NC State vs. UCF: Score and Twitter Reaction for 2014 St. Petersburg Bowl

The North Carolina State Wolfpack cashed in at the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl with a 34-27 win over the University of Central Florida Knights on Friday night.

In the first half, quarterback Jacoby Brissett victimized the Knights with his elusiveness and abilities as a dual threat. Brissett's play and some inaccuracy from his counterpart, Justin Holman, helped to push the Wolfpack to a 17-10 halftime lead. 

USA TODAY Sports

Holman was only able to complete 23 of 53 pass attempts. He threw three touchdowns, but he undershot and overthrew receivers on a regular basis.

To Holman's defense, he was under duress the entire night. The Knights' offensive line didn't do a great job protecting him. He was sacked twice and pressured constantly.

After the break, NC State's potent running game led to some separation between the teams, though UCF would battle back late.

How It Was Settled

The Wolfpack running backs got involved early, but they did damage through the air before their legs made a mark. On a halfback option, Shadrach Thornton tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Samuels to give NC State the 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

Check out the play in The Score's tweet:

The Knights responded with a strong drive that culminated in Holman's six-yard strike to Josh Reese. The score briefly gave the Knights the lead in the second quarter. Before halftime, the Wolfpack would regain the lead and never relinquish it.

"

VINE - Holman pass to J. Reese for 6 yds and the TD #BitcoinBowl #StPetersburgBowl https://t.co/naoP4GZj4F

— FanSided GIF (@FanSidedGIF) December 27, 2014"

Brissett kept plays alive throughout a beautifully crafted drive. The junior quarterback hit Johnathan Alston for a 37-yard touchdown pass that made the score 14-10 in NC State's favor. For the game, Brissett completed 15 of 26 passes for 262 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Pack Pride has a clip of the play:

Chip Patterson of CBS Sports admired Brissett's performance in the first half:

Niklas Sade would add a field goal to give the Wolfpack the seven-point advantage at intermission. 

After the break, the Wolfpack run game started to chew up the Knights defense. Speedy Matt Dayes was the primary culprit. You won't find many collegiate running backs who hit the hole as quick or as decisively as Dayes.

This electric 24-yard run (via Pack Pride) gave NC State a 14-point edge:

Dayes finished with 78 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

The Wolfpack would blow the lead up to 34-13, but they ultimately settled for the seven-point win as the Knights added two fourth-quarter scores to make it interesting.

NC State finishes the season at 8-5. Head coach Dave Doeren engineered a huge turnaround from the 2013 season, when the Wolfpack won just three games. With a good number of sophomore contributors like Dayes returning, as well as Brissett, 2015 looks promising for the Wolfpack.

ACC Now provides comments from Doeren, who reflected on the season after the win:

This is a team that could potentially challenge the Florida State Seminoles in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

UCF drops to 9-4 and wraps up a solid season with a disappointing ending.