Nicks shines Heels fall short in Car Care Bowl

DEC. 27 CHARLOTTE — As soon as North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates unloaded the ball he knew there could be trouble.

It was at that moment that Yates could see West Virginia linebacker Pat Lazear jumping wide receiver Cooter Arnold's route for a game-breaking interception.

For 58 minutes on Dec. 27 at Bank of America Stadium Yates made the right decisions but his one mistake came at the worst possible moment for the Tar Heels. With UNC unable to stop the clock" West Virginia ran out the remaining time for a 31-30 victory in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

""I couldn't see (Lazear). He was kind of blinded by the offensive and defensive line" but as soon as I let it go I saw him come into my vision Yates said after the game. He made a good play. He dropped back into coverage" read that little short route.""

Even though the season ended in disappointment"" the mood among the Tar Heels was decidedly more upbeat than it has been after previous losses.

Safety Deunta Williams said that he was proud to be a part of such an exciting game and that he loves the play when both teams are clicking. He also noted — as many others did — that this was an important experience for the team as it prepares to take the next step in building a program.

""Coach (John) Blake broke it down so good for us in the locker room. You can't have a testimony if you don't go through a test"" Williams said. You can't tell anybody how to deal with something if you haven't been there. I felt like this was a test for us and hopefully we'll have a testimony next year.""

Given the manner in which the game began" it seemed unlikely that a defensive play would determine the winner.

North Carolina (8-5) punted to end its first possession but then it was all offense for about the next 15 minutes.

The two teams put up 35 points and close to 400 total yards of offense in the game's opening stanza. And most of those yards came via the big play. There was UNC wideout Hakeem Nicks' 73-yard catch" a 44-yard touchdown pass by WVU quarterback Pat White and then another big play by Nicks — this one for a 66-yard touchdown catch from Arnold on a wide receiver pass.

All the offensive excitement left the coaches shaking their heads.

""Oh" golly WVU coach Bill Stewart said. I said ‘What is going on?' I told our guys I said" ‘This is going to be a defensive game.' I had no idea. That's why I don't bet.""

The game had the makings for a shootout of record proportions" but a couple of minutes into the second quarter momentum shifted to the two defenses.

The Mountaineers (9-4) stuffed Yates on fourth-and-goal and then Williams tackled WVU tailback Noel Devine in the end zone for a safety on the ensuing play.

Williams said it took the Tar Heels a while to adjust to the speed and tempo set by the West Virginia offense.

That seemed to be the case for WVU as well and its ability to slow down North Carolina bettered in the second half. Although the Mountaineers gave up a third touchdown catch to Nicks in the second quarter their secondary kept Nicks — and the rest of the UNC offense — in check for the rest of the game.

North Carolina only had seven points after halftime and committed two costly turnovers. Tailback Shaun Draughn fumbled the ball at the WVU 30-yard line late in the third quarter. Three plays later White who was named the game's MVP" threw for his third touchdown to give his team a 31-30 advantage.

UNC coach Butch Davis said after the game that Draughn's fumble was a key turning point in the game.

""You had a chance at that time with the lead to maybe go down and score and take it more than a touchdown"" he said. It's disappointing when something like that happens.""



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.