SDCCU Holiday Bowl: UCLA (8-4) vs. NC State (9-3)
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021
UCLA BRUINS NOTES
AT A GLANCE
• This is UCLA’s 37th all-time bowl game and first since an appearance in the 2017 Cactus Bowl. The Bruins have a bowl record of 16-19-1.
• UCLA owns wins in both previous meetings with NC State (1959, 1960).
• The Bruins closed the regular season with three straight wins. The last time UCLA finished a season with four straight wins was in 1997.
• UCLA scored at least 40 points in each of the last three games of the season. The last time it scored at least 40 in more than three games was in 1998 (5).
• UCLA has rushed for at least 200 yards in each of its 8 wins in 2021.
• UCLA is +5 in TO’s 2021;+20 in wins overall under Coach Kelly; -27 in losses.
• UCLA’s 36.5 ppg average is tops in Pac-12 and sixth-best ever by a Bruin team.
• UCLA owns a 89-42 scoring advantage in the first quarter of games.
• Kyle Philips’ 10 scoring catches this season are most by a P12 player in 2021 and most by a Bruin since WR Darren Andrews had 10 in 2017 – last Bruin with more than 10 was TE Joseph Fauria – 12 in 2012.
• UCLA has won 39 straight overall games and 58 straight regular season games in which it has held the opponent to less than 20 points (last loss: 17-16 to BYU in 2007 Las Vegas Bowl /last regular-season loss: 16-14 at Colorado 2003).
BRUINS VS. WOLFPACK DEC. 28 — UCLA will meet North Carolina State in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl, set for a 5 p.m. PT start on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. The game will be televised by FOX. The UCLA Learfield Radio Network will broadcast the contest, which will also be aired over SiriusXM and the Varsity App. UCLA has captured the only two previous meetings between the programs. Both meetings were held in Los Angeles with UCLA winning 21-12 in 1959 and 7-0 in 1960. The 1960 battle featured two future NFL starting quarterbacks and College Football Hall of Famers in NC State’s Roman Gabriel and UCLA’s Billy Kilmer.
Fourth-year head coach Chip Kelly was named UCLA’s head football coach on Nov. 25, 2017. Kelly owns a collegiate record of 64-32 compiled in three-plus seasons at UCLA (0-0 vs. NC State) and in four seasons as the head coach at the University of Oregon (2009- 12, 0-0 vs. NC State). During that span in Eugene, his Duck teams captured first place or a share of first in the North Division of the conference (three outright conference championships 2009-11) and four BCS bowl games. Kelly guided Oregon to appearances in a National Championship Game (2010), two Rose Bowls (after 2011 and 2009 seasons) and the Fiesta Bowl following the 2012 season. Kelly was named the 2009 and 2010 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, 2010 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 2010 Sporting News Coach of the Year, 2010 AFCA Coach of the Year Award and 2010 Associated Press Coach of the Year. In six of his seven previous seasons as a collegiate head coach, Kelly has produced a top-15 rated NCAA rushing leader in yards-per-game average — 2020: Demetric Felton, Jr., 14th; 2018: Joshua Kelley, 9th; 2012: Kenjon Barner, 4th; 2011: LaMichael James, 1st; 2010: LaMichael James, 1st; 2009: LaMichael James, 9th. UCLA vs. NC State and the ACC — The Bruins own a 2-0 overall advantage in the series against NC State with wins in 1959 and 1960. UCLA is 19-13 all-time vs. teams in the current Atlantic Coast Conference — Virginia (2-0), Virginia Tech (1-0), Duke 1-0), Florida State (0-1), Miami (2-1), NC State (2-0), Pitt (9-5), Syracuse (2-6).
THE WATCHLIST
• UCLA clinched a tie for second place in the South Division with the win over California in the last game of the regular season to secure UCLA’s highest finish in the South since it tied for second in 2014, also with a 6-3 record. The Bruins last had as many as eight wins in the 2015 season (8-5) and last produced more than eight wins in the 2014 season when it went 10-3 overall and defeated Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl.
• UCLA last played in a bowl game after the 2017 season – a loss in Cactus Bowl vs. Kansas State in Phoenix … three current Bruins saw action in that bowl game – DB Mo Osling III, DB Quentin Lake, DL Martin Andrus, Jr.
• UCLA closed the regular season by winning its last three games and scoring at least 40 points in each contest … the last time UCLA scored 40 or more points in more than three consecutive games was in 1998 (five straight games).
• UCLA held five opponents to 20 or fewer points in games this season … the last time that a Bruin team held more than five opponents to 20 or fewer points in a season was when it had six such games in 2007.
• In winning its last three games of the regular season, UCLA outscored its opponents 93-16 in the second halves of the three contests, including shutouts of Colorado (34-0) and Cal (25-0).
• Only nine Power 5 schools have upped their win totals more from 2020 to 2021 than UCLA (+5), which finished 3-4 in 2020 and is 8-4 heading into the bowl game – Michigan leads the way with a +10 increase followed by Baylor (+9) and Michigan State (+8).
• UCLA has won three straight games to end the 2021 regular season … the last time UCLA won four straight games, at any point in a season, was over the first four games of the 2015 season … the last time UCLA won the final four games of a season was in 1997 (last 10 straight).
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson (156.3 in 2020 and 153.9 in 2021) is just the third Bruin starting QB to put together two straight seasons with a 150.0-plus pass efficiency rating — he joins Brett Hundley 2013 (153.7) and 2014 (152.7) and Cade McNown 1997 (168.6) and 1998 (156.9).
• Kyle Philips has now led the Bruins in receptions in three straight seasons — the last Bruin receiver to do so was Craig Bragg who did it for four straight seasons from 2001-04. Philips is also looking to become the first Bruin receiver to catch multiple scoring passes in three straight games since J.J. Stokes did it in 1993 – Philips had two each in wins over USC and Cal in the final two regular season contests.
• Zach Charbonnet’s seven 100-yard games are the most by a Pac-12 player this season heading into the bowl games and the most by a Bruin since UCLA’s all-time leading rusher Johnathan Franklin had a school-record nine in 2012.
• The Bruin defense allowed 26.7 ppg this season which is its lowest mark since 2015 when it posted a 26.0 points-per-game mark.
• UCLA rushed for 31 TDs this season, the most since it had 36 in 2013. It is only the second time over the 30-rushing-TD mark since 1999.
• UCLA’s scoring average of 36.5 points per game is the best among Pac-12 teams … tt would be the sixth-highest scoring average in school history.
• The Bruins are ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in punt returns (20.00-yard average) and No. 7 nationally in kickoff returns (27.38-yard average) this season.
• On the ground, UCLA has racked up a 2,581-to-1,491 rushing yards edge on opponents in 2021 … the Bruins average 5.0 yards per rush while opponents are at 3.8 … per game, UCLA is at 215.1 (16th nationally, third in Pac-12); opponents at 124.2 (26th nationally, second in Pac-12).
• Kyle Philips had 6 catches vs. Cal to move past Danny Farmer (159/1996-99) and into fourth on the all-time school list for career receptions (163) and has 35 catches over the last five games (third on the UCLA receptions list is Kevin Jordan, 1992-95 at 179) … his 10 scoring catches this season are the most by a Pac-12 player heading into the bowl season and the most by a Bruin player since Darren Andrews, who had 10 in 2017 (TE Joseph Fauria, who had 12 in 2012, is the last Bruin with more than 10 in a season; J.J. Stokes is the last wide receiver to have more than 10 in a season – 17 in 1993) … Philips has a reception in each of the last 29 games he has played in … he led the team in catches the past two seasons (2020 – 38) and became the 27th UCLA receiver to reach the 100-catch mark for a career in 2020 … in 2019, he topped UCLA in receptions (60), which was the most ever in a single season by a Bruin freshman/redshirt freshman … he was the first redshirt freshman to lead the team since Craig Bragg in 2001 … he was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after his 82-yard punt return for a touchdown against Colorado.
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson has completed 53 of 76 passes over the last three games (.697) for 780 yards with six TDs and three interceptions; he has also rushed for 246 yards and three TDs … he is looking to move up the charts and has risen to fourth on the school career-total-offense list (8,456) with Josh Rosen (2015-17) in third (9,187); he elevated to fifth on the school list in career passing yards against Colorado and now has 7,541 with Drew Olson (2002-05 with 8,532) next on that list … Thompson-Robinson (61-fouth) is also taking aim on Olson, who holds down third on the school career TD passes list with 67 … with 98 ground yards against CU, DTR became the fifth Bruin QB to reach 1,000 career rushing yards.
• UCLA has rushed for at least 200 yards in each of its eight wins in 2021. It ran for a season-low 110 yards against Oregon and has been below the 200 yard rushing mark in each of its four losses this season. The Bruins have averaged 251.3 yards on the ground this season in wins and 142.8 in losses.
• UCLA is 20 for 31 on fourth-down conversions this season (65%) — Air Force, with 31 coversions, leads the nation entering the bowl season.
• Transfer OLB/DE Mitchell Agude (Riverside CC) has 27 tackles over the past four games, including a career-best 10 stops at USC … ILB Jordan Genmark Heath (Notre Dame) has 27 stops in the last five games, including a sack and 2.0 TFLs at USC.
• UCLA has held five opponents under 100 yards rushing this season (26 by Hawaii, 49 by LSU, 67 by Stanford, 83 by Washington, 92 by Cal) — each wins.
• UCLA owns an 89-42 advantage in the first quarter of games this season … Utah, in game nine, was the first opponent to score a TD on its first drive of a game this season and just the second team to score points on its first drive of the game.
• UCLA has at least one rushing touchdown in each of the last 21 games – the last game without a rushing score was game 10 in 2019 vs. Utah.
• UCLA played 13 transfers vs. Cal (nine defensive players – LB Caleb Johnson (JC), DL Jay Toia (USC), LB Devin Aupiu (Notre Dame), CB Cameron Johnson (No. Texas), Nickel Qwuantrezz Knight (Kent St.), DL Datona Jackson (JC), LB Jordan Genmark Heath (Notre Dame), CB Obi Eboh (Stanford), LB Mitchell Agude (JC)- and 4 offensive players-QB Ethan Garbers (Washington), WR Kam Brown (Texas A&M), OL Paul Grattan (Villanova), RB Zach Charbonnet (Michigan) – who came to UCLA from JC or other colleges. Two other regulars in the rotation – LB Ale Kaho (Alabama) and RB Brittain Brown (Duke) were unavailable for the Cal game.
• Zach Charbonnet is second in the Pac-12 in rushing (94.8 yards per game) … he has 30 rushes for at least 10 yards in ‘21 … the Michigan transfer scored 11 touchdowns as a true freshman at Michigan in 2019 and posted two 100-yard games (vs. Army and Illinois) … he also scored three rushing touchdowns in a 2019 contest against Army … last season at UM, he had a 70-yard run for a score against Minnesota.
• UCLA is +20 turnovers overall in wins and -27 in losses under Coach Kelly … in 2021, UCLA is +5 in turnovers for the season, but has committed seven of its 14 TOs this season in its four losses … in its four 2020 losses, UCLA committed 12 of its 13 turnovers on the season.
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson is first in the Pac-12 in total offense (274.4), pass efficiency (153.9), pass yards per completion (13.69) and passing yards per attempt (8.51). He is second is passing touchdowns with 21.
• UCLA has totaled at least one 100-yard rusher (Zach Charbonnet and/or Brittain Brown) in seven of the eight wins this season … in the other win, Dorian Thompson-Robinson came up just shy of the century mark after gaining 98 yards in the victory over Colorado.
• Tight end Greg Dulcich was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award and a second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America selection … his 725 receiving yards is sixth best among the nation’s tight ends entering the bowl season while his 17.3 yards per catch mark is fourth-best among tight ends… his 60.42 yards per game average is fifth best among Pac-12 receivers … he recorded his fourth-career game with 100 receiving yards vs. Arizona State on a career-best nine receptions (136 yards) … he had 117 yards, on 3 catches vs. LSU to mark the eighth straight season in which a Bruin TE has gome over the century mark in at least one game (Dulcich in 2020, Devin Asiasi in 2019, Caleb Wilson in 2018 and 2017, Nate Iese in 2016, Thomas Duarte in 2015 and 2014) … in 2020, Dulcich averaged 19.88 yards per catch (13th in NCAA) and 73.9 receiving yards per game … both marks rated as second-best among Power 5 tight ends in 2020 … he had a career-best 167 receiving yards vs. USC a year ago.
• Qwuantrezz Knight leads UCLA in tackles with 66 … he is first on the team in tackles for loss (8.5) and tied for fifth in sacks (2.5).
• Bo Calvert ,who moved to OLB in ‘21, is 2nd on the squad in tackles for loss with 7.5 … he recorded a career-best 2.5 TFLs vs. Fresno St … he leads the team in sacks with 4.0 this season.
• Defensive trends — rushing yards per game allowed 2017: 287.4 / 2018: 199.4 / 2019: 145.5 / 2020: 135.7/ 2021: 124.2; average yards per rush allowed 2017: 5.8 / 2018: 4.6 / 2019: 4.3 / 2020: 3.6 / 2021: 3.8 ; average yards allowed per play 2017: 6.3 / 2018: 6.0 / 2019: 6.7 / 2020: 5.4 / 2021: 5.5 … the Hawai’i total of 26 yards rushing was the fewest by an opponent since BYU totaled 23 in a 2016 game.
• Mitchell Agude has been credited with four forced fumbles this season and is 11th in the NCAA with a 0.33 average per game. Linebackers Robert Thomas (2000) and Donnie Edwards (1993) share the UCLA record (dating back to 1975) with six forced fumbles in a season. Edwards holds the UCLA career mark, at 12, with records dating back to 1990. In 2020, Agude was credited with the forced fumble which was returned for a TD at Oregon and added two forced fumbles vs. Arizona … he rated 10th nationally (0.43 per game) last season.
• Brittain Brown leads Pac-12 rushers with a 6.03 yards-per-carry average entering the bowl season … he has rushed 145 times for 963 yards (6.6 per rush) and seven TDs in his last 13 games … his 6.6 average in 2020 was the best by a Bruin back, with at least 80 carries, since 1988 (Shawn Wills also 6.6 – 94 attempts for 622 yards) … Brown recorded a career-best 219 yards rushing on 29 carries in the 2020 game against Stanford.
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s progression — Pass Efficiency Rating – 2021: 153.9; 2020: 156.3; 2019: 134.9; 2018: 122.3 … the last Bruin starting QB to post a higher rating than DTR’s 2020 mark of 156.29 for a full season was Drew Olson in 2005 (161.6).
• Yards-per-reception leaders (multiple catches only) TE Greg Dulcich – 17.3; WR Chase Cota – 15.9; RB/WR Kazmeir Allen – 15.0; TE Michael Ezeike 15.0; WR Kam Brown – 14.5; RB Keegan Jones – 14.0; WR Kyle Philips – 12.5; WR Logan Loya – 11.0.
• 20+ starts: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 35; S Quentin Lake – 31; S Stephan Blaylock – 31; OT Sean Rhyan – 31; WR Chase Cota – 27; DL Otito Ogbonnia – 27; WR Kyle Philips – 23 … Rhyan and Blaylock have each started the past 31 straight games.
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed all eight passing attempts on the 90-yard fourth quarter game-winning drive at Washington. His 21-26 passing effort (.807) marked his third career game in which he completed at least .800 of his passes. (13-15 at Cal, 2018 – .866; 30-36 at USC, 2020 – .833).
• UCLA has rushed for at least 200 yards in 12 of the last 19 contests …last year’s average rushing offense per game of 230.6 yards/game rated 12th in NCAA/second in Pac-12 … In 2020, the Bruins surpassed the 200 yards rushing per game average milestone for a season for only the fourth time since 1990 — 2014 – 209.5, 1995 – 212.5 and 1991 – 200.1.
• Who played — 58 Bruins saw action vs. Cal (7 R-Sr., 15 Sr., 12 R-Jr., 5 Jr., 6 R-So., 7 So., 2 R-Fr., 4 Fr.); 62 at USC (8 R-Sr.; 15 Sr.; 13 R-Jr.; 5 Jr.; 7 R-So.; 6 So.; 3 R-Fr.; 5 Fr.); 65 vs. Colorado (9 R-Sr.; 12 Sr.; 13 R-Jr.; 5 Jr.; 6 R-So.; 6 So.; 8 R-Fr.; 6 Fr.); 55 at Utah (9 R-Sr., 11 Sr., 11 R-Jr., 5 Jr., 5 R-So., 6 So., 3 R-Fr., 5 Fr.); 56 vs. Oregon (8 R-Sr., 14 Sr., 12 R-Jr., 5 Jr., 4 R-So., 6 So., 2 R-Fr., 5 Fr.; 58 at UW (8 R-Sr., 13-Sr., 11 R-Jr., 5 Jr., 5 R-So., 8 So., 3 R-Fr., 5 Fr.); 59 at UA (8-R-Sr.; 13 Sr.; 12 R-Jr.; 5 Jr.; 6 R-So.; 7 So.; 4 R-Fr.; 4 Fr.); 61 vs. ASU — 8 R-Sr.; 13 Sr.; 14 R-Jr.; 5 Jr.; 6 R-So.; 8 So.; 3 R-Fr.; 4 Fr.; 58 at Stanford (8 R-Sr.; 14 Sr.; 12 R-Jr.; 5 Jr.; 4 R-So.; 7 So.; 4 R-Fr.; 4 Fr.; 56); vs. Fresno St. (8- RSr.; 15 Sr.; 12 R-Jr.; 6 Jr.; 4 R-So.; 5 So.; 3 R-Fr.; 3 Fr.); 56 vs. LSU — 9 – RSr.; 14 – Sr.; 11 – RJr.; 6 – Jr.; 4 – RSo.; 5 – So.; 4 – RFr.; 3 – Fr. ; 74 vs. Hawaii (9 – RSr.; 14 – Sr.; 15 – RJr.; 6 – Jr.; 8 – So.; 10 – RSo.; 7 – RFr.; 5 – Fr.).
• First-career starts as Bruins – Hawai’i: CB Cameron Johnson, WR Kam Brown, LB Jordan Genmark Heath (Atonio Mafi started for first time at OL after 14 starts as DL; he played on offense for the first time in 2020 season); LSU: none; Fresno State: none; Stanford: RB Zach Charbonnet; ASU: none; UA: LB Ale Kaho; UW: WR Josiah Norwood; UO: none; Utah: WR Keontez Lewis, QB Ethan Garbers; CU: OT Garrett DiGiorgio; USC: none; Cal: none.
• Special Teams: kicker Nicholas Barr-Mira is second among Pac-12 kick scorers with a 7.83 average (fifth overall in P12 scoring) … he has connected on 20-28 career FGs (14-21 in 2021) after converting from 39 yards vs. Fresno, State 43 vs. LSU, from 27 vs. UH, 48, 21, 26 vs. ASU; 23, 43 at UA, 39 at UW, 37 vs. UO, 28 at Utah, 41 vs. CU, 41 and 46 vs. Cal — with misses from 42 at Stanford, 47 vs. ASU, 54 at UW, 35 vs. UO, 55 at Utah, 47 vs. CU, 46 at USC this season; KOR man Kazmeir Allen averages 29.1 yards per return to rate 10th in NCAA and 1st in Pac-12; kickoff man RJ Lopez has recorded touchbacks on 52-81 kickoffs (64%) – his 52 touchbacks lead the Pac-12.
• Ale Kaho made his first Bruin start at Arizona … he was credited with a punt block which was recovered for a Bruin touchdown against Hawaii. The transfer from Alabama had a punt deflection in action last season and three punt blocks during 2019 for the Crimson Tide.
• Recent Bruin Bowl Games – 2017 Cactus Bowl – L to Kansas State; 2015 Foster Farms Bowl – L to Nebraska; 2014 season- (Jan. 2015 game) – Alamo Bowl -W over Kansas State; 2013 Sun Bowl – W over Virginia Tech; 2012 Holiday Bowl – L to Baylor.
• UCLA players reported to be in the transfer portal – OLB Myles Jackson, P Luke Akers, WR Keontez Lewis, S DJ Warnell, DL John Ward, QB Kajiya Hollawayne, OL Beau Taylor, DL Tyler Kiehne, LB AJ Campbell, DB Shamar Martin, QB Parker McQuarrie.
#40 Caleb Johnson – Sr. LB
• 31 tackles in last 6 games played
• Season-best 7 stops at Arizona
• Led team in tackles (44) in ‘20
• Led team in sacks (5.5) and 2nd in TFls (7.0) in ‘20
ON THE SIDE
• Linebacker Jordan Genmark Heath was born and grew up in Sweden … he learned about football by watching the NFL on television late at night with his father and through YouTube clips … he learned to speak English by watching American TV shows and listening to music … his family moved to San Diego area during his high school years where he played football for the first time and earned a scholarship to Notre Dame.
• Defensive back Obi Eboh has an undergrad degree from Stanford in Management Science and Engineering and a graduate degree from UCLA in Legal Studies. He is hopeful for a career in the NFL and /or as an equities manager in the finalcial world.
• Kazmeir Allen is one of three highly regarded sprinters on the Bruin roster – 2018 CIF state 100m event champ (10.44); also Christian Grubb – 2019 100m CIF state event 2nd place (10.53); Keegan Jones 2018 200m event Tennessee state champ (21.10)
• Defensive back Martell Irby has been playing the saxophone since the fourth grade … He attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (a San Diego Unified School District college-preparatory, arts-focused public magnet school for students in grades 6 through 12 who have a strong interest and talent in the arts) and was a member of their award-winning jazz ensemble at the school …
Since the school did not sponsor a sports program, he was able to play football at nearby Morse HS
NC STATE WOLFPACK NOTES
NOTING THE WOLFPACK
• NC State is bowl eligible for the seventh time in Dave Doeren’s nine years at the helm of the program. That’s the most for any head coach in school history.
• In the past two years, NC State ranks second in the ACC in league wins, posting a 13-5 record. Only Clemson’s 14-3 mark ranks better.
• The Power 5 teams with more wins than NC State over the past two years are: Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Clemson, Ohio State and Texas A&M.
• With the win over UNC, the 2021 Wolfpack became the first squad since 1986 (35 years!) to go undefeated at home (and that squad did post one tie) and one of just six teams in school history (1967, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1986) to post an unblemished record at Carter-Finley Stadium.
• NC State has six first-team All-ACC performers: OT Ikem Ekwonu, LB Drake Thomas, DT Cory Durden, SAF Tanner Ingle, P Trenton Gill and Specialist Zonovan Knight.
• Ekwonu was a finalist for the ‘21 Outland Trophy and won the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Award.
• The Wolfpack has won its last 10 games at Carter-Finley, including all seven of 2021. The only longer home winning streak in school history was a 16 game streak from 1972-75.
• The Pack outscored its foes 254-115 (36.3-16.4) at home in 2021.
• NC State has scored four TDs on special teams this season: a blocked punt return, a muffed punt recovery and two KORs. It marks the first time since 2004 that special teams has scored four times in a season.
• Despite seven starters out on defense by the end of the season (six who missed multiple games) the Wolfpack finished among the ACC leaders in several categories and ranked in the top 33 in the FBS in every defensive category.
• Head coach Dave Doeren has more nine win seasons than any coach in school history (3) and has now led five of his nine NC State squads to seasons with eight or more victories.
• The Pack was 24-of-25 in RED zone scoring over the last eight games of the 2021 regular season and ranks second in the ACC (18th nationally) with a .907 success mark for the season.
• NC State’s ACC-best 15 INTs is the most since 2012. 10 different players have picked off passes for NC State in 2021.
• The Pack led the ACC and ranks 18th with just 11 turnovers in 2021.
• Head coach Dave Doeren ranks second in career victories in NC State history with 64.
• With a win over then No. 9 Clemson on Sept. 25 and over Florida State on Nov. 6, the Wolfpack has posted wins over both of those two perennial powers in the same season for the first time since 2002 (when the Wolfpack set a school record with 11 wins). This season marks the first time any ACC school has knocked off FSU and Clemson in the same year since UNC did it in 2010.
• During Doeren’s tenure, 21 players have drafted by the NFL, including 14 in the last four drafts.
• Graduate wide receiver Thayer Thomas has eight touchdown catches this season – giving him 20 for his career. That mark is tied for third in school history.
• Fourth-year kicker Christopher Dunn became NC State’s career scoring leader this season and now has 377 points for his career.
• Punter Trenton Gill led the ACC in punting average (45.05) a mark that ranks 21st nationally. If he finishes the season as the leader, it would mark the second time in the last three seasons he has led the conference.
• Wide receiver Emeka Emezie set a school record for career receptions in 2021.
THE GAME
NC STATE VS. UCLA
NC State and UCLA have met just twice in the sport of football. In 1959 and 1960, the Wolfpack traveled cross country to play the Bruins at LA Memorial Coliseum. Bruin tailback Billy Kilmer outshone Pack QB Roman Gabriel as UCLA earned the 21-12 victory in 1959. The following year, Kilmer scored the games only TD as the Bruins won 7-0. Gabriel would go on to become the NFL’s MVP while playing up the road for the Rams.
In both of those seasons, the Wolfpack played just three home games, as the university sought to raise funds to build what is now Carter-Finley Stadium.
FIRST IN THE LEAGUE
NC State is the first ACC team to play in the Holiday Bowl. That’s it. That’s the note.
SAN DIEGO TIES
WHERE RIVERS ONCE RAN
San Diego residents might not be as familiar with NC State as they are with the Wolfpack’s Holiday Bowl opponent – UCLA – but the city is definitely familiar with one of the most talented and beloved players in school history.
Quarterback Philip Rivers spent 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He also played three more seasons for the Chargers franchise once it was moved to Los Angeles (2017-19). After serving as a back-up his first two seasons, Rivers was as the Chargers’ starting quarterback from 2006 to 2019. He was named to eight Pro Bowls while leading the squad to four division titles and six playoff appearances overall.
Rivers was a four-year starter for the Wolfpack from 2000-2003. He still ranks as the all-time leader in school history in passing yards
(13,484) and touchdowns (95).
HOME SWEET HOME
Even though Raleigh and San Diego are over 2,500 miles apart, the SDCCU Holiday Day Bowl will be a homecoming of sorts for Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren.
NC State’s leader will be able to look out his balcony of the bowl hotel and see his birthplace. He was born on Coronado Island at the Naval Base, as his father was stationed there. He lived in L.A. until he was in fourth grade and then was a graduate assistant coach at UCLA’s crosstown rival USC in 1998 and 1999. Doeren’s father, Bill, still lives in L.A.
NC STATE TEAM NOTES
COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL
Throughout the 2021 season, head coach Dave Doeren has emphasized to his team the importance of playing complimentary football.
In order to be successful, he says, the Wolfpack must be successful in four phases of the game.
Four phases, you might ask? Excellent question.
Of course, there’s offense. The Wolfpack’s offense averaged 33 points per game in 2021, with quarterback Devin Leary setting a single-season school record with 35 touchdown passes and the squad’s 414.4 yards per game is the eighth-best average in school history.
Then there’s defense. For much of the season, the Wolfpack defense led the league in most defensive categories (playing two of the league’s top four offenses in the last three weeks of the season changed some of that). Heading into the Holiday Bowl, the Wolfpack
ranks in the top 25 of the FBS in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense and ranks 10th nationally in interceptions.
As for special teams, NC State has scored FOUR special teams touchdowns this season and boasts the league’s top punter. And now for the fourth phase:
THE JUICE SQUAD!
Doeren challenged his young players – guys who are redshirting, reserves who don’t see action, even some guys sitting out with injuries
– to become that fourth vital phase. This group has taken pride in becoming a force from the bench – especially on third downs. They wave red towels, jump up and down and basically bring ‘the juice.’
HOME SWEET HOME
NC State posted a 7-0 mark in games played in Carter-Finley this season and has now won its last 10 games on its home field. With the win over UNC to close out the regular season, the 2021 Wolfpack became the first squad since 1986 (35 years!) to go undefeated
at home (and that squad did post one tie) and one of just six teams in school history (1967, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1986) to post an unblemished record at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Pack’s current 10-game home winning streak dates back to last season and is the longest since a 16-game streak from 1972-75. The Pack has outscored its foes 254-115 (36.3-16.4) at home this season.
EIGHT IS GREAT … BUT NINE IS FINE
With his Wolfpack posting an 9-3 record heading into the bowl game, head coach Dave Doeren has now led five of his nine NC State squads to seasons with eight or more victories – most by any coach in school history. The Wolfpack now has three nine-win seasons under Doeren – a first.
Dave Doeren has led two previous teams to nine win campaigns (2017 and 2018). Only two other coaches in school history – Dick Sherican and Lou Holtz (who are both in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame) – have ever posted two nine win seasons. Doeren and Sheridan are the only coaches to ever lead a Pack squad to two nine-win regular seasons (Doeren in 2018 & ‘21 and Sheridan in 1991 & ‘92).
