Staff photo by Robert Willett
DURHAM — North Carolina won the Victory Bell by beating rival Duke 28-20 on Saturday. More importantly, it kept itself in the mix for one of the top ACC Bowls.
Although UNC finishes 4-4 in conference play, the Chick-Fil-A, Gator or Champs Sports bowls — which get to pick first out of the ACC teams, after the winner of the ACC Championship game automatically advanced to the Orange — can still choose UNC ahead of league foe that finished 5-3.
The Tar Heels had lost two in a row before beating Duke. So the question is, was their finish (and potential traveling party) impressive enough to catapult them above the likes of Georgia Tech, Florida State, Boston College or Virginia Tech?
"I'm just thankful to God that we're getting the opportunity to go, hopefully, to one," UNC coach Butch Davis said.
Although Duke middle linebacker Michael Tauiliili was making tackles all over the field — setting a career-high with 20 tackles — Carolina pretty much controlled the game from the end of the second quarter on, thanks to Shaun Draughn's powerful runs and quarterback T.J. Yates' improved accuracy.
Draughn scored on a rush and a pass early, then UNC took the lead for good when Yates found Hakeem Nicks for a 25-yard scoring reception with 4:28 left in the second quarter, giving UNC a 21-17 lead. The touchdown catch was Nick's ninth of the season, tying the school record.
Duke's Joe Surgan — who earlier was short on a 53-yarder — booted a 55-yard field goal as halftime expired to cut the lead to four. Then a 27-yard field goal by Nick Maggio at the beginning of the second half cut UNC's lead to 21-20.
That score was set up when, on a third-and-9, UNC cornerback Kendric Burney was called for a helmet-to-helmet unsportmanlike penalty — even though he actually only when shoulder-to-shoulder with Duke wide receiver
Donovan Varner.
The Tar Heels pulled away again when Yates — whose only incompletion to that point in the game was an interception — connected with Richard Quinn near the end of the third quarter for a 32-yard touchdown play that gave UNC a 28-20 lead.
Duke drove down the field in the final minutes, getting all the way to the 16 yard line before a 4th-and-6 play was intercepted by Trimane Goddard with 15 seconds left.
The Blue Devils finish the season 4-8. Duke junior QB Thaddeus Lewis, back after missing the loss at Virginia Tech, completed 34 of 49 passes with one interception and one touchdown.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
8-4
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 12:51 — gvillegatrcongrtas on the season ending win, Butch and players. lets just see where you go bowling now. GT's win over Georgia certianly is doing us no favors. To be honest, I care more about the opponent (I'd like to see UNC as an underdog) than I do the city/bowl name.
It's all relative..
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 19:59 — UNC1998Think of it like Klinko on the Price is Right. You drop the chip, but by the time it gets to the bottom...who knows where it will end up. UNC has a few points in their corner. Short of Atlanta, I'm thinking Nashville vs. a SEC team. That game is on Jan 1, I think. It will be on TV, and people will see what Butch is building.
Duke Bowling
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 08:31 — GSoto423So. Will Duke go to a bowl game this year? 3-0 start is quite impressive!
8-4
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 00:17 — TarHeelFan05My not have won the "State Championship" or w/e. But hey! still have best record in the state 8-4 and ill take that... , ECU doesn't count cause they play in the CUSA.
Lets make the record 9-4 GO HEELS!!
grasping at straws
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 01:18 — morgannyyTHAT comment is pitiful! 41-10!!!!!!! OUCH!
typical
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 02:25 — TarHeelFan05yeah, i know the score was 41-10 smart one, i was there. but as a fan u gotta look at the positives of a season. and 8-4/9-4 is hell of alot better than 4-8.
yes, NC State had hell of a run to end the season and i give them all the credit that is deserved. But idiotic state fans like you make that hard...but keeping the class, NC State has shown they are the best team in NC this year. It's nice to see both programs (UNC and NC State) on the rise. Looking forward to years of great rivalry fun..
8-4.....
Sat, 11/29/2008 - 20:56 — UNC19988-4.....That's a very good improvement over years past. Davis' plan is coming around. It turns out the Heels weren't a year ahead, but are right on track. Next year should be fun. As for this game...I thought at the end the defense was gonna do it again, but it worked out. Yates did alright. UNC ran the ball well. Congrats to all Duke fan(s) on their teams improvement. I'm sure next year will be better for them, too.