Tar Heels romp vs. outmanned Eagles

North Carolina exploded early yesterday behind an angry, opportunistic defense and overpowered Georgia Southern 42-12 at Kenan Stadium for its first win in three weeks.

The Tar Heels forced six turnovers, including four interceptions, breaking a two-game losing streak that began in ACC play. The first four of the turnovers came in the first half, and the Tar Heels scored a touchdown after each one, building a 42-7 halftime lead.

The last three of the first-half turnovers came on consecutive Eagles possessions and led to three touchdowns in a span of only 3:37 starting midway through the second quarter. Bullish tailback Ryan Houston rumbled for three touchdowns for the first time in a game in his career to provide a much-needed spark for a struggling offense.

North Carolina nearly matched its season total of seven turnovers that had been forced in five games. Its points were its most in a half in almost nine years, since the 2000 season's last game when 52 were scored against Duke in the first half. The points were also the most that Georgia Southern has ever allowed in a half.

Coach Butch Davis credited his defense with extensive study of game tape during the week. Davis said he thought his defensive players knew almost everything that Georgia Southern was going to run and in what situations.

"It allows you to take some liberties," Davis said. "They made plays and created some turnovers, and that obviously was a huge advantage. That's the story of the game.

"You guys have heard me say this for two a half years: The team that makes and gets the most turnovers has got the best chance of winning."

The turnovers were the most that North Carolina has forced in a game since last game of the 1999 season, when six were forced against Duke.

North Carolina improved to 4-2, beating a team from the Football Championship Subdivision for the second time this season. Georgia Southern fell to 3-3.

Ahead 14-7, the Tar Heels stopped a promising Eagles drive with a fumble recovery that was a pure steal of the ball by linebacker Quan Sturdivant and that was returned for a touchdown.

Georgia Southern was at its 48-yard line when back Adam Urbano headed to his left on second down, needing only 2 yards for first down. Sturdivant hit Urbano near the sideline and then reached in and took the ball away.

Sturdivant turned and raced 49 yards untouched for a touchdown. Casey Barth's point-after kick, his third of six, built the lead to 14 points with 8:29 left in the first half.

"I was just trying to get to the end zone," Sturdivant said. "That was my only thought: score. It felt good. I went back to my high-school days when I played quarterback and I'd run the ball in."

North Carolina had the ball back two offensive plays later when linebacker Zach Brown stepped in front of back Brandon Nolley to intercept a pass at the Georgia Southern 22. Houston scored his second touchdown three plays later on a 7-yard run.

Georgia Southern was at its 43 on its next possession when UNC's defense struck again. Lee Chapple, Georgia Southern's quarterback, looked to his left quickly and fired a pass to receiver Jamere Valentine on a screen pattern that had been run numerous times in the half going to either side of the field.

Bruce Carter, a UNC linebacker, was ready when Chapple fired. He moved quickly on the ball, caught it at the Georgia Southern 41 and dashed into the end zone.

Davis said that Carter's play was the perfect example of how prepared the defense was for Georgia Southern's plays.

"Bruce knew instantly on the jail-break screen exactly what was coming," Davis said. "He anticipated it. You don't see interceptions by linebackers on those plays unless you have great anticipation."

Barth's kick sent UNC ahead 35-7 with 4:52 left in the half. UNC didn't score again, which bothered Davis, but he did play several young players after halftime, with some seeing their first extensive college action late in the third quarter and in the fourth.

Quarterback T.J. Yates said the game was exactly what the Tar Heels needed and what the offense required for a boost in confidence after the consecutive losses.

"We went out there and had some fun," Yates said. "We ran the ball well. Our defense did amazing. We did a lot of things right today that we needed to win. It was fun sitting out the third quarter and fourth quarter and watching some of the guys get good work."

bcole@wsjournal.com.

Georgia Southern 7 0 3 2 -- 12


North Carolina 14 28 0 0 -- 42

First Quarter

UNC--Houston 1 run (Barth kick), 6:59.

UNC--Draughn 16 run (Barth kick), 4:37.

GSU--Urbano 45 run (Mora kick), 3:03.

Second Quarter

UNC--Sturdivant 49 fumble return (Barth kick), 8:29.

UNC--Houston 7 run (Barth kick), 6:29.

UNC--Carter 41 interception return (Barth kick), 4:52.

UNC--Houston 1 run (Barth kick), :06.

Third Quarter

GSU--FG Mora 25, 9:01.

Fourth Quarter

GSU--Wylie Safety, 9:49.

A--47,000.

TEAM STATISTICS

GSU UNC

First downs 11 22

Rushes-yards 33-95 50-164

Passing 75 125

Comp-Att-Int 16-32-4 16-24-1

Return Yards 7 47

Punts-Avg. 8-40.0 6-43.5

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-2

Penalties-Yards 3-25 11-73

Time of Possession 29:16 30:44

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Georgia Southern, Urbano 17-93, Rozier 5-8, L.Brown 1-2, Robinson 5-1, Chapple 5-(minus 9). North Carolina, Draughn 14-81, Houston 15-56, Blue 7-15, Boyd 1-12, Furr 3-6, Yates 7-6, Team 1-(minus 1), Hanson 2-(minus 11).

PASSING--Georgia Southern, Chapple 14-27-3-65, Collins 2-4-0-10, DeMasi 0-1-1-0. North Carolina, Yates 14-20-0-118, Hanson 2-4-1-7.

RECEIVING--Georgia Southern, P.Barker 5-35, Valentine 4-8, Nolley 3-6, Taylor 1-11, Urbano 1-6, Kyles 1-5, Williford 1-4. North Carolina, Draughn 5-43, Barham 2-28, Boyd 2-14, Little 2-8, D.Jones 2-7, Houston 1-13, Ramsay 1-12, C.Wilson 1-0.