JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Phillip Rivers picked apart Notre Dame's secondary in the first half Wednesday and No. 17 North Carolina State knocked quarterback Carlyle Holiday out of the game en route to a 28-6 victory over the No. 12 Fighting Irish in the Gator Bowl.
Rivers completed 13 of 15 passes for 134 yards in the opening 30 minutes and directed three long scoring drives in the second quarter.
North Carolina State (11-3) closed the most successful season in school history on a high note. After setting a school record by winning their first nine games, the Wolfpack endured a three-game losing streak. But they ended the year with wins over Florida State and Notre Dame.
Safety Rod Johnson led North Carolina State's dominant defensive effort with three interceptions.
Coach Tyrone Willingham brought some excitement back to Notre Dame in his first year in South Bend, but the season ended in disappointing fashion for the Irish (10-3), who suffered their sixth straight bowl loss.
Notre Dame lost its last two games by a combined score of 72-19. The Irish ended the regular season with a 44-13 setback at Southern California.
North Carolina State pounded Notre Dame physically as tight end Gary Godsey and Holiday suffered injuries in the first quarter and did not return. Godsey suffered a leg injury on Notre Dame's first series and hobbled to the locker room on crutches.
Holiday's 12-yard completion to Arnaz Battle gave the Fighting Irish a first down on the North Carolina State two on their next possession, but the Wolfpack's defense stiffened.
After Ryan Grant was held to a one-yard gain on first down, Holiday was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury after being stopped for no gain on second down.
Notre Dame settled for Nicholas Setta's 23-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead with 5:12 left in the first quarter, but the goalline stand changed the complexion of the game.
North Carolina State scored touchdowns on its next three possessions, starting with a 96-yard drive, and opened a 21-3 lead at halftime.
Backup Pat Dillingham finished the game at quarterback for Notre Dame and was ineffective. The Irish came into the game ranked 107th out of 117 teams in Division I-A in total offense.
The defense came out inspired in the third quarter, giving the Irish a chance to climb back into the game. Notre Dame twice drive into North Carolina State territory, but could come away only with Setta's 41-yard field goal with 1:44 left in the third.
The Wolfpack put away the contest on Rivers' seven-yard touchdown pass to Sean Berton with 10:41 left in the fourth quarter.
