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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:45 p.m., Monday, December 29, 2008

CFB: Teel leads Rutgers to 29-23 win in Papajohns Bowl

By BOB JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mike Teel passed for 319 yards and Rutgers capped its comeback season with another rally, defeating North Carolina State 29-23 in the Papajohns.com Bowl Monday.

Teel threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt with 8:30 to play for what proved to be the winning touchdown. Britt, a third-team All-American, made a juggling catch as he crossed the goal line and finished with six catches for 119 yards.

Teel, a senior, was the game's most valuable player.

The Scarlet Knights (8-5) began the season 1-5, but finished with a seven-game winning streak, led by Teel.

NC State (6-7) held a 17-6 halftime, led by quarterback Russell Wilson who was 11-for-23 for 186 yards and a score. But Wilson left the game with a strained knee late in the first half and did not return.

His replacements were mostly ineffective and threw three interceptions to aid the Rutgers comeback. Wilson had not thrown an interception all season.

The Scarlet Knights scored 10 consecutive points in the third quarter on a 31-yard field goal by San San Te and an 11-yard pass from Teel to Tiquan Underwood.

Rutgers took a 19-17 lead with 13:31 to play on a 28-yard field by Te after a 10-play 70-yard drive.

The Wolfpack came right back as reserve quarterback Daniel Evans drove them 64 yards in eight plays and hit Anthony Hill with a 16-yard touchdown pass to give NC State a 23-19 lead.

But it was only two plays later when Teel hit Britt for the go-ahead score.

Rutgers got off to a fast start as cornerback Jason McCourty recovered a Wolfpack fumble on the first play from scrimmage. On the next play, Teel hit Underwood with a 22-yard pass and the Scarlet Knights drove to the NC State 6, where they lined up for a field goal.

The holder on the play, Rob Cervini, picked up the ball after the snap and scampered for the touchdown. The extra point attempt was blocked and Rutgers held an early 6-0 lead.

But the Wolfpack dominated the rest of the first half, with Wilson passing for 186 yards and a touchdown before spraining his and leaving the game shortly before halftime.

North Carolina State took the lead with 7:56 to play in the first quarter when Wilson completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Owen Spencer, who broke free over the middle.

The Wolfpack stretched the lead to 10-6 on a 33-yard Josh Crajkowski field goal late in the first quarter. NC State finished the first half with a 13-play 80-yard drive that was capped with a 5-yard touchdown run by Andre Brown with 38 seconds to play in the half.

NC State turned the ball over four times, including one lost fumble and the three second-half interceptions.