It didn't hurt that the schedule gave the N.C. State Wolfpack a matchup against North Carolina to close what has been, to put it mildly, a disappointing season.
"I want to thank whoever made the schedule," Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien said after N.C. State beat UNC 28-27.
But for much of the game, it didn't appear that anything would change the direction of the Pack's season, which included 16 scholarship players missing the final game with injuries.
And it certainly didn't look good for the Pack when UNC quarterback T.J. Yates scrambled before throwing a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jheranie Boyd for a 24-14 lead with 46 seconds remaining in the first half.
It was a game of big plays, with fans of both teams swinging emotionally throughout the day. Four touchdown passes covered at least 35 yards.
Yet UNC would add just three points in the second half, while N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson connected with Owen Spencer for touchdown passes of 56 and 38 yards. The latter of those scores put the Pack ahead for the first time just 29 seconds into the fourth quarter.
"Our defense made plays to take away North Carolina's big plays," O'Brien said. "We made them work, and it allowed us to get back into the game."
Rivalry games are about emotion, and the Wolfpack players and coaches had more than their share in the past week.
Though he didn't have an interception in the game, there was one pass that Wilson wishes he hadn't thrown. After the final tick of the clock, he threw the ball into the stands -- the game ball.
With offensive coordinator Dana Bible in the hospital fighting leukemia, the game ball was to be his memento of the victory.
"He's family," Pack senior Toney Baker said. "He's in a tough situation right now that he can come out of. We're just praying for him, and we knew we needed to win this one for him.
"We talked about [winning for Coach Bible] during the week -- maybe give him a boost, help him out a little bit ... give him a little enthusiasm."
On the field, the victory gives the Pack bragging rights for the third consecutive year -- and an answer for the "chirping" between Spencer and UNC defensive back Charles Brown.
"It was just a little Carolina love," Spencer said of the exchanges during the game. "Me, I just said, 'Look at the scoreboard.'
"That's gonna come when you see teams fall -- that's when the chirping starts. ... You can talk all you want, but once the ball is snapped, you've got to play ball."
For the Tar Heels, the season extends for another month while bowl preparations continue.
The Wolfpack players wanted to give their fans something to remember.
"It's very big to get a rivalry win -- it'll negate some of the losses," Spencer said. "It's like a Bandaid for the season.
"The fans were unbelievable. During the season, we heard 'em boo, we heard 'em yell. It's very big to end with them screaming and yelling."
You may contact Jimmy DuPree at jdupree@heraldsun.com or 919-419-6674.
