Staff photo by Chris Seward
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CHAPEL HILL — Hakeem Nicks and UNC's secondary wouldn't let UNC lose two straight games for the first time this season.
Nicks scored four touchdowns and the Tar Heels had three interceptions, the third a pick-six by Trimane Goddard to throttle No. 23 Boston College, 45-24.
The win makes the Tar Heels (6-2) bowl eligible with four games left in the season. The Heels' last bowl trip was in 2004, a 37-24 loss to Boston College, then a Big East member, in the Tire Bowl.
Nicks caught three touchdowns, all in the second quarter, and rushed for a fourth, from 12 yards in the fourth qaurter. He caught six passes for 131 yards in the first half and finished with eight catches for 139 yards.
The UNC defense ruled the second half with two picks, one returned by Kendric Burney to the 1-yard line and another by Goddard, returned 51 yards for a score.
UNC has 17 interceptions on the season, four returned for touchdowns. BC quarterback Chris Crane has thrown six touchdowns and nine interceptions in four ACC games.
Burney's second interception of the game, which he returned 37 yards to the 1-yard line, set up Ryan Houston's 1-yard touchdown and extended UNC's 24-17 halftime advantage.
Cam Sexton hooked up with Nicks for a 43-yard TD after BC drove the field on UNC's soft 2-minute defense.
Crane's 9-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jarvis tied the scored at 17 with 54 seconds left.
Then Nicks, who hadn't scored a touchdown in three weeks, worked his magic again. All three of his TDs came in a 24-point second quarter for the Tar Heels.
Nicks' second TD, from 40 yards at 2:17 in the second quarter, gave the Heels their first lead of the game, 17-10.
An interception by Burney at the Heels' 44-yard line set up Nicks' second touchdown.
Then UNC's soft 2-minute defense, which allowed Virginia to drive the length of the field and tie the game in regulation before winning overtime, let Crane and the BC offense move freely down the field.
The Eagles jumped out to a 10-0 lead, thanks to a defensive touchdown.
Nicks' jumping one-handed catch and 26-yard run got the Heels back in the game.
The Eagles kicked a field goal on their first drive and then scored on UNC's first drive. Defensive tackle Ron Brace sacked Sexton at UNC's 20-yard line. Sexton fumbled and Kevin Akins picked it up at the 13 and ran into the end zone untouched.
It was a strange play-call for the Heels, who had third-and-2 from their own 26 but emptied the backfield and attempted to get the ball to Nicks in the right flat.
Boston College didn't have any problems with the wet conditions on its first drive. The Eagles moved the ball down the field 58 yards but were stopped short of the end zone.
A 35-yard field goal by Steve Aponavicius put BC up 3-0 at 7:53 in the first quarter.
Casey Barth's 32-yard field goal at 8:57 tied the score at 10-10.
Comments
No photo gallery?
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 18:47 — UNCAlumnusI really enjoy them. It's too bad this game didn't get one.
I posted that too soon
Sun, 10/26/2008 - 21:30 — UNCAlumnusThank you all for your efforts.
I just got home
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 17:48 — UNCAlumnusThe start of the game is not good. Wife and I were dripping wet, and UNC was down 10. Ater that it got way better. Nicks is a Man. Sexton did well after the fumble. I liked the way he was willing to throw it away when nothing was there. The defense stood tall till BC's last drive. The 1st team D line was gone by that point. Paschal was still in, and he just got behind on that penalty call. Foster's knee did not touch according to that huge screen at the stadium. All in all, I'll take a good 'ol whippin of BC and two weeks to get ready for GT's 1890 football.
yea. they showed replays
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 20:05 — gvillegatryea. they showed replays all day long except for when Fosters knee supposedly hit. you could hear it on tv that you guys at the game got a replay. didnt matter, but it did look like he would maybe score off the play.
another thing is the damn ole defense UNC played in the east 2 mins. QUIT FRICKING PLAYING THAT DEFENSE COACHES!! it was easily the best offensiv e possession BC had all day long an dit took less than 45 secs. the only blessing was the BC coaches were even more stupid kicking the soft squib kick. then NIcks took over!! none the less, quit with that 2 min defense. learn a fricking lesson will ya!!??
spotted em 10 and then BC
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 16:23 — gvillegatrspotted em 10 and then BC was taken out back behind the wood shed! it sure is a great thing to watch when the defense and the offense is clicking!
I guess UNC will be 28 pt favorites on Nov 22nd!? a little transitive theory for all the mathmeticians that read ACCNow!!
good game
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 15:11 — TarHeelFan05Great showing by the Tarheels today. It was a fun game to watch. Glad to see we are back on the track of things.
early
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 12:33 — gvillegatrdadgumit, this BC team is very oppurtunistic when it comes to defensive TD's ... its early though.
late
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 19:47 — melvinfurdAs it turned out, B.C. was not very opportunistic with the offensive TDs. And, you were right - it was early. From 0-10 to 45-17 was a major turnaround. The last B.C. TD to "cut" the NCU lead to 45-24 meant zip.