North Carolina Tar Heels outfox Virginia Cavaliers, 28-27

The North Carolina Tar Heels made their own luck in the fourth quarter to defeat the Virginia Cavaliers 28-27 in Charlottesville, VA. The events that won the game were an interception by defensive tackle Nazir Jones that led to a touchdown thrown by Mitch Trubisky. That touchdown led to an onside kick try that was recovered by Mack Hollins. That drive led to an field goal attempt by Nick Weiler that never was, as Virginia had twelve men on the field to make a 4th and 2 into a first down and a series of kneel downs.

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The first half witnessed most of the scoring, with Virginia scoring twice and then North Carolina scoring twice. The teams traded second quarter touchdowns, but Virginia got a late field goal and almost got another. North Carolina missed two field goals in the first half. The score was UVA 24-21 at that point.

The second half saw neither offense able to take advantage. North Carolina shifted the field position battle so that Virginia was routinely bottled up at the wrong end of the field. The turnover by Jones against Greyson Lambert was the catalyst for the victory.

Play of the Game

Lambert had hurt the Heels with short passes to the flats all game and watching the missed tackles turn small plays into big ones. Lambert threw what he figured was a safe ball to a receiver on a short out pattern only to see Nazir Jones jump up and snag the ball. Jones has been playing better as the year as gone along. He returned the pick a few yards, dragging his former blocker. Quarterback Marquise Williams took the offense down to third down in the red zone. His helmet got ripped off and Mitch Trubisky had to come from the bullpen and find TJ Thorpe over the middle for the score.

Where You There When…

With North Carolina trying to milk the clock down to nothing, they needed a first down with about 1:40 to play. Virginia got the third down stop and Weiler came on to at least make it a four point game. Weiler was 0-2, and we will never know if he would have been 0-3 as Virginia was called for twelve men on the field. That made it a North Carolina first down and a series of kneel downs.

Oct 25, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) catches the ball en route to a touchdown as Virginia Cavaliers safety Quin Blanding (3) and safety Anthony Harris (8) defend in the second quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

I Want Him on My Team

Mack Hollins WR

Hollins was everywhere. He had two long touchdown receptions for 120 yards. He was responsible for downing a couple of kicks inside the 10. He recovered the onside kick that kept North Carolina in charge of the closing stages of the game.

Final Thoughts:
North Carolina and Virginia both needed this game and since the Tar Heels got it, they are now back in the Coastal Division race only a game back from Duke and Pittsburgh (playing GT as of this writing) with a trip to Miami awaiting. Miami is also in that mix of Coastal Division teams after dismantling Virginia Tech on Thursday. The next task for North Carolina is not to rely on having the ball last to gain victory.