Bowl-eligible Heels top 'Canes

CHAPEL HILL

North Carolina stole its way into bowl eligibility last night behind the sure hands and quick wits of cornerback Kendric Burney, outlasting Miami 33-24 at Kenan Stadium.

Burney intercepted three passes in a record-breaking performance, and helped the Tar Heels pick off quarterback Jacory Harris four times overall. Burney scored a touchdown on a 77-yard interception return, and his last theft led to another touchdown in the fourth quarter on a bizarre play.

"This is the biggest game of my life," Burney said. "I've never had three picks in my life (in one game). It hasn't happened all year, so it was definitely good to get some work my way."

The win gave UNC (7-3, 3-3) the necessary seventh win needed under NCAA rules to qualify for postseason selection. It was their third straight win.

UNC got four field goals from kicker Casey Barth for the second consecutive game.

Scouts from the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl were in attendance, but receiver Greg Little of North Carolina said he's more concerned with the team's last two games, both of which will be on the road.

"We're just living in the moment right now; we're not worried about the postseason," Little said. "It does feel good, but we also want to maximize where we go. Capitalizing on what's at hand will help us better ourselves."

Burney's touchdown return 56 seconds before halftime gave the Tar Heels a 20-7 lead, which improved to 23-3 in the third quarter on Barth's third field goal. The Hurricanes (7-3, 4-3) came charging back, however, and sliced the lead to 23-17 at the end of the quarter.

UNC appeared to be ready to collapse at home again, just as it did while losing a 24-6 lead against Florida State on Oct. 22, a game it lost. Miami had second down at the UNC 32 when Burney snatched another of Harris' 50 passes for the last interception.

Harris attempted to hit tight end Jimmy Graham down the middle. Defensive tackle Aleric Mullins slammed into Harris as he was passing. Burney made a leaping catch at the 10-yard line and started down the right side.

He crossed midfield but began to lose control of the ball at the Miami 45. Coach Butch Davis of North Carolina joked that Burney intended to lateral to a teammate but saw someone who shouldn't have the ball and lost control.

Burney saw Melvin Williams, a safety who happens to be his roommate. Burney pushed the ball toward Williams, who caught it at the 44. The exchange appeared to go forward, which would have made it an illegal forward pass if Burney had control of the ball.

Williams took off running, found clear space and got across the goal line a split second before Miami receiver Leonard Hankerson caught him from behind and knocked the ball free. Both went for possession but Williams recovered.

The officials reviewed the play with help from the upstairs replay booth. They ruled that Burney fumbled and Williams caught the ball in the air. They ruled that Williams crossed the goal line with possession for a touchdown before the ball was knocked away.

"I knew I had forward-passed it, but I didn't think they were going to see the bobble," Burney said. "When (the official) said it, I was like, ‘Whew. Thank you.' After I pitched it to him I just laid there. I knew it was a forward pass but I was hoping they wouldn't catch it."

Davis said that he never doubted the play would stand. Coach Randy Shannon of Miami didn't know what to think, other than a big play had hurt his team.

"I can't even get involved in it," Shannon said. "To me it looked like he pitched it forward, but I can't get involved with it. I mean, it's a game; one play shouldn't make a difference in a game."

Barth's point-after kick gave North Carolina a 30-17 lead, but Miami struck quickly for another touchdown to slice the difference to six points with 7:21 left.

North Carolina then went on an 11-play drive that covered 60 yards to the Miami 16 and lasted 5:18, its longest drive of the game. Barth kicked his last field goal from 33 yards with 1:57 left to make the lead an insurmountable nine points, given that Miami had no timeouts left.

bcole@wsjournal.com.

Miami 0 7 10 7 -- 24

North Carolina 0 20 3 10 -- 33

Second Quarter

UNC--Little 29 pass from Yates (Barth kick), 14:12.

Miami--Berry 1 run (Bosher kick), 11:44.

UNC--FG Barth 22, 8:21.

UNC--FG Barth 42, 4:05.

UNC--Burney 77 interception return (Barth kick), :56.

Third Quarter

UNC--FG Barth 32, 8:47.

Miami--FG Bosher 39, 5:19.

Miami--Cooper 3 run (Bosher kick), 1:18.

Fourth Quarter

UNC--M.Williams 44 interception return (Barth kick), 9:28.

Miami--Graham 14 pass from J.Harris (Bosher kick), 7:21.

UNC--FG Barth 33, 1:57.

A--57,500.

TEAM STATISTICS

Mia NC

First downs 24 17

Rushes-yards 25-116 32-116

Passing 319 213

Comp-Att-Int 28-51-4 17-31-0

Return Yards 14 217

Punts-Avg. 4-46.0 6-38.5

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0

Penalties-Yards 3-20 3-35

Time of Possession 29:34 30:26

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Miami, Cooper 15-63, Berry 6-41, Bosher 1-26, Benjamin 1-(minus 1), J.Harris 2-(minus 13). UNC, Houston 24-76, Boyd 2-31, Little 3-11, Elzy 1-3, J.White 1-0, Yates 1-(minus 5).

PASSING--Miami, J.Harris 28-50-4-319, Team 0-1-0-0. UNC, Yates 17-31-0-213.

RECEIVING--Miami, Hankerson 7-92, Cooper 7-37, Byrd 4-61, M.James 3-15, Berry 2-50, Benjamin 2-19, A.Johnson 1-23, Graham 1-14, Collier 1-8. North Carolina, Pianalto 5-51, Ramsay 2-40, Little 2-35, Houston 2-26, Highsmith 2-20, J.White 1-25, Jackson 1-12, Rome 1-3, Harrelson 1-1.