North Carolina intercepted three passes - one that went for a touchdown and another that set up a TD at the one-yard line - and Hakeem Nicks scored four times to lead the Tar Heels to a 45-24 victory at home. (10/25)
The victory makes Carolina bowl-eligible by virture of its sixth win against two defeats. But it started out rough for the Heels as BC jumped on the Heels with 10 points in the first few minutes of the game.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff and went on a methodical, ball-control drive but the Heels stiffened and BC settled for a field goal. But on Carolina's first possession, QB Cam Sexton dropped back to pass on third and two, pump faked, was hit and fumbled. BC's
Kevin Akins
picked up the fumble and went in for the score to make it 10-0.
Late in the first quarter, the Heels finally got a long drive going. In the first minute of second quarter, Sexton passed to Nicks, who made a good catch up high and tip-toed into the edge of the end zone. An official first ruled Nicks out at the one but replay showed that it was a score.
Minutes later, the Heels got good field position in the middle of the field and capitalized on a 32-yard field goal by Casey Barth to tie it at 10-10.
UNC's Kendric Burney intercepted a Chris Crane pass and once again the Heels had good field position close to mid-field. With 2:17 left in the half, Sexton found an open Nicks in stride in the end zone to put Carolina up 17-10.
But then Carolina's defense pulled the same stunt it did in last week's loss and went into a prevent defense. Three passes later, Justin Jarvis caught a TD pass to tie the game at 17-17.
A squib kick gave the Heels the ball back at their 44 with 49 seconds left. A couple of plays later, with 22 seconds left, Sexton found Nicks open over the middle and he dashed in from 43 yards out to give the Heels a 24-17 halftime lead.
Early in the second half, Burney intercepted another pass and made a mad run for the end zone but he was stopped at the one. UNC's Ryan Houston went in from there to put Carolina up 31-17 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
The defense wrapped it up early in the fourth quarter when Trimane Goddard stepped in front of a Crane pass and returned the interception 51 yards for a touchdown and a 38-17 lead.
The Heels' offense went on a time-consuming rushing drive and Nicks scored on a reverse play from 11 yards out to put the Heels up 45-17 with 7:22 to go.
BC scored after a five-minute drive late in the game for the final tally of 45-24.
The Eagles came into the game as the 23rd ranked team in the country. The Heels fell out of the poll after a loss to Virginia the previous week. Carolina is likely to be ranked in the top 25 when the Heels host Georgia Tech, which is also in the top 25, on Nov. 8.
The off week may allow T.J. Yates, who started the season as Carolina's quarterback, to be ready to resume his season. Sexton has filled in well but Yates was having a better season prior to the injury.
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Post-Game Quotes
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