Aug 31, 2002
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By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Cal Murray ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, and
Miami of Ohio forced nine turnovers to defeat North Carolina 27-21 Saturday in
the season opener for both teams.
Ben Roethlisberger completed 16 of 33 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown
for the RedHawks, who sent the Tar Heels to their fourth loss in five
season-opening games.
North Carolina's nine turnovers tied the Atlantic Coast Conference record,
set by Wake Forest against Duke on Nov. 17, 1956.
Tar Heels quarterback Darian Durant had a miserable game, committing six
turnovers to fall to 0-3 as a starter. Durant, who threw for 1,843 yards and 17
TDs as a freshman last year sharing time with Ronald Curry, quit the team in
February before returning five weeks later. He beat out Florida transfer C.J.
Stephens for the starting job during fall practices.
Despite all the miscues, Tar Heels coach John Bunting didn't go to Stephens
until there was 1:39 left. Stephens came in and threw a 37-yard touchdown pass
with 39 seconds left.
North Carolina recovered an onside kick and moved to Miami's 23-yard line,
but time ran out before the Heels could score.
A 46-yard completion by Durant set up a 9-yard scoring pass to Bobby
Blizzard with 11:03 left as North Carolina closed to 20-14, but a spinning
15-yard run by Luke Clemens less than three minutes later sealed it for Miami.
North Carolina trailed by six late in the third quarter and stopped Miami
five straight times from the 1-yard line to gain some momentum. But Durant was
intercepted at the 19 trying to throw the ball away from his end zone. Four
plays later, Murray's 2-yard run put the RedHawks up by 13.
Defense was a major question mark for North Carolina, which lost eight
starters from last season, including high first-round NFL picks Julius Peppers
and Ryan Sims. But the defense more than held its own against Roethlisberger.
It was the offense that failed the Tar Heels, badly.
Durant was responsible for four of North Carolina six first-half turnovers,
fumbling the exchange from rookie center Jason Brown three times and throwing
an interception on the team's first series.
Willie Parker and Andre' Williams also fumbled in the opening half, but the
RedHawks managed just a 13-7 lead at halftime.
Miami had a great opportunity to build on its lead in the final 2:41 of the
second quarter after Parker fumbled at Tar Heels' 20 and Durant lost it a
series later at the 35. But the RedHawks botched the snap on a 37-yard field
goal attempt and Roethlisberger fumbled in the final seconds after Miami had
driven to the UNC 17.
Note: Be sure to check back each Monday throughout the season for Lee Pace's inside look at the game in his weekly Extra Points Newsletter. And, if you have questions about the game, be sure to email Pace and have your questions answered in Extra Points Thursday.
