TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona cashed in on big plays to defeat North Carolina State, 17-10, before an Arizona Stadium crowd of 37,237 in the inaugural Copper Bowl. The Wildcats were dominated statistically, 310 yards to 130 yards including a season-low 50 yards on the turf. However, two unlikely heroes, Olatide Ogunfiditimi and Scott Geyer, made the big plays to pull out the victory.
In the first stanza, neither team could sustain drives, but the Cats got on the board first as Ronald Veal found a double-covered Ogunfiditimi 37 yards down field for a 7-0 advantage. The second quarter proved more magical as Geyer, the Defensive MVP, intercepted Shane Montgomery and raced 85 yards for a score.
But the Wolfpack had a magic wand of their own as Montgomery, the Offensive MVP, capped a 56-yard, nine-play drive with a four-yard touchdown toss to fullback Todd Varn to cut the lead, 14-7. The half ended with a Gary Coston 34-yard field goal. Score: 17-7.
The second half included a Damon Hartman 43-yarder to inch the Pack closer, 17-10. However the New Year brought a little luck to the Cats, as Montgomery just missed a diving Chris Williams over the middle for the possible tying touchdown with 1:02 left.
Arizona Dick Tomey notched a victory in his first-ever bowl game in 13 years as a head coach. The Wildcats finished 8-4 on the season, and the Wolfpack closed at 7-5.
