UNC's Giovani Bernard returns a punt 74 yards for the winning touchdown in the closing seconds of Tar Heels' 43-35 victory over N.C. State. ETHAN HYMAN
Updated 8:01 p.m.
CHAPEL HILL — While Giovani Bernard ran up the sideline and into the legend of the North Carolina-N.C. State football rivalry here at Kenan Stadium on Saturday, his teammates on the Tar Heels’ sideline ran with him.
They swarmed him in the back of the end zone, after Bernard’s 74-yard punt return with 13 seconds remaining broke a tie and gave UNC an improbable 43-35 victory against the Wolfpack.
“He just kept running, kept running,” Sylvester Williams, the Tar Heels’ senior defensive tackle, said. “The little guy ran for his life, man. He ran for his life.”
That wasn’t true, though. Bernard didn’t run for his life. He said later he ran for Williams and the rest of the Tar Heels’ seniors, who had never experienced victory against N.C. State. He ran for his head coach, Larry Fedora, and a staff of assistant coaches who have attempted to change the program’s culture in their first season.
Bernard ran for a team that had experienced five consecutive losses against the Wolfpack, and for a group of fans, students, boosters and alumni who had long grown tired of hearing about those defeats.
“I still can’t believe it,” Bernard said about 25 minutes after he provided one of the most memorable endings to any North Carolina-N.C. State game. “I’m still shaking right now … We just wanted this. We wanted this for our university, our new staff. We wanted this for coach Fedora. And especially the seniors.”
The dramatic ending was fitting, perhaps, given the events that led to it. Games between the Tar Heels and Wolfpack rarely lack for twists and momentum shifts, and the one on Saturday featured plenty of both.
UNC (6-3, 3-2 ACC) built a 25-7 lead in the first quarter, when it amassed 227 yards of offense. The Heels used creative plays to set up both of their first two touchdowns, which came on an 8-yard run from Bernard and a 45-yard run from Erik Highsmith, who scored on a reverse.
“They've been spending all year getting ready for us,” N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien said. “You expect them to blitz and come out with that in the first quarter. That's the way these games go, you have to survive it.”
The Wolfpack did. N.C. State (5-3, 2-2) at one point scored 28 consecutive points, and took a 28-25 lead midway through the second quarter on Mike Glennon’s 83-yard touchdown pass to Tobias Palmer, who was wide open behind the Tar Heels’ secondary.
The Wolfpack extended their lead to 35-25 in the third quarter when Glennon, who completed 29 of his 52 attempts for 467 yards and five touchdowns, connected with Bryan Underwood on a 55-yard touchdown pass with 39 seconds remaining in the third. All the while, Fedora paced the sideline, repeating a line to his players.
“I said, no matter what the score is right now, it’s still going to come down to the last possession of the game,” Fedora said.
UNC cut into the lead with Bryn Renner’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Sean Tapley early in the fourth quarter, and Casey Barth kicked a 34-yard field goal to tie the game at 35 with 1:24 to play. UNC forced a Wolfpack punt, and Bernard, who had injured his right ankle early in the third quarter, demanded to have a chance to return it.
He caught it, looked to his right and saw a wall of navy blue jerseys belonging to his teammates.
“That’s my favorite punt return,” Bernard said of the mechanics of the play. “… Once I saw that, I had to get in there. I had to tell myself to get in there no matter how bad my ankle was hurting.”
Kendrick Singleton and Quinshad Davis, a pair of freshmen, had the first two blocks that freed Bernard. Tre Boston, the junior safety, blocked two Wolfpack players by himself.
“When I turned around after I laid a few blocks, I just put my hands up in the air,” Boston said.
Jonathan Cooper, a fifth-year senior offensive lineman, was one of many UNC players who were watching from the sideline. As Bernard sprinted toward the end zone, Cooper and his teammates did, too.
Cooper, who has started 44 games during his time at UNC, had endured four losses against N.C. State. The night before this game, during a team meeting he “spilled his heart out,” UNC quarterback Bryn Renner said.
“[I was] just saying how much the game meant to me and how difficult it’s been to put up with losing all those games and to hear about it constantly from everybody,” Cooper said. “Just told them that it was bigger than hate – this game was about pride.”
Cooper said he fought back his own tears afterward, but others weren’t so successful.
“There was a bunch of hugging, some tears shed by some of the seniors” Cooper said. “I mean, it was such an exciting feeling after the team prayer. Coach Fedora, that’s the least words I’ve ever seen him have.”
There wasn’t much he could have said. Not after this. UNC finished with 570 yards offense, and N.C. State with 534. Both teams seemed in control of the game at various points. And both teams lost control.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack and Tar Heels had been playing for nearly four hours – and overtime seemed likely. But then Bernard stepped onto field, and into the history of this rivalry.
“I started crying on the way to the end zone,” he said.
Comments
wow
Mon, 10/29/2012 - 21:24 — mad_maxWhat a game! Congrats to the Heels for the win. I still disagree with the fumble call, and I thought there was a clear illegal block on Gio's punt return, but still, the Heels earned the win.
They threw everything they had at us...new uniforms, trick plays, sneaky 2 point conversions, etc. Combine that with State's 10+ dropped passes and a couple favorable calls, and you have a nice win. Well done, and a great game for the rivalry! You guys admit it's a rivalry game now, right?
Oh, and props to Glennon! Playing like a stud.
Thanks, I think...
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 11:59 — SurferCrazy Game To much fun. When
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 18:03 — unc098Crazy Game
To much fun. When I saw Gio turn the corner I knew he was gone. Loved the gutsy "in your face" two point conversion. I haven't seen Kenan that crazy in, well......since the Miami win a few years back....There was plenty of smug red in the stadium which disappeared quickly. I have to say I was pleased with how the game was conducted by the players and staff of both schools. No personal foul calls or unclassy behavior. Nice to see. It was an exciting game with lots of plots. I just don't get this defense. If I see one more crossing pattern in my sleep, I am going to scream. The defense looked like cardboard cutouts for most of the game. Glennon must of had 10 seconds a possession to throw the ball. That 3rd and long, resulting in a touchdown was inexcusable. Nevertheless, the lack of a running game on the part of the Pack came back to bite them in the final minutes, not to mention the " assist " the Heels got from the Pack coaching staff.
Glennon had a heck of a game and really showed why he is one of the better players in the league
I have to give the coaching staff a lot of credit for keeping the kid's heads in the game and the defense for finally getting some pressure on Glennon when it counted.
Go Heels, great victory. It feels good to get this one. Game ball to Gio, who played with a lot of heart.
State college
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 23:17 — gvillegatrThey may have the worse running game in the conference. They've been screwed (cursed) ever since they stole Tony Baker from the Heels.
gio
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 21:55 — SurferA class act, no doubt.
Great win
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 17:27 — SurferNice win for the heels, TOB 0-1 against LF, nice :-)
Wimped out
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 16:49 — YAR8packAnd that, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason NC State football under TOB will continue to wallow in mediocrity. Played for OT like a punk and got PUNKED.
TOB has completely lost my confidence. Dumb. Just dumb. No excuse for that.
Someone should figure out a way to send TOB's computer and virus that has Herm Edwards' famous "Hello! You play to win the game! You. Play. To. Win. The. Game." on infinite loop.
Play not to lose
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 16:18 — rslam1111Fire O'Brien
TOB
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 20:09 — SurferAlways liked this guy.
lol
Mon, 10/29/2012 - 21:34 — mad_maxMe too Surfer!
Tired of the "fire TOB" crap after every single loss...so ridiculous.
Sacked on 1st down, so it was 2nd and 17 on our own 18, tie game with under a minute to go. Don't get all the critics. We pass there and the receiver deflects the ball up for an INT or let's the ground cause a fumble again lol, then these same folks would be crying about TOB deciding to throw! Forget about logic when it comes to haters...they will always find something to bitch about.
Congrats on the win though...I know you wanted this one!
And, Max
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 08:56 — gvillegatrWhat a well, thought out post from you. I didn't even mention that in the above post.
What else is a coach gonna do on 2nd down and 17 from their own 18 with a minute to go in the game? The percentages are against you and a turnover, while not imminent, is a good possibility bc you are having to throw the ball further and you are under pressure (bc of time) that you are not normally under during most of the game.
Not to mention, if passes are not completed, UNC doesn't have to burn timeouts which allows them to race down the field for a game winning FG a lot easier.
It's rare that a punt is returned for a teeder. If anything (keep in mind I am on the opposite side of the field) the punter should have bought himself an extra second and Rugby style kicked it. But you cannot blame him for a monster punt. Any other time, folks get excited about a punt that was kicked that far.
I don't get it
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 08:57 — gvillegatrEVERY TIME STATE LOSES DEBBIE YOW RECEIVES HUNDREDS OF EMAILS CALLING FOR TOBY's FIRING.
Do people have nothing better to do? It's one thing to get on a site like this and say questionable things. Most of us take it as 'whatever' anyways.
But to write your AD after every loss is border line insanity. Who do you think you are?
It was so bad, Yow had to send out a mass email about it.
I'm not trying to make a 'cut' right here bc I honestly do not have to - But that's why other fan bases perceive you the way they do. You are out of touch ... At least an unfortunate number of you are.
There is a clinical name for it
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 13:09 — JPDOhioCoachus Frustratus, which can be found in epidemic proportions in sports fan bases throughout the country. The strain afflicting Raleigh seems to be resistant to the normal remedies, which include the occasional upset of a top-ranked team and regular trips to bowl games.
Disagree
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 20:01 — gvillegatrNormal people get Coachus Frustratus. Insane people take time out of there day to email the AD of the school they root for explaining to them how much money they may or may not give and what they could be doing on Saturday afternoon instead of going off to C-F for the day. They threaten to pull their $500 a year (if that) donation and ALWAYS have a better plan of action for the future. All the while, these are the exact kind of fans who can't get enough of the action and wished there was a game every week of the year and ultimately would never pull their annual tax deduction. #hotair
Know what?
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 21:32 — JPDOhioYou are right.
The normal afflicted people just post here.
lol
Wed, 10/31/2012 - 01:21 — mad_maxWell said JPD.
I've come to the realization that we could lose to Alabama by 1 point, and some fans would still be writing emails to everybody saying, "fire Coach _____ right now"!
Sucks here in NC, because a lot of us are constantly ridiculed by opposing fans for the behavior of a crazy group of people (I would guess ~2% of our fan base, which ends up being quite a few morons unfortunately).
I don't think this is just an NC State thing though. The reason Carolina doesn't get this rep IMO, is that there simply aren't as many UNC football fans who desperately want to get to the next level...some boosters and BOT members yes, but how many times have we heard "oh well, wait 'til bball season" from the fans? For basketball, Carolina has been fortunate enough to have a string of great coaches and players. Though, during the tenure of UNC's only mediocre-bad coach in my lifetime (Doherty), things got real ugly.
"Wait till bball season"
Wed, 10/31/2012 - 11:47 — gvillegatrIf I ever write a book on "Myths of North Carolina" this will be #1 on the list.
The ONLY folks who say, "wait till basketball season" are ABC fans. I've NEVER heard a UNC fan say this. That being said, I've never talked to every UNC fan, but perception is reality, I guess. And when every state fan and non UNC fan says this after a tough loss to whoever - IT COMES OUT OF THE WOOD WORK ... By non UNC fans.
agree
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 13:32 — SurferBut what apparently makes it worse (or better depending on the outcome - ref the past 5 years) is that some view UNC as the "top-ranked team" or the "bowl game opponent".
true
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 16:21 — gevaliaPoor coaching. you can't run the ball, so what do you do at the end? Try to run the ball!!!
O on fire
Sat, 10/27/2012 - 15:12 — JPDOhioBest offensive performance of the year.