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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The N.C. State football team didn't win the Papajohns.com Bowl, but its fan base staved off potential disaster for the three-year-old game.

With an estimated 10,000 State supporters in attendance, the contest announced a crowd of 38,582 -- a slight increase from the 35,258 figure of 2007. The Pack was a late replacement for the SEC, which was unable to provide a team when it placed two clubs in the BCS and everybody moved up a spot in that league's pecking order.

Some context for the 10,000 figure:

l ACC champion Virginia Tech had sold 4,700 of its allotted 17,500 tickets for the Orange Bowl as of Tuesday.

l Miami distributed 4,000 of its 10,000 allocated seats for the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.

l About 5,000 Southern Mississippi fans attended last year's Papajohns.com Bowl against Cincinnati. The Golden Eagles' campus is 235 miles from Legion Field. N.C. State is 553 miles away.

ONE LAST SHOT: Daniel Evans began the season hoping to be the Wolfpack's starting quarterback, and he began Monday as the third-teamer. He got his chance to play in the final game of his career when Russell Wilson was injured and Harrison Beck was ineffective.

Evans threw a touchdown pass to classmate Anthony Hill that put the Pack ahead, but Rutgers responded and two subsequent interceptions secured the Scarlet Knights' 29-23 victory.

"I've been on the scout team for nine or 10 weeks now," he said. "I'm disappointed with the way it ended, but it was fun."

TACKLE ELIGIBLE TO THROW: The Knights got extremely creative early in the second half.

Quarterback Mike Teel lateraled to Anthony Davis, his 6-foot-6, 325-pound tackle, who then lofted one into double coverage for wide receiver Tiquan Underwood in the end zone. The Pack's Nate Irving broke up the play and the Knights had to settle for San San Te's 31-yard field goal, which made it 17-9. Although nobody keeps records on such things, Davis may be the largest player to attempt a pass in an NCAA football game.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com