ATLANTA — North Carolina's depleted defense held its own against LSU and the offense overcame a shaky start but the Tigers' special teams proved to be the difference in the first half of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff.
Patrick Peterson had 244 yards in kick returns to set up two touchdowns and he returned a third, 87 yards for a touchdown to give the No. 21 Tigers a 30-10 halftime lead over No. 18 UNC.
Peterson set up LSU's second touchdown with a kickoff return to the 50-yard line and their fourth touchdown with a punt return to the LSU 49-yard line.
Minus 13 players, including eight starters on defense, because of an agent-related and academic investigations by the NCAA, UNC was short-handed but not on emotion.
After falling behind 7-0 because of two early fumbles, UNC rallied to take a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.
T.J. Yates hit Devon Ramsey for a 9-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7 and then hit Jheranie Boyd on a 75-yard pass to set up a field goal.
After Boyd's big play, Ramsey dropped what would have been a touchdown. The Heels settled for a field goal from Casey Barth and the bottom dropped out from there.
Peterson returned Barth's kickoff after the field goal 45 yards to midfield. On the next play, Russell Shepard busted a 50-yard touchdown run around UNC's visibly slower defense, which was missing all four of its regular starters in the secondary.
Down 14-10, UNC center Jonathan Cooper air-mailed a snap through the end zone, which cost UNC two points.
Peterson's 87-yard touchdown made it 23-10 and then another long punt return set the Tigers up at their own 49.
On the next play, LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson hit Rueben Randle on a 51-yard pass over UNC's secondary for the 30-10 advantage.
Comments
oh well
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 13:51 — gvillegatrI'm sure the ABCers felt like it was Christmas morn at HT, but the Heels DID NOT give up. I'm disappointed they did not win, but you can't win em all. I said they would win and they should have won, but life goes on. Great effort in the 2nd half, Heels.
Not really like Christmas.
Mon, 09/06/2010 - 18:48 — mad_maxNot really like Christmas. More like counting on a little bit of snow and not doing a school project that's due the next day, and then having school cancelled right before the bus shows up. Hmm, hope that makes sense.
JPG
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 09:13 — SurferSure this was an update story by JPG, but along with his print edition, it makes you wonder if he even watched the second half all the way to the final play.
There's lots to build off of..
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 07:10 — UNC1998I'm sure the coaches and players see this as a lost opportunity. In some respects it is. The fact that UNC had chances at the end shows how the players never gave up. The mistakes in the first half are things that can be corrected with practice. Of course LSU had speed to burn, and showed it on the punt return and long run. I'm convinced that run was either a bad defensive call or missed assignment. If the missing players do not return UNC will have to devote a lot of time to special teams play. I fully expect UNC to pick themselves up and keep plugging. I'm looking forward to an exciting and successful season. The players have showed their character and desire.... Some other things they can work on.
I don't think we could be
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 00:01 — unc098I don't think we could be prouder than we are of this team tonight. What an amazing comeback. Thanks for the kind words .
As some of us stated earlier this offense has the capability to move the ball. TJ really showed his stuff under great duress. My hat is off to him and the offensive line for giving him time to make the passes he needed to make in the end.
Not sure how good LSU will
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 22:42 — TDiddytNot sure how good LSU will prove to be this year, but win or lose, big time kudos to UNC and the players on the field tonight...
LSU just stopped the Heels on 4th down with less than 2 min to go. Oh well.
With all the distractions of the past weeks, the early in-game adversity the Heels had to overcome... you Heels fans should be proud of those remaining players who did nothing wrong and gave an excellent effort tonight.
Down to the wire, but the
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 23:00 — TDiddytDown to the wire, but the Heels lose. Bravo, excellent effort. As mentioned before, Yates will do fine this year.
Lots for Heels fans to be proud, at least of those on the field.
How Cow! LSU just
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 22:45 — TDiddytHow Cow! LSU just fumbled!!!
I find myself almost pulling for the UNC 'good guys' on the field.
Not sure what the hell
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 21:57 — mad_maxNot sure what the hell bilgewater is talking about, but I think this is all what we pretty much expected. I know some fans wanted to be optimistic (especially gatr), and that's perfectly okay, but I think that even they knew an LSU win was most likely. Hey, at least Carolina put up a fight though...and you'll always have Kirk and Brent on your side. After the two early fumbles, UNC easily could have just rolled over, so props to them for continuing to play.
Gotta agree
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 22:41 — JPDOhioAfter halftime, I would have expected UNC to walk thru the second half and LSU to put the nail in the coffin. The opposite came true.
Looks like it is over now, but props to the Tar Heels for hanging tough when they could have packed it in.
Hold that thought.
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 22:44 — JPDOhioHold that thought.
Who made this schedule?Why not do what Dean did?
Sat, 09/04/2010 - 21:45 — bilgewaterWhat is wrong with going into the fifth week with an unbeaten record?
Did any other state universities schedule Alabama or Texas or Ohio State or USC?