TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

North Carolina Upends Miami

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: October 7, 2007

Updated: 10/07/2007 12:44 am

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina gave Butch Davis the fast start he wanted against his former Miami program. And when the Hurricanes made their run, the young Tar Heels showed their new coach they're learning how to close out games, too.

Brandon Tate scored on a long end-around in a spurt of 27 points to start the game, and Connor Barth kicked four field goals to help North Carolina hold off Miami 33-27 on Saturday, giving Davis his first league win and ending a four-game losing streak.

Anthony Elzy ran for 95 yards and a score for the Tar Heels (2-4, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who turned in a dominating performance to take a 27-0 lead at halftime then hung on as the Hurricanes (4-2, 1-1) twice rallied to within a touchdown in the second half.

'You have to trust each other and believe in each other and respond in a way to overcome that adversity,' Davis said. 'We knew we were going to get a shot from them, and these are the lessons as a young football team that you like to learn. You certainly like to learn them when you win a game as opposed to losing a game.'

The Tar Heels had struggled to do that this season, from a 34-31 loss on a final-play field goal at East Carolina to a 22-20 loss to Virginia and last week's 17-10 loss at Virginia Tech. This time, they put together big plays when they needed them in the second half: a punt-forcing sack from Hilee Taylor to end a Miami drive near midfield late in the third quarter; a 49-yard catch-and-run from Tate on the ensuing possession in which he lost his right shoe at the beginning of the play; and two fourth-quarter field goals from Barth that kept Miami in catch-up mode.

'Basically, we showed that we can finish,' freshman defensive tackle Marvin Austin said.

Miami did everything it could to get back in the game, with Darnell Jenkins scoring on a 97-yard touchdown catch that made it 27-20 late in the third quarter and Javarris James scoring on a short run to set up an onside kick with about a minute left. But the Hurricanes couldn't overcome the halftime deficit or four interceptions from Kyle Wright - including one at North Carolina's 3-yard line with about 6 minutes left and Miami trailing 33-20.

'We need to make sure that we are able to run the ball and protect the football and we didn't protect the football,' Miami coach Randy Shannon said. 'We talk about it and we keep talking about it, but it's a process. I still do believe this is a good football team. Everybody may say, 'Coach it's not,' but I believe in my heart.'

EAST CAROLINA 52, UCF 38: Chris Johnson returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to spark a 28-point third quarter as host East Carolina (3-3, 2-1 Conference USA) rallied to beat Central Florida (3-2, 1-1).

The defense forced five turnovers in the third quarter to take control away from the Knights. The Pirates converted three of the turnovers into scores. In addition to Johnson's kick return, Rob Kass hit Jamar Bryant on a 6-yard scoring pass and then hit Davon Drew on a 20-yard play.

Kevin Smith, the nation's leading rusher, gained 147 yards and scored on a 1-yard run with 1:34 left in the half to give the Knights a 28-14 edge.

WINSTON-SALEM 27, FLORIDA A&M 23: Five first-half fumbles, including two that led to Winston-Salem touchdowns, helped the Rams (3-3) defeat Florida A&M in the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis.

The Rams drove 76 yards in nine plays for the winning score in the fourth quarter after the Rattlers rallied to tie the score at 20. Junior running back Roderick Fluellen accumulated 57 yards on four rushes to set up a 2-yard scoring run by Jed Bines.

Florida A&M (2-3), which defeated the Rams with a fourth-quarter comeback in its only previous meeting last year, wasn't finished. A Leon Camel pass to Willie Hayward gained 43 yards, but the Rattlers had to settle for Wesley Taylor's third field goal of the game with 4:58 to play.

TROY 34, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 16: Kenny Cattouse ran for 205 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown as Troy (4-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) came up just short of 300 yards rushing but cruised past host Florida International (0-6, 0-2).

Troy finished with 299 yards rushing as a team, and Cattouse scored on an 88-yard touchdown run with 3:08 left in the third quarter to give the Trojans a 34-10 lead.

Omar Haugabook, who completed 24 of 34 passes for 195 yards and ran for 64 yards and a TD, hit Andrew Davis for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 6:38 left in the third quarter to make the score 27-10.

DAYTON 49, JACKSONVILLE 3: Kevin Hoyng passed for three TDs and ran for another and Joe Gulick rushed for two scores to lead host Dayton (5-1, 1-1 Pioneer League) past Jacksonville (1-4, 0-2).

The only points for the Dolphins came on Michael Zacco's 30-yard field goal early in the third quarter.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT