Heels Dig In, Win Unc Runs Off 45 Straight Points To Rally Past Virginia

Top 25

Undefeated North Carolina has developed the uncomfortable habit of spotting opponents early leads, then rallying to victory.

On Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., the fifth-ranked Tar Heels took this practice to dangerous lengths. But after falling behind Virginia by 17 points in the first half, North Carolina scored 45 consecutive points en route to an impressive 48-20 victory.

North Carolina, which matched a school mark for overcoming a deficit in victory, improved to 4-0, 2-0 in the ACC. Virginia fell to 1-2, 0-1 ACC, in a game that was delayed 14 minutes when the referee, James Knight, had a heart attack in the second quarter.

Defense turned the game for the Tar Heels, who trailed, 20-10, at halftime. In the second half, they forced three fumbles and held Virginia to 68 net yards, and their all-America defensive back Dre’ Bly returned an interception for a touchdown.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a ball game that changed that much from the first half to the second half,” said North Carolina coach Mack Brown. “Just two completely different football games.”

Next for North Carolina: at TCU.

(1) Florida 55, Kentucky 28

At Lexington, Ky., Florida’s Doug Johnson fired five touchdown passes, including three to Jacquez Green in the first quarter as the No. 1 Gators took a 28-0 lead.

Johnson completed 22 of 34 passes for 286 yards before leaving after the third quarter as Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC) won its 24th consecutive league game and defeated the Wildcats (2-2, 0-2) for the 11th straight time.

Next for Florida: vs. Arkansas.

(6) Michigan 21, Notre Dame 14

At Ann Arbor, Mich., Brian Griese’s 41-yard touchdown pass and Chris Floyd’s 14-yard scoring run in the opening minutes of the second half sparked the Wolverines (3-0), giving the Irish (1-3) a three-game losing streak for the first time in 12 years.

Not since Gerry Faust’s final Irish team dropped three straight at the close of the 1985 season has Notre Dame (1-3) sunk so low. And with a game next Saturday at No. 20 Stanford, the Irish and new coach Bob Davie could find themselves with the school’s longest losing streak since 1963.

Next for Michigan: at Indiana.

(7) Ohio State 31, Missouri 10

At Columbia, Mo., backup quarterback Joe Germaine threw two touchdown passes to David Boston and directed a third scoring drive as the Buckeyes (4-0) recovered from a sluggish start to defeat the Tigers (2-2).

Germaine was the Rose Bowl MVP last year in relief of Stanley Jackson, who is 15-0 as the starter.

Ohio State, which benefited from great field position all day, is 9-1-1 against Missouri (2-2), although this was the first meeting since 1976.

Next for Ohio St.: vs. Iowa.

(8) Auburn 41, Cent. Florida 14

Dameyune Craig enjoyed the third-best passing night of his career, throwing for 360 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tigers (4-0) to victory over the Golden Knights (1-4) at Auburn, Ala.

Next for Auburn: at South Carolina.

(11) Iowa 38, Illinois 10

At Iowa City, Iowa, Tavian Banks got Iowa rolling with a weaving, juking 76-yard run and the Hawkeyes hit on four other big plays to defeat the Illini.

Iowa (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) scored 17 points in the final 8:08 of the first half to pull away in the Big Ten opener for the teams and leave Illinois winless in four games under new coach Ron Turner.

Next for Iowa: at Ohio St.

(13) LSU 56, Akron 0

Herb Tyler passed for four touchdowns and ran for another score in the first half as the Tigers (3-1) blanked the Zips (0-4) at Baton Rouge, La.

Cecil Collins ran for 179 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers, who scored on every possession until the closing minute of the third quarter.

Next for LSU: at Vanderbilt.

(14) Va. Tech 50, Arkansas St. 0

At Blacksburg, Va., Al Clark passed for 177 yards and two touchdowns as the Hokies (4-0) cruised passed the Indians (1-3), holding Arkansas State (1-3) to minus 28 yards rushing.

The triumph was Tech’s 12th in a row in Blacksburg. Frank Beamer now has the most career coaching victories at Tech (4-0), with 65 in his 11th season.

Next for Va. Tech: vs. Miami, Ohio

Georgia Tech 23, (17) Clemson 20

Brad Chambers kicked two field goals for Georgia Tech after the regular kicker was injured, including a 20-yarder with 1:54 remaining, to give the Yellow Jackets (2-1, 2-0 ACC) an upset of the Tigers (2-2, 1-2) at Atlanta.

Chambers, who was Tech’s regular kicker last season, stepped in after Dave Frakes suffered a concussion making a tackle on a kickoff return in the first half.

Next for Clemson: vs. UTEP.

(18) Kansas St. 58, Bowling Green 0

At Manhattan, Kan., Eric Hickson, darting through huge holes, rushed for a career-high 163 yards as the Wildcats (3-0) routed the Falcons (2-3), holding Bowling Green to 56 yards.

Next for Kansas St.: at Nebraska.

(21) Alabama 27, So. Miss. 13

At Birmingham, Ala., Freddie Kitchens broke out of a slump with two TD passes as the Crimson Tide (3-1) continued to dominate the Golden Eagles (2-2).

It was Alabama’s sixth straight win over the Golden Eagles.

Next for Alabama: at Kentucky.