The Pac-10 Conference's Arizona Wildcats and Atlantic Coast Conference's North Carolina State Wolfpack clashed in the inaugural Copper Bowl on New Year's Eve, 1989, in front of 37,237 fans on the Wildcats' home field at Arizona Stadium on a 59-degree evening.
The Wildcats were dominated statistically (310-130 total yards, 222-80 passing yards, 23-8 first downs, 38:06-21:54 time of possession), including a season-low 50 yards rushing, but two unlikely heroes, receiver Olatide Ogunfiditimi and linebacker Scott Geyer, made big plays to overcome the statistical imbalance.
In the first quarter, neither team could sustain drives, but the Wildcats dented the scoreboard first when quarterback Ronald Veal found a double-covered Ogunfiditimi for a 37-yard touchdown pass, his only reception of the game. It was one of only five Wildcat pass completions in the game.
Geyer, the Defensive Most Valuable Player, intercepted Wolfpack quarterback Shane Montgomery and raced 85 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
N.C. State fought back behind Montgomery, the Offensive Most Valuable Player who finished with 222 yards passing. He capped a nine-play, 56-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to fullback Todd Varn to cut Arizona's advantage to 14-7.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 17-7 on a 34-yard Gary Coston field goal before halftime.
Arizona rode its staunch defense to victory in the nearly-scoreless second half. Wolfpack kicker Damon Hartman's 43-yard, third-quarter field goal provided the only scoring for either team. Montgomery, however, almost broke the drought and Arizona fans' hearts when he just missed diving receiver Chris Williams over the middle for the potential tying touchdown with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The game's leading rushers were Reggie McGill (49 yards) for Arizona and Anthony Barbour (41 yards) for North Carolina State.
The Arizona victory was the first bowl win in Head Coach Dick Tomey's 13-year head coaching career.
Arizona finished the season 8-4; the Wolfpack closed at 7-5.
