UNC resilient in dramatic victory

WINSTON-SALEM - The North Carolina football team has experienced both thrilling wins and embarrassing losses this season, often one right after the other.

Similar highs and lows occurred within North Carolina's 31-24 victory against Wake Forest on Saturday.

Some of the Tar Heels' best plays followed some of their worst mistakes, but UNC proved to be resilient throughout the game.

Thirty-one points seemed out of reach for UNC after a scoreless first quarter, but the Tar Heels were ready to provide some surprises.

In the second quarter, with the game tied 3-3, UNC was only 18 yards from the end zone.

Quarterback Darian Durant maneuvered his way around the Deacon defense and passed the ball to Chad Scott for what looked like a sure touchdown. Tar Heel fans gasped, though, as the ball slipped through Scott's hands.

It looked like UNC would have to resort to a field goal after the mistake.

UNC surprised the Wake Forest defense with a fake field goal attempt, as holder Jared Hall passed the ball to Madison Hedgecock, who gained nine yards on the play.

Scott, proving he was ready to redeem himself, drove past the defense on the next play with an impressive cut back to score from nine yards out.

"If we make a mistake, we just try to stay composed," said wide receiver Derrele Mitchell, who lost a first-half fumble. "We just come out composed and play hard."

UNC finished the first half up 10-3, having given up the least amount of points in a half all season.

Wake extinguished that lead when Jesse Holley dropped a pass that was intercepted by Deacon cornerback Marcus McGruder, who sprinted 21 yards to the end zone to tie the game.

"I saw Jesse and picked the slip," Durant said. "The ball just bounced off his hands. They made a great play."

Again, UNC proved it could bounce back. The Tar Heels answered back on the next drive, moving to the WFU 3-yard line.

At the 3, Durant decided to run the ball but was met by numerous Wake Forest defenders.

Durant persevered, pushing through the defenders and across the goal line for the touchdown, giving UNC a 17-10 lead.

"Darian is a playmaker, we all know that," said UNC coach John Bunting. "I think he played a whale of a ball game. He didn't get down even though he had several drops - he just kept playing. He's a very mature kid."

Tar Heel fans took another emotional beating soon after as a 56-yard run by Ronnie McGill was called back when UNC was penalized for an illegal shift.

But the Tar Heels didn't dwell on the mistake, scoring another touchdown on a Durant-to-Justin Phillips pass.

But the UNC win was far from guaranteed, as the unpredictable Tar Heels allowed Wake Forest to score back-to-back TDs to tie the game.

Then, with 44 seconds remaining in the game, Durant stepped back to pass and saw Holley open in the end zone. Durant passed the ball perfectly into Holley's hands.

Holley made sure to secure the ball for the touchdown.

"We overcame (mistakes), and I never lost confidence," Durant said. "I kept putting the ball where they could catch it. It was tough, but I am not going to let that discourage me. There is always the next play."

It was not until Gerald Sensabaugh intercepted a pass during Wake's final drive that the Tar Heels could breathe, confident that the victory was sealed.

"I know our players will be right back on Monday night," Bunting said. "They've been that way every single game this season, win or lose - Monday night they're back out there, very resilient, ready to go."

With a bowl game at stake next weekend, the Tar Heels' future is unpredictable.

But if Saturday's game is any indication, they will not be giving up anytime soon.

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.