Staff photo by Chuck Liddy
Quarterback Christian Ponder sparked an improbable comeback as Florida State rebounded from a 16-point, second-half deficit to edge North Carolina 30-27 in the first Thursday night game at Kenan Stadium.
Ponder completed 33 of 40 passes for 395 yards as the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 ACC) won their first conference game of the season. North Carolina (4-3, 0-3) led 24-6 early in the second quarter, but a stunning two-play turnaround lifted Florida State.
With North Carolina in Florida State territory, Jamie Robinson intercepted T.J. Yates near the Seminole goal line. After a penalty backed the ball up to the Florida State 2-yard line, Christian Ponder completed the longest pass ever thrown againist the Tar Heels, a 98-yard throw to Rod Owens.
Florida State won despite committing 16 penalties and will play host to N.C. State on Oct. 31.
Earlier...
In a stunning comeback against a the ACC's best defense, Florida State has overcome a 16-point, second-half deficit to take a 30-27 lead over North Carolina with 6:20 remaining.
Christian Ponder passed 18 yards to a wide-open Beau Reliford for the go-ahead score.
Earlier...
Thanks to a suddenly potent rushing attack, North Carolina finally has interrupted Florida State's streak of 17 straight points and given itself some breathing room.
Casey Barth's 26-yard field goal with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter increased the Tar Heels' advantage to 27-23. Despite taking possession on its own 8-yard line, North Carolina drove 83 yards entirely on the ground.
Shaun Draughn carried six times for 49 yards on the drive.
Earlier...
It's a one-point game.
A 40-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins extended Florida State's scoring streak to 17 straight points and cut North Carolina's lead to 24-23 with 12:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Hopkins is 3-for-3 on field goal attempts tonight.
Earlier...
Florida State seemed sunk after North Carolina stretched its lead to 18 points on its opening drive in the third quarter.
But the Seminoles struck back with a 6-yard scoring pass to Taiwan Easterling, an interception by Jamie Robinson and a 98-yard touchdown pass to Rod Owens to draw within 24-20.
As the third quarter ended, Florida State had the ball second-and-2 at the 31-yard line of a Tar Heel defense that suddenly, desperately needed a stop.
Earlier. . .
What a turnaround.
With North Carolina in Florida State territory, T.J. Yates threw his worst pass of the day.
Yates rolled left and threw the ball directly into the hands of Florida State safety Jamie Robinson.
One play later, Christian Ponder hit Rod Owens for the longest touchdown pass ever against the Tar Heels. Owens' 98-yard reception cut North Carolina's lead to 24-20 with 4:41 left in the third quarter.
Earlier. . .
Florida State finally put one in the end zone.
Christian Ponder passed 6 yards to Taiwan Easterling with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter, narrowing the Tar Heels' advantage to 24-13.
After failing to convert its first six third-down opportunities, Florida State was 3-for-3 on third-down on the drive.
Tar Heel tight end Zack Pianalto, who returned after missing four games with a foot injury, lasted just two series before leaving the game with a head injury. He will not return. North Carolina cornerback Jordan Hemby also is unlikely to return because of injury.
Earlier...
North Carolina's start to the second half was just as stellar as its start to the game.
The Tar Heel defense held Florida State to a three-and-out on the opening possession of the third quarter. Then quarterback T.J. Yates scored his first rushing touchdown on the season on a 10-yard, third-down bootleg.
Yates capped a 45-yard drive and extended North Carolina's lead to 24-6.
Earlier. . .
On the final play of the first half, Dustin Hopkins kicked a 26-yard field goal for Florida State to narrow North Carolina's lead to 17-6.
Florida State had first-and-goal at the Tar Heels' 3-yard line and seemed to have a golden opportunity to make a dent in North Carolina's advantage because the Seminoles will get the ball first in the second half.
But coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher inexplicably called a quarterback bootleg against North Carolina's speedy defense on the goal line. The Tar Heels thumped Christian Ponder for a 6-yard loss, and Florida State had to settle for the field goal.
Florida State has itself to blame for most of its first-half woes. The Seminoles have nine penalties for 70 yards, plus a fumble that led to North Carolina's second touchdown.
Earlier...
With the help of three Florida State penalties, North Carolina has extended its lead.
Casey Barth kicked a 34-yard field goal with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter to make the score 17-3 in the Tar Heels' favor. The drive was 13 plays for 52 yards. The three penalties accounted for 30 of those yards.
Earlier...
North Carolina has equaled its largest first-quarter scoring output of the season and leads Florida State 14-3 after one quarter.
The Tar Heels' offense was ranked last in the ACC in yards and points entering the game, but managed 101 yards on 18 plays.
Earlier. . .
Shortly after one turnover was overturned, North Carolina caused another one.
E.J. Wilson sacked Christian Ponder, Marvin Austin recovered and North Carolina converted with a 13-yard pass from T.J. Yates to tight end Ed Barham. The Tar Heels lead 14-3 with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter.
Earlier...
An officials' replay review overturned a big play by the Tar Heels after a big hit by UNC cornerback Kendric Burney appeared to produce the first turnover of the day with Florida State in Tar Heel territory.
Burney dislodged the ball from Bert Reed as he caught a pass, and Da'Norris Searcy recovered for the Tar Heels. But after a review, the pass was ruled incomplete.
Florida State couldn't move the ball after that, though, and settled for a 48-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins to trail 7-3 with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Earlier...
Greg Little and North Carolina are off to a fast start against Florida State.
On the opening drive, Little caught three passes for 53 yards, including a 31-yard reception on a fullback pass from Bobby Rome.
Then Little followed a block from tight end Zack Pianalto - who's back from a dislocated foot - for a 5 yard scoring run and a 7-0 Tar Heel lead with 3:30 expired.
Earlier..
Florida State has just kicked off at North Carolina.
Lawrence Taylor has returned for a football game for the first time since his career ended following the 1980 season. Stay tuned here for more live updates.
Comments
Expectations are too high
Sat, 10/24/2009 - 13:23 — Worz4UNCIt appears we are back to the "second year" of a coaching change when we are losing close games for whatever reason out of dozens. Davis has said that we will get better coaching when we get better players. Once I accepted this ILLOGICAL philosophy, my expectations were lowered immediately. A 4 and 8 season no longer looks as horrible as it once did. Just keep improving with every game players and our coaches will follow suit and only then will we return to post season play in a year or two.
Congrats to any FSU posters on here..
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 22:57 — UNC1998for your team's victory. UNC layed out a nice gameplan. Didn't pan out. FSU made some good adjustments at halftime. Getting the ball outside with quick passes was apparently what they needed to do. There was no need for UNC to even attempt a forward pass in the 4th quarter. They were running the ball. What I've always heard is if something is working...keep doing it until it doesn't. Working with two backs and the wr on the jet plays was doing the trick. As far as the punt on 4th and 5...if they had kept running it wouldn't have happened. They should have gone for it anyway. I told my buddy I was thinking FSU would get single coverage on the outside and go for it backed up. Why not? Get 7 yards and punt or punt out of the endzone....it didn't really matter. Well the thing worked and they looked smart. FSU's offense executed down the stretch. UNC's offense would not stick with what was working. UNC's vaunted defense was somewhat exposed on the outside. Oh well, whatever the spread on the VT game take the over. I hope nothing but victory for the Heels. They're just looking more and more difficult.
Triangle Football Is At Least Predictable
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 16:00 — cp1066If you COMBINE all the wins that Duke, UNC, and NC State have posted in the last five years its far less wins than Appalachian. Richmond beats Duke, William & Mary beats Virginia and we lose to Virgina. Dear God, we might consider dropping down to the FCS. Those extra scholarship players aren't doing us a bit of good.
Blue in Chapel Hill.
20/20
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:31 — SurferFirst, never should have punted with about four minutes to go. Not with the way the FSU offense was operating.
Second, should have gone for it on 4th and 2 on the 12 yard line, instead of kicking the FG. I had a bad feeling that that 4 point lead was not going to be enough.
Now it is a definite up hill climb to get 3 more wins. Duke, BC and NCSU are probably our best chances. I suggest that they play for a full 60 minutes in each game if they even want a chance to make it to some "bowl" game.
agree and agree.
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 14:05 — gvillegatrnever should have punted. You knew the game was over when they decided to punt. Icing on the cake was the punt going into the endzone!
Dead on, again, with the FG attempt. UNC was EFFECTIVELY running the football. 2 yards on the ground was very attainable.
Slip Sliding Away
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 12:20 — heelsno1Carolina competed well and was in a solid position to secure a nice victory but let the game slip away with one huge mistake. I know all of the coaching jargon about how the game is bigger than any one mistake. Generally speaking, that is probably true. But, last night there was one costly misjudgment that turned the game completely around in FSU's favor.
Beyond question, this loss falls squarely on the shoulders of one player...T. J. Yates. Under the circumstances (with Carolina holding a nice lead and gaining momentum toward another scoring drive), Yates overthrows a deep pass for a game-changing turnover. That interception in the 2nd period was a bad throw and an even worse decision. The one thing you cannot have in that situation is for your QB to make an unnecessarily risky play and turnover. FSU scores on their next possession with a 98-yard bomb. This dramatic turn of events and huge reversal of momentum was devastating. At that moment, I could feel the surge of energy evaporate out of Kenan Stadium. Game over!
Unbelievable
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 11:37 — Heels20Have our coaches learned nothing from last season? VT, UVA, UMD. We screwed up the same way in each of those games. We built a lead, then got all submissive and started playing not to lose. What happens when you play not to lose against Bobby Bowden? YOU LOSE.
I still don't understand how we managed to both coach and play as poorly as we did in the second half last night. First of all, the refs were gift-wrapping calls to us. The "fumble" by Ponder that was ruled a fumble was no doubt an incomplete pass. Fortunately, we took advantage of it and scored. However, it was like as soon as we reached 24-6, everyone turned on cruise control. Our defense was so scared of giving up the big play that all FSU had to do was throw it under our safeties for constant 8-12 yard gains. I wonder how they figured out how to do that? THEY WATCHED FILM OF EVERY LOSS WE HAD LAST YEAR.
Offensively, it was like John Shoop wasn't even watching our own game. We threw the ball deep twice. What happened? The first was a TD to Dwight Jones that got called back because of holding. The second would have been a TD had Jheranie Boyd not dropped it. Heaven forbid we try a play that works...a play that I have been saying to run for weeks now. STRETCH THE FIELD. I swear I have never seen a group of offensive coaches so incompetent (okay, I take that back, I have seen Noel Mazzone and Marc Trestman). Two adjustments, TWO FREAKIN ADJUSTMENTS. Ryan Houston at runningback, and the deep pass to Dwight Jones (whether complete or incomplete) just to stretch the field.
One of the biggest disappointments was that the atmosphere was great, and our team still blew it. First Thursday night game ever in Chapel Hill with the potential to be the final nail in Bowden's coffin (metaphorically speaking). You would think that maybe we would come out and gamble with the blitz at least a couple times considering our DBs are good enough to make up for it. Instead, we only bring the front four toward Ponder against an offensive line made up of 5 guys who have over a year of experience at the starting position. Ponder had all day, and any one who knows anything about football could have told you that would happen if we got conservative.
I still stand by my team and support them, but goodness, that was embarrassing. Two things can happen from here. Either we step up, and compete for a shot at a bowl game and show that we are a talented football team, or we give up on this season and prepare for the biggest game on our schedule, LSU. Whatever happens, I hope our guys can just grow the necessary body parts that they will definitely need next weekend in Blackburg, because otherwise, it's going to be an UGLY weekend.
Duke is
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 09:43 — YAR8packDuke is the best team in the state? Oy! How sad is is that the Duke vs WF matchup is the most highly (use that term lightly) touted game in the state of NC all year?
UNC is terrible. I tried to tell you knob slobbers that in September.
State is equally as terrible as unc. I was delusional to feel otherwise in September.
no excuse
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 00:10 — jvnealThis is a sorry excuse for an offense. Really....is this all you've got, Butch?
Snifff.....
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 23:50 — wjollyGreat first half by the Heels...you'd almost think that LT gave them something that wore off at halftime!!!!!!
Sniff Indeed
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 08:39 — PuddentainLT was fond of the nose candy...
Yes, Puddentain
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 11:20 — Heels20That was the joke...glad you understood it
butch
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 23:42 — gvillegatrdid his (Miami) best to bring a few old school guys back (Pep and LT) and it did no good!
awful play calling (and the disatrous play of Charles Brown) did us in.
take solace, nscu.
Play calling, or execution?
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 23:57 — LetsGoPittWas it the play calling, or the play of Yates: only 46% completion and an INT. That's not too good.
Maybe they should have run more since the passing game was anemic.
Also, did FSU commit 16 penalties?!?! MAn, when your opponent commits that many, you should win......
go check your 2nd half
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 00:09 — gvillegatrall they did in the 2nd half was run the f'ing football. you and your A-D-D need to go back and look at the game b/c all you remember is the last drive (desperate) and the 2 plays before that (inexcusable).
why did you punt the fricking ball, Butch.
joke
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 23:40 — gvillegatrwhat a joke.
later ...
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 23:39 — gvillegatrButch. I'm (officially) tired of this crap. I've never given up in anything other than piano at age 10. UNC (and ncsu) will never succeed at football.
this state has too many D 1 teams. period. we (the state of NC) will never be great at footall.
Two Games
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 23:20 — LetsGoPittWell, it's liek two diffrent games: UNC dominates first half, FSU comes back in the 2nd. I am a bit surprised as I really thought UNC would lead wire-to-wire with ground game controlling the ball.
But, I've seen this happen before where the home teams leads the entrie first half, lots of home corwd enthusiasm, then both the team and the fans are flat in the 2nd half and the visitors come back.
Anyway, glad it is an exciting game!