Down 24-13 to North Carolina with 4:53 left in the third quarter, Florida State needed some help.
Backed up to their own 2-yard line with the ACC's best defense gunning for a safety, the Seminoles eschewed the safety of a running play and handed the ball to quarterback Christian Ponder.
Ponder and an untimely trip from cornerback Charles Brown proved to be the impetus FSU needed to complete the comeback and take the game later in the fourth quarter with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Ponder for the final margin, 30-27.
Ponder dropped back in the first play of the drive, into his own end zone, and lofted a pass to the streaking Rod Owen just as Brown stumbled.
The play went 98 yards, the longest pass play in Kenan Stadium history, put UNC on its heels, and put FSU on track to come back from a 24-6 deficit.
In the second half, FSU outscored UNC 24-10 after managing only six points in the opening half.
"I guess we got too happy when we were up 24-6," linebacker Kevin Reddick said. "We've just got to hold our composure and stay humble."
Ponder lived up to the Thursday night stage by shredding UNC's ACC-leading pass defense (125.2 yards per game and one passing touchdown on the season before Thursday night) by going 33-40 with 395 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Shaun Draughn led UNC with 126 rushing yards on 23 attempts. Greg Little opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run on UNC's opening drive. On that 80-yard drive, Little accounted for 53 yards with three catches and the touchdown run.
