic Conference co-champion UCF Knights.[http://stpetersburgbowl.com/nc-state-ucf-meet-seventh-annual-bitcoin-st-petersburg-bowl/ NC State and UCF To Meet In Seventh Annual Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl] The game began at 8:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2014–15 bowl games concluding the 2014 FBS football season. The Wolfpack defeated the Knights, 34–27.
After four playings named after the Beef O'Brady's restaurant franchise, the bowl reverted to its original name, the St. Petersburg Bowl. Sponsored by online payment processor BitPay, the game was officially known as the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl.
Teams
The game featured the NC State Wolfpack of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference co-champion UCF Knights.
The game represented be the third overall meeting between these two teams, with the series previously tied 1–1. The last time these two teams met was in 2010.
=NC State Wolfpack=
{{see also|2014 NC State Wolfpack football team}}
After finishing their regular season with a 7–5 record, the Wolfpack accepted their invitation to play in the game.{{cite web | url=http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120714aaa.html | title=NC State Accepts Bid To Play in Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl | publisher=NC State Wolfpack | work=GoPack.com | date=December 7, 2014 | accessdate=December 8, 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403104814/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120714aaa.html | archivedate=April 3, 2015 }}
This game was NC State's first St. Petersburg Bowl.
=UCF Knights=
{{see also|2014 UCF Knights football team}}
After finishing their regular season with a 9–3 record and winning a share of the American Athletic Conference championship, the Knights accepted their invitation to play in the game.{{cite web | url=http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120714aad.html | title=#TakeoverTampaBay | publisher=Louisville Cardinals | work=GoCards.com | date=December 7, 2014 | accessdate=December 8, 2014 | archive-date=December 10, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210193651/http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120714aad.html | url-status=dead }}
The game was UCF's third St. Petersburg Bowl, extending their record for most appearances in the game. The Knights previously lost the 2009 game to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights by a score of 45–24, and they later won the 2012 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl over the Ball State Cardinals by a score of 38–17.
Pregame buildup
=NC State=
==Offense==
The Wolfpack's offense focused on rushing the football, averaging 206 rushing yards per game, which ranked fourth in their conference; nevertheless, they were average in other areas, and were expected to struggle against UCF's stout defense.{{cite web|title=2014 ACC College Football Team Statistics Leaders for Total|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/stats/team|website=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=December 26, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226224043/http://espn.go.com/college-football/conferences/statistics/team/_/stat/total/sort/rushingYardsPerGame/id/1/acc-conference|archive-date=December 26, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=John|title=CFT Previews: Your Dec. 26 Bowl Viewer's Guide|url=http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/26/cft-previews-your-dec-26-viewers-guide/|website=CollegeFootballTalk|publisher=NBC Sports|accessdate=December 26, 2014|date=December 26, 2014}} The unit was piloted by dual-threat quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who excelled at game management and keeping the offense moving by avoiding turnovers.{{cite web|last1=Adelson|first1=Andrea|title=Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. UCF Knights|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/78750/viewers-guide-bitcoin-st-petersburg-bowl|website=ACC Blog - ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=December 26, 2014|date=December 26, 2014}} A trio of running backs made substantial contributions to the rushing attack along with Brissett – Shadrach Thornton led the team with 811 yards and a 5.5 yards-per-carry average (ypc), Matt Dayes compiled 495 yards on 91 carries (5.4 ypc), and Tony Creecy compiled 282 yards on 52 carries (5.4 ypc).{{cite web|title=North Carolina State Wolfpack 2014 Statistics - Team and Player Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/stats/_/id/152/north-carolina-state-wolfpack|website=College Football - ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=December 26, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226225124/http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/stats/_/id/152/north-carolina-state-wolfpack|archive-date=December 26, 2014}} Freshman Bo Hines led an inexperienced receiving corps with 42 receptions for 537 yards, while tight end David Grinnage was second in receiving, and led the team with receiving five touchdowns. The offensive line entered the season with "three returning players with starting experience: center Luke Lathan and guard Kalani Heppe and Curtis Crouch. He also has two inexperienced tackles and an overall lack of experience and depth," and ultimately, not a single member of the line earned even honorable mention all-conference accolades.{{cite web|last1=Peeler|first1=Tim|title=Preseason Q&A: Offensive line coach Don Horton|url=http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081007aaa.html|website=GoPack.com|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=December 26, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227003315/http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081007aaa.html|archivedate=December 27, 2014}} Punter Will Baumann was a first team all-conference honoree.{{cite press release | url=http://www.theacc.com/news/acsma-announces-2014-all-acc-teams-12-01-2014 | title=ACSMA Announces 2014 All-ACC Teams | publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference | date=December 1, 2014 | accessdate=December 1, 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227005022/http://www.theacc.com/news/acsma-announces-2014-all-acc-teams-12-01-2014 | archivedate=December 27, 2014 }}
Game summary
=Scoring summary=
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=NCSU|HomeName=UCF|state=}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=10:06
| Team=UCF
| DrivePlays=12
| DriveLength=52
| DriveTime=4:54
| Type=FG
| yards=40
| Kicker=Shawn Moffitt
| Visitor=0
| Home=3
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=6:11
| Team=NCST
| DrivePlays=9
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=3:55
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Jaylen Samuels
| QB=Shadrach Thornton
| yards=18
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Niklas Sade
| Visitor=7
| Home=3
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=12:34
| Team=UCF
| DrivePlays=10
| DriveLength=67
| DriveTime=3:25
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Josh Reese
| QB=Justin Holman
| yards=6
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Shawn Moffitt
| Visitor=7
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=9:05
| Team=NCST
| DrivePlays=8
| DriveLength=78
| DriveTime=3:29
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Johnathan Alston
| QB=Jacoby Brissett
| yards=37
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Niklas Sade
| Visitor=14
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=3:16
| Team=NCST
| DrivePlays=9
| DriveLength=74
| DriveTime=4:52
| Type=FG
| yards=19
| Kicker=Niklas Sade
| Visitor=17
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=11:55
| Team=NCST
| DrivePlays=9
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=3:05
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Matt Dayes
| yards=24
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Niklas Sade
| Visitor=24
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=5:45
| Team=UCF
| DrivePlays=8
| DriveLength=15
| DriveTime=3:03
| Type=FG
| yards=36
| Kicker=Shawn Moffitt
| Visitor=24
| Home=13
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=3:05
| Team=NCST
| DrivePlays=7
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=2:40
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Matt Dayes
| yards=15
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Niklas Sade
| Visitor=31
| Home=13
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=12:37
| Team=NCST
| DrivePlays=5
| DriveLength=23
| DriveTime=1:29
| Type=FG
| yards=45
| Kicker=Niklas Sade
| Visitor=34
| Home=13
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=11:01
| Team=UCF
| DrivePlays=5
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=1:36
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Josh Reese
| QB=Justin Holman
| yards=14
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Shawn Moffitt
| Visitor=34
| Home=20
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=1:44
| Team=UCF
| DrivePlays=10
| DriveLength=70
| DriveTime=1:12
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Josh Reese
| QB=Justin Holman
| yards=2
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Shawn Moffitt
| Visitor=34
| Home=27
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=34|Home=27}}
Source:[http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2014-2015/ucf13.html Stats]
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" | ||
| First downs | 26 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 66–487 | 51–373 |
| Rushes–yards | 49–187 | 28–82 |
| Passing yards | 300 | 291 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–28–0 | 23–53–1 |
| Time of possession | 33:51 | 26:09 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400610209 Box score] at ESPN
{{2014 bowl game navbox}}
{{St. Petersburg Bowl navbox}}
{{NC State Wolfpack bowl game navbox}}
{{UCF Knights bowl game navbox}}
Category:NC State Wolfpack football bowl games