Frustrated Tar Heels fall to Cavaliers

CHAPEL HILL

Any time Virginia needs a lift on the football field, all it has to do is play North Carolina.

Virginia, taking advantage of a late interception and with three field goals from kicker Robert Randolph, won 16-3 in Kenan Stadium yesterday that produced choruses of boos from the stands.

The Cavaliers forced the Tar Heels into a second consecutive poor offensive performance, getting their first win of the season. The Tar Heels had only 174 yards of offense and just 39 yards rushing. They couldn't capitalize on back-to-back possessions that started just shy of midfield in the fourth quarter when they were down just 9-3.

The result was a second consecutive loss for North Carolina in ACC play, two losses in which it scored a combined 10 points. The three points are the fewest that the team has scored in 30 games under Coach Butch Davis.

"I'm pretty frustrated," said quarterback T.J. Yates of North Carolina. "This is not the way our offense rolls. We're so much better than we are (right now).

"We're not executing. We're not playing well at all. We're not running or passing the ball. It's very frustrating because I know what kind of potential this offense has."

The Tar Heels fell to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference. They have rushed for 56 yards in the past two games.

The Cavaliers improved to 1-3 and 1-0, and they beat the Tar Heels for the fourth consecutive time and for the 10th time in 12 games.

The two turning points came starting with 13:46 left with Virginia holding its 9-3 lead. North Carolina forced a punt, one of nine by Virginia, and a 28-yard return by Da'Norris Searcy gave North Carolina possession at its 45. North Carolina advanced only to the Virginia 49, where it was forced to boot one of its eight punts in the game.

A defense led by Robert Quinn, who had a career high three sacks, held at the Virginia 21 and forced another punt. North Carolina took over at its 46, but the possession lasted only three plays.

Yates dropped back to pass on third down and 12 at the North Carolina 44. He was hit by end Nate Collins, who slammed all 290 of his pounds into Yates before Yates' passing motion was complete. The ball sailed into the air, wobbling down well short of its intended target, and cornerback Chase Minnifield made a diving interception at the North Carolina 42.

"It's hard to pass the ball when your running game's not going too well," Yates said.

"It's hard to run the ball when your passing game's not going too well. Neither one of the two is helping each other. We've got to get one going."

The interception was the first of two Yates delivered, and it was the break that Virginia needed to seal the win.

Quarterback Jameel Sewell led a seven-play drive that ended when back Mikell Simpson burst into the end zone from 8 yards out for the game's only touchdown.

Drew Jarrett's point-after kick padded Virginia's lead to 13 points, and that was more than enough with 5:49 remaining. Many Virginia fans called for Coach Al Groh's head after the 0-3 start, but he improved to 7-2 at Virginia against UNC.

Davis said he thought the Tar Heels' defense played well, but lamented the offense's inability to generate consistency and tough yards to keep drives going.

"We've got to find a way to play better on offense," Davis said. "We've got to find a running game. And we've got to be able to block people at the point of attack."

The Tar Heels play host to Georgia Southern next week.

bcole@wsjournal.com.

Virginia 0 6 3 7 -- 16


North Carolina 0 0 3 0 -- 3

Second Quarter

UVa--FG Randolph 36, 12:10.

UVa--FG Randolph 38, :00.

Third Quarter

UNC--FG Barth 39, 5:09.

UVa--FG Randolph 43, 3:28.

Fourth Quarter

UVa--Simpson 8 run (Jarrett kick), 5:49.

A--57,500.

TEAM STATISTICS

UVa UNC

First downs 16 9

Rushes-yards 43-106 23-39

Passing 148 135

Comp-Att-Int 16-27-0 20-36-2

Return Yards 19 38

Punts-Avg. 9-40.8 8-42.9

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1

Penalties-Yards 7-54 4-55

Time of Possession 33:32 26:28

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Virginia, Simpson 20-100, Jackson 4-19, Mack 2-3, Verica 1-0, Team 2-(minus 2), Hall 1-(minus 4), Sewell 13-(minus 10). North Carolina, Draughn 14-25, Houston 3-16, Boyd 2-7, Blue 2-1, Yates 2-(minus 10).

PASSING--Virginia, Sewell 13-24-0-136, Verica 3-3-0-12. North Carolina, Yates 20-36-2-135.

RECEIVING--Virginia, Simpson 4-45, Jackson 4-30, Burd 2-30, Green 2-13, Brown 1-18, Hall 1-6, Torchia 1-4, Mack 1-2. North Carolina, Little 8-63, Draughn 4-21, C.Wilson 3-28, Boyd 2-12, Highsmith 2-11,

Ramsay 1-0.