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CHAPEL HILL North Carolina's players said all week they felt no extra pressure playing Notre Dame. Instead, they were the ones who put stress on the Fighting Irish on Saturday when it mattered the most.
The No. 22 Tar Heels used four second-half turnovers – including a fumble recovery with three seconds left that required an official review – to counter an otherwise impressive outing from Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen (31-of-48, 383 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions).
The 29-24 victory at raucous Kenan Stadium leaves the Tar Heels (5-1) one win from bowl eligibility. It was the second win in 18 football games against Notre Dame.
“That's definitely something I'm going to remember for a long while,'' linebacker Mark Paschal said, “the defense being on the field to win it.”
Especially because UNC struggled to get to Clausen with four- and three-man fronts early, as Notre Dame (4-2) punished the Tar Heels with five-receiver sets to open the game.
Linebacker Bruce Carter recorded the first sack of his career, but Clausen controlled the attack, passing for 199 of the Irish's 260 first-half yards.
“They had us reeling, and it took a while for us to scratch some things on the sidelines and tweak some coverages and come up with some things that our kids could execute and do,” North Carolina coach Butch Davis said.
Like create turnovers? On the first offensive play of the second half, North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant stepped in front of a Clausen pass intended for Kyle Rudolph and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
It marked the 13th interception of the season for the Tar Heels, and the third return for a touchdown. The extra point cut UNC's deficit to 17-16 with 14:48 left in the third quarter.
“It electrified the whole football team,” coach Butch Davis said, “and it got our mojo going again.”
The teams traded touchdowns when James Aldridge scored on a 2-yard run for Notre Dame and Butler High's Ryan Houston ran from a yard out for the Tar Heels.
Then, with Notre Dame leading 24-22 after UNC's 2-point conversion failed, North Carolina lineman Aleric Mullins stripped Clausen on a sack and recovered the fumble. That eventually led to a 4-yard touchdown hurdle by quarterback Cameron Sexton (18-of-32, 201 yards) that gave the Tar Heels their first lead of the game, 29-24, with 14:50 left in the game.
With 4:50 left, safety Deunta Williams' interception thwarted Notre Dame's drive.
With 11 seconds left, Clausen threw 26 yards downfield to Michael Floyd, who had the ball stripped by Jordan Hemby at the 7.
North Carolina's Trimane Goddard hopped on it, but it took instant replay to rule it a fumble and seal the victory.
“I thought that he had called him down with what I thought was 4 seconds to go,'' Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said.
“…But it really doesn't make a difference what I thought.”
With wide receiver Brandon Tate sidelined in the first quarter by a sprained right knee, junior Hakeem Nicks, who played at Independence High, had nine catches for 141 yards for UNC.
Freshman Casey Barth made three field goals for the Tar Heels, and six different Fighting Irish players caught at least three passes.
“It was two teams fighting and scratching to find a way to re-establish themselves as a football program,'' Davis said.
North Carolina's players said all week they felt no extra pressure playing Notre Dame. Instead, they were the ones who put stress on the Fighting Irish on Saturday when it mattered the most.
The No. 22 Tar Heels used four second-half turnovers – including a fumble recovery with three seconds left that required an official review – to counter an otherwise impressive outing from Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen (31-of-48, 383 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions).
The 29-24 victory at raucous Kenan Stadium leaves the Tar Heels (5-1) one win from bowl eligibility. It was the second win in 18 football games against Notre Dame.
“That's definitely something I'm going to remember for a long while,'' linebacker Mark Paschal said, “the defense being on the field to win it.”
Especially because UNC struggled to get to Clausen with four- and three-man fronts early, as Notre Dame (4-2) punished the Tar Heels with five-receiver sets to open the game.
Linebacker Bruce Carter recorded the first sack of his career, but Clausen controlled the attack, passing for 199 of the Irish's 260 first-half yards.
“They had us reeling, and it took a while for us to scratch some things on the sidelines and tweak some coverages and come up with some things that our kids could execute and do,” North Carolina coach Butch Davis said.
Like create turnovers? On the first offensive play of the second half, North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant stepped in front of a Clausen pass intended for Kyle Rudolph and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.
It marked the 13th interception of the season for the Tar Heels, and the third return for a touchdown. The extra point cut UNC's deficit to 17-16 with 14:48 left in the third quarter.
“It electrified the whole football team,” coach Butch Davis said, “and it got our mojo going again.”
The teams traded touchdowns when James Aldridge scored on a 2-yard run for Notre Dame and Butler High's Ryan Houston ran from a yard out for the Tar Heels.
Then, with Notre Dame leading 24-22 after UNC's 2-point conversion failed, North Carolina lineman Aleric Mullins stripped Clausen on a sack and recovered the fumble. That eventually led to a 4-yard touchdown hurdle by quarterback Cameron Sexton (18-of-32, 201 yards) that gave the Tar Heels their first lead of the game, 29-24, with 14:50 left in the game.
With 4:50 left, safety Deunta Williams' interception thwarted Notre Dame's drive.
With 11 seconds left, Clausen threw 26 yards downfield to Michael Floyd, who had the ball stripped by Jordan Hemby at the 7.
North Carolina's Trimane Goddard hopped on it, but it took instant replay to rule it a fumble and seal the victory.
“I thought that he had called him down with what I thought was 4 seconds to go,'' Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said.
“…But it really doesn't make a difference what I thought.”
With wide receiver Brandon Tate sidelined in the first quarter by a sprained right knee, junior Hakeem Nicks, who played at Independence High, had nine catches for 141 yards for UNC.
Freshman Casey Barth made three field goals for the Tar Heels, and six different Fighting Irish players caught at least three passes.
“It was two teams fighting and scratching to find a way to re-establish themselves as a football program,'' Davis said.
