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North Carolina 31, Utah 17

Oct 1, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Before ending his meeting at the team hotel Friday night, North Carolina defensive coordinator Marvin Sanders generated an image on his computer and projected it for all to see -- 669.

That was Utah's offensive yardage in last year's 46-16 blowout in Salt Lake City. On Saturday, the defense helped deliver five turnovers and a 31-17 victory.

Matt Baker threw two touchdown passes and Tommy Richardson made two key fumble recoveries in the fourth quarter to help the Tar Heels win their second straight game.

"He had them revved up," Bunting said of Sanders. "They carried it over into the game today. They started fast, they played extremely hard and they did a terrific job for the most part."

Utah finished with 378 yards, a far cry from what the North Carolina defense surrendered a year ago.

"I thought they played tougher against the run than they did last year," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "I think the front seven is more active and just a better overall front seven than what we saw last year. A much better job by them defensively."

Richardson said the difference starts with the front line.

"We have a great front eight," Richardson said. "We have a d-line that can rotate and do a great job and it gives our secondary a chance to compete. It gives the linebackers a chance to run around and make plays. I always tell people I'm not good at all. When you have good people around you, you can be very talented."

The game turned on a penalty late in the third quarter after Utah took the opening kickoff and drove for a score on a Brian Johnson touchdown pass that gave the Utes a 14-10 lead. On a second-and-12 at his own 32, Baker's pass for Jaworski Pollack was intercepted by Eric Weddle, who returned it for a touchdown. But Utah was called for roughing the passer, and the momentum reversed in favor of North Carolina (2-2).

"I started to walk to the sideline and I was pretty (upset) that it happened like that," Baker said. "And I saw a kind of glimmer of hope in the eyes of some of the people on the sideline, and turned around and figured there would be a flag. And sure enough, there was."

Whittingham wasn't so sure the flag should have been thrown by the all-Atlantic Coast Conference officiating crew.

"I can't say for certain until I see it on tape, but as it happened, I thought it was a legal hit. But obviously, I didn't have a chance to see the replay yet." Whittingham said.

Four plays later, Baker hit Mike Mason on a 40-yard pass play to the Utah 1. Barrington Edwards scored on the next play to extend North Carolina's lead to 24-14 with 14:02 to go.

Utah (3-2) got Dan Beardall's 35-yard field goal a few minutes later and was marching toward a game-tying score when quarterback Brian Johnson scrambled on a third-and-14 from the North Carolina 31. Larry Edwards stripped the ball and Richardson recovered for the Tar Heels.

Utah's next possession lasted just one play when Quintin Ganther fumbled at the end of a run and Richardson pounced on the ball at the North Carolina 49 with 6:44 to go. It was the fourth of Utah's five turnovers.

The Utes fumbled on three of their last five possessions. Johnson, who also threw an interception, lost two of them. Utah also was penalized 12 times for 101 yards.

Baker sealed the game when he hit Jesse Holley over the middle, and Holley snaked his way through the Utah secondary to complete a 43-yard scoring play with 5:11 to go.

Brandon Tate took the opening kickoff 96 yards for North Carolina's first score at 14:47. It was the first time the Tar Heels had scored on an opening kickoff since Michael Waddell did it against Wisconsin in 2003, and the first time Utah has given up a kickoff return for a touchdown since UNLV returned one for a score in 1999.

"You combine all the negatives we had -- the penalties, the turnovers, the kickoff return for a touchdown -- too much to overcome," Whittingham said.