JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Kentucky locker room provided a postgame scene players and coaches might never forget: They celebrated a third consecutive bowl victory while dedicating it to two guys who couldn’t be there.
This one was for late offensive line coach John Schlarman and rehabbing linebacker Chris Oats, who has been battling a significant medical condition since May.
A.J. Rose ran for a career-high 148 yards, and Chris Rodriguez added 84 yards and two scores as the Wildcats held off North Carolina State 23-21 on Saturday in a testy TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
“It was extremely emotional, even walking into the locker room, we were saying, ‘That was for (Oats), that was for Schlarman,'” said linebacker Jamin Davis, who finished with 13 tackles and an interception.
“It’s definitely something to show to the younger guys that we just keep playing through all the adversity, whatever’s going on around us, all the outside noise. Just block it out. We’ve got to keep going regardless.”
Christopher Dunn missed two field-goal attempts for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Wolfpack (8-4), who trailed 16-14 late when Bailey Hockman threw his third interception of the game. Rodriguez scored on the ensuing play, going nearly untouched for 26 yards.
N.C. State got a final chance after Jordan Houston scored with 1:10 remaining, but Allen Dailey recovered Dunn’s onside kick, and the Southeastern Conference’s Wildcats (5-6) ran out the clock. Coach Mark Stoops got an ice cooler bath after the team’s second straight win, which ended a tumultuous season that included the death of assistant Schlarman, a Kentucky alum, in early November after a two-year bout with cancer.
“John was definitely looking down on us; Coach Schlarman definitely inspired us all,” said Rose, who was named Kentucky’s bowl game MVP. “Offensive line did a great job today. They were moving people all around all day. I give credit to all five of those guys.”
Kentucky finished with 281 yards on the ground, helping offset one of the nation’s worst passing attacks.
The Wolfpack played minus four regular defensive starters: safety Tanner Ingle was suspended, defensive tackle Alim McNeil opted out and linebackers Drake Thomas and Payton Wilson were injured.
“Those are four really good run defenders against a really good rushing offense,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “We were concerned coming into the game about it. Not that we stopped the run; we didn’t. But we did enough and kept them off the scoreboard enough to give ourselves a chance.”
Zonovan Knight, who led the Wolfpack with 52 rushing yards and a touchdown, was named the losing team’s MVP.
Penalties were a problem for both teams. There were 11 for unsportsmanlike conduct, and several more instances in which a flag could have been thrown.
“I’ve got to get them cleaned up, and I will. That’s not us; we’re not going to accept that,” said Stoops, who blamed part of it on being unfamiliar with the Big 12 officiating crew. “When you get in these bowl games, you’re not used to certain officials, and I’ve got to do a better job preparing us for that.”
The Wolfpack were looking to end the season on a five-game winning streak. It would have been the first time the program had accomplished the feat since 1965.
The Wildcats won their third bowl game in as many seasons for the second time in school history. They also won three straight from 2006 to 2008.