North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said last week that he wished his team had experienced more adversity during its dominant season-opening victory against Elon. The Tar Heels faced plenty here on Saturday against Wake Forest – and they also experienced their first loss of Larry Fedora’s coaching tenure.
Wake used an 11-play, 93-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 28-27 victory. Tanner Price, the Wake quarterback who set a career high with 327 yards passing, capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Tar Heels (1-1) began their next drive with about two minutes to play, on their own 13-yard line. They gained just three yards before fourth down, and then quarterback Bryn Renner threw an interception to Wake linebacker Riley Haynes with 1:25 to play.
UNC got the ball back on its own 1-yard line with 17 seconds remaining and no timeouts. The Heels moved to their own 40-yard line before running out of time.
Renner completed 21 of his 36 passes for 232 yards with one touchdown and the one interception. Price, meanwhile, was 27 for 38. He threw three interceptions in a loss against UNC a season ago, but Price was sharp on Saturday.
UNC, which played without starting running back Giovani Bernard, rallied from a 21-14 halftime deficit and used a strong third quarter to take a 24-21 lead into the final quarter.
But unlike last week, when the Heels executed as they pleased against Elon, few things came easily against the Demon Deacons (2-0). Wake Forest overcame early deficits of 7-0 and 14-7 to take a 21-14 lead into halftime.
Romar Morris’ 4-yard touchdown run tied the game at 21 with 4:45 to play in the third and then, on Wake’s next possession, Tar Heels cornerback Tim Scott intercepted Tanner Price’s pass.
The turnover gave UNC the ball on the Wake Forest 8-yard line, but after a holding penalty the Heels had to settle for Casey Barth’s 25-yard field goal, which game the Heels a 24-21 lead with 2:50 left in the third quarter.
After playing a clean game last week against Elon, penalties and sloppy play plagued UNC on Saturday. The Heels suffered from several defensive lapses during the first half, and penalties either helped stall the Heels own drives or helped the Demon Deacons extend theirs.
UNC twice held leads in the first half but the game turned a little more than halfway through the second quarter when Wake defensive end Hasan Hazime sacked Bryn Renner and forced him to fumble. Hazime recovered the fumble, giving the Demon Deacons possession on the Heels’ 20-yard line.
Three plays later, Wake running back Josh Harris scored on a 6-yard run that gave Wake its first lead of the game.
UNC briefly lost Renner earlier in the second quarter when he attempted to cross the goal line on a short run. Demon Deacons safety Duran Lowe stopped Renner short of the end zone, and Renner remained on the ground for a few moments before walking slowly off the field.
One play later, on 4th-and-goal, A.J. Blue scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give UNC a 14-7 lead.
Wake Forest tied the game at 14 on its next possession when Deandre Martin’s 4-yard touchdown run capped a 9-play drive. Then Hazime forced Renner’s fumble on the next drive.
Renner completed 11 of his 16 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown during the first half, while Wake’s Tanner Price is 16-for-20 for 194 yards. Wake has outgained UNC 271 yards to 192 during the first half.
Wake receiver Michael Campanero, who was instrumental on the Deacons’ go-ahead drive late in the fourth, was the benefactor of many of Price’s passes. Campanero caught 13 passes for 164 yards.
After UNC went ahead 24-21 in the third quarter, Barth added another field goal, from 30 yards out, to put UNC ahead 27-21. Wake stalled on its next two drives, but forced the Heels to punt and got the ball back on its own 7-yard line with 6:36 to play.
That’s when the Deacs embarked on that 11-play, 93-yard drive. Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe improved to 13-2 against in-state ACC schools, and the Tar Heels lost their conference opener for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons.
Bernard, meanwhile, watched the game from the sideline. UNC did not announce a reason for his absence.
Comments
I just hope Coach Fedora
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 13:45 — Pack02I just hope Coach Fedora continues to make the "I don't wish to legitimize their program." comments. How much more of a fraud or illegimate can you get than UNC right now. Scandals in both basketball and football in the same year. Good ole Swofford has to be ready for his straight jacket after our Flagship University has its athletic programs in shambles on the integrity front
If you want a challenge, Larry, go get one
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 12:50 — NCGAwatcherIf Coach Cap wanted more adversity for his players than he got from Elon, then he should have canceled that game and scheduled a real opponent.
When you play cupcakes, you deserve to get licked.
The game
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 09:20 — SurferNot too much good about this one. Except the Heels "could have" won. But seriously, did not play well enough to do so. Hats off to Grobe and the offense, they scored when they needed to.
Plus this won't be the only game UNC loses. Of course wins and losses matter not this season anyway. (Except for Max, that is)
Lol
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 13:56 — mad_maxGiving up already? Wins don't matter? I guess 1-11 this year would be the same as 10-2 to UN*-CHeat fans. Eh, the same as any year I suppose.
Never
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 12:25 — SurferAs far as a conference championship this year? Correct, wins do not matter. 1-11 is the same as 11-1. Honestly, it is a simple concept. Of course the reality is no worse than 2-10, as we must beat Dook. Haha
interesting
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 09:15 — SurferDook and State articles on ACC Now, but not UNC. In this case, thanks ;-)
UNC Now is the place for UNC
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 17:41 — Andrew_Carter (author)UNC Now is the place for UNC posts. We launched these team-specific blogs to give each school a dedicated blog. Eventually team-specific news won't be on ACC Now, which is for conference-wide, general news. So for UNC stuff, this is the place you want to be. Thanks.
I will try again
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 12:19 — SurferApparently you are not following. Yes, UNCNow is the place for UNC posts, as it should be. StateNow and DookNow are also the place for those
respectedschools, as it should be and as it is. HOWEVER, if you go to ACCNOW, there are links there for State and Dook posts that take you to their "NOW" pages. That is the point I was making. I suggest that you visit the ACCNOW page if you want to understand what I am talking about. :-)Serious question
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 00:58 — mad_maxDid Bryn Renner fake a concussion today, or did Fedora put him back in the game despite suffering a concussion? Either way, LMAO.
issues
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 09:16 — SurferYou got serious issues, dude.
Again
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 13:53 — mad_maxWon't answer the question, so just resort to personal attacks.
So, I have issues because I have a problem with players faking serious injuries or coaches disregarding the safety of their players after a concussion? Okay then.
huh?
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 12:30 — SurferSeriously, you can't be that .... never mind.
Ok
Mon, 09/10/2012 - 17:50 — mad_maxWhatever that was, you still can't/won't answer the question. Oh, and it sounds like a bunch of Heels fans are discussing this and it's been a very hot topic on sports radio today. But all you have to say is, "seriously, you have issues".
Lol, UN*-CHeat can't even get their story straight. Renner said on Saturday that he had no concussion tests, but today he says that he had 2. Fedora is claiming that there was no head injury, but watch the damn replay...Renner gets hit in the head, then points to his helmet trying to get a call from the refs, then collapses - presumably knocked out cold.
I don't expect you to actually address this topic, because either way, it makes UN*-CHeat look bad. Just wanted to make it clear for the record...either Renner faked a concussion, or Fedora would rather win a game than protect his players from life-changing injuries. Take your pick.
LOL
Tue, 09/11/2012 - 11:48 — SurferHow do you "fake" a concusion? If he did he would not have gone back in. Second part, if he had one he would not have gone back in.
I saw the hit and replays and it looked serious to me. I was surprised to see him back in the game, but I was not there to evaluate him.
You making fun of, or light of such a serious situation is why I said you have issues.
Wow
Sun, 09/09/2012 - 00:39 — mad_maxIt's already Sunday technically, and not ONE single post from a Tar Heel fan. Wonder how they got the perception of being fair-weather fans...
Haha, I remember when State lost at Wake in week 2 last year...the media and opposing fans all acted like it was the worst loss in history. I figured the mighty Heels under their new legendary coach would be able to stomp Wake all day long...at least, that's what everyone kept telling me.