Updated 10:05 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL – Bryn Renner didn’t let the moment escape.

After everything the Tar Heels had been through this year – the nine NCAA violations, their coach being fired before the season began, and losing four ACC games in a little more than a month – Renner wanted to thank his leader, the man who he said pushed the Tar Heels to another win: coach Everett Withers.

UNC’s 37-21 victory over rival Duke on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium increased the Tar Heels' postseason bowl prospects, and it allowed them to keep the Victory Bell. But this win also allowed Renner to thank Withers and give him a game ball in front of his teammates in the locker room.

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Too many key penalties and no tailback Giovani Bernard in the second half added up to a 24-21 North Carolina loss to Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium.

Bernard suffered what North Carolina termed a "mild’’ concussion in the second quarter and never returned to the game. He finished with 10 rushes for 47 yards.

"It hurt us tremendously. Gio is a phenomenal back,’’ said one of Bernard’s backups, Ryan Houston. "He can break so many big ones, and we needed that tonight.’’

Now we know what iPhone's Siri does when you're not asking her all your questions. She likes sports. Specifically, she likes the Tar Heels.

The interactive question-and-answer system on Apple's new iPhone 4S has enthralled its fans, who spend lots of time asking Siri random and profane questions.

But try this, early adopters: Say "Tar." Siri will respond "Heels!!!" Here's visual proof from UNC basketball blog The Rafters.

Siri wasn't as helpful with voice prompts for Carolina's competitors. Saying "wolf," "Duke" or "blue" did not produce the desired response.

This news might beg the question: Will Apple release a Carolina blue iPhone any time soon?

Photo credit: A shopper tests the new iPhone 4S at Northlake Mall Friday morning, Oct. 14, 2011. Charlotte Observer photo by Todd Sumlin - tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

RALEIGH – N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien found a new way to beat rival North Carolina for the fifth consecutive time. For this game, O’Brien’s Wolfpack did it with defense.

While O’Brien was committed to running the ball and having quarterback Mike Glennon manage the game, his defense held off UNC for a 13-0 win Saturday afternoon in front of 57,583 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

In a matchup that was hyped up earlier in the week by the remarks from O’Brien and UNC coach Everett Withers on graduation rates and academic standards, this game didn’t offer many offensive highlights.

The story was N.C. State’s defense, a unit that put up its first shutout against an ACC opponent since 2001. It was also the Wolfpack’s first shutout under O’Brien. And this came after N.C. State gave up 34 points to Florida State last week.

Wolfpack cornerback David Amerson andlinebacker Terrell Manning were the stars in this one.

Updated 9:24 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina became bowl eligible for a fourth consecutive season Saturday, thanks to a 49-24 ACC football victory against Wake Forest.

And the Deacons, due mostly to a penchant for turning the ball over to the Tar Heels at inopportune times, must wait at least one more week to secure a postseason berth.

The Tar Heels (6-3, 2-3 ACC) snapped a two-game losing streak by taking advantage of five Wake Forest turnovers, turning them into 28 points. Two Deacons mistakes – a fumble and an interception – came on their first two offensive series. North Carolina converted both into touchdowns and the rout was on.

North Carolina’s bench gave the Tar Heels the lift the starters couldn’t to close out the first half Friday. The starters who had struggled so mightily against UNC-Pembroke to begin the game took over and closed things out from there.

The 100-58 win over the Division II Braves ended with the kind of final score expected from the exhibition, but it wasn’t easy getting there for the Tar Heels.

CHAPEL HILL -- Having committed six turnovers last Saturday in a 59-38 loss at Clemson, it’s obvious where UNC’s emphasis has been during this week’s preparation for Wake Forest.

Calling ball security a matter of “focus” and game “mindset,” Tar Heel coach Everett Withers said Thursday afternoon that the team practice each day focusing on ball possession.

“We’ve got to just take care of the ball,” Withers said. “It’s about just owning the football.”

CHAPEL HILL -- In addition to safety Matt Merletti, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last Saturday at Clemson, UNC will be without three other players this week against Wake Forest.

Tar Heel coach Everett Withers said Thursday that kicker Casey Barth (groin), receiver Reggie Wilkins (ankle) and tight end Sean Fitzpatrick (head) will sit out Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game in Kenan Stadium.

Fullback Curtis Byrd, who has been slowed by a knee problem of late, will be available, Withers said.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Defensive end Kourtnei Brown returned an interception and a fumble recovery for touchdowns Saturday to lead Clemson to a 59-38 victory over North Carolina at Death Valley.

Brown, a senior from Charlotte’s Victory Christian High, ran in a fumble 14 yards to give the Tigers a 59-24 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The victory kept the eighth-ranked Tigers undefeated at 8-0 (5-0 in the ACC). The Tar Heels lost their second straight to fall to 5-3 overall, 1-3 in the ACC.

Updated 5:38 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL - At first, North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner said, he just missed open receivers against a Louisville defense that put tremendous pressure on him.

But after being held to two first downs and 62 yards in a dreadful first half, Renner and the Tar Heels’ offense bounced back after halftime Saturday in a 14-7 win at Kenan Stadium.

Redshirt freshman Giovani Bernard ran for 79 of his 109 yards after halftime, becoming the first North Carolina player with four straight 100-yard rushing performances since Ethan Horton had five in a row in 1984.

North Carolina’s defense prevented Louisville from scoring until 42 seconds remained in the fourth quarter, narrowly missing its first shutout since 1999. And Renner directed two second-half touchdown drives against a defense that led the nation in tackles for loss with nine per game entering this week.