BLACKSBURG, Va. — North Carolina’s defense is as good as advertised. T.J. Yates, Shaun Draughn and the offense are improving too.
Casey Barth kicked a 21-yard field goal on the final play and the Tar Heels’ defense, ranked seventh in the nation, stopped No. 14 Virginia Tech in a 20-17 win Thursday.
One week after blowing an 18-point lead in a 30-27 home loss against Florida State that had them reeling, the Tar Heels put their troubles in the past and handed the Hokies their second loss in a row.
“I’ve never really had this feeling before,” Yates (18-for-28 for 131 yards) said after making several key completions. “Kicking it at the last second? It just sends chills down your spine.”
The Tar Heels (5-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) got their first conference win after forcing a fumble by Ryan Williams at his own 24 with 2:02 left and running out the clock.
Barth’s field goal, his second in the final three minutes, sealed the deal.
“We knew we had to get back to the drawing board,” Draughn said after rushing for 77 yards. “To come back and play the way we did speaks volumes about our team.”
The reverse may be true of the Hokies (5-3, 3-2), who until losing to No. 11 Georgia Tech 12 days ago were in the thick of the national championship picture and feeling good.
“Personally I feel like I kind of took the game away from us today,” Williams said. “It was on the line, it was in my hands and I fumbled.”
Cornhuskers have questions at quarterback
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini isn’t saying who’ll start at quarterback against Baylor on Saturday.
The Cornhuskers finished preparations for the game in Waco, Texas, with a 1-hour, 40-minute practice.
Zac Lee has started all seven games, but the Huskers have lost two straight, including a 9-7 defeat to Iowa State in which the Huskers committed a school record-tying eight turnovers. Pelini has said he’s looking for someone to provide a spark to the struggling offense.
Pelini did announce that receiver Chris Brooks (hip) would not make the trip.
Internet post will cost UConn student
HARTFORD, Conn. — A University of Connecticut student committed an act of terrorism by posting Internet messages telling people to “stop the snitching” after the stabbing death of football player Jasper Howard, UConn police said.
Christopher Mutchler, an 18-year- old freshman, faces charges of hindering prosecution, committing an act of terrorism and several misdemeanors. He is due in court Nov. 10.
Hurricanes are hurting
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Running back Javarris James, defensive end Eric Moncur and safety Ray Ray Armstrong have been ruled out of No. 18 Miami’s game at Wake Forest on Saturday.
The school listed all three injuries as “lower extremity.” It’s more of the same for Miami, which has not had its first-string defense together for any game this season.
Tebow, McCoy top Campbell list
DALLAS — Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy are among 16 finalists for the Campbell Trophy, given to the nation’s top senior scholar-athlete.
The Associated Press
