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Heels booted by Cavs

BY RONNIE GALLAGHER
SALISBURY POST

Don’t tell that to University of Virginia kicker Todd Braverman.

Braverman, named the starting kicker less than a week ago, had Dennis at his back with 27.4 seconds remaining in a tie game Saturday against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Dennis huffed and puffed and blew Braverman’s 50-yard field goal through the uprights by scant feet for a 20-17 victory over the Heels in the season opener for both teams.

“There’s a fine line between W’s and L’s,” sighed UNC coach Carl Torbush. “These are the games you need to have a really good season.”

Torbush found out about that fine line when Dennis, er, Braverman, kicked the game-winner. It was the longest of his career, surpassing the 47-yarder he hit last season against — you guessed it — North Carolina.

Dennis’ sudden burst of wind stunned Torbush.

“I thought it was 5, 10 yards short,” said the East Spencer native of Braverman’s kick. “I didn’t know it was good until the ref raised his arms.”

Braverman’s boot ruined a late UNC comeback that electrified the sellout crowd at Kenan Stadium.

Trailing 17-9, Billy Dee Greenwood intercepted Virginia quarterback Dan Ellis for UNC’s third pickoff of the day, setting up Ronald Curry and the Tar Heel offense at the Virginia 30 with 10:05 remaining.

A holding penalty forced UNC into a second-and-25 from the 33. That’s when Curry did what he does best — improvise.

First, he drilled a strike to Jason Peace for 15 yards to the 19. On the next play, he scrambled to his left, avoided several defenders and found a wide-open Anthony Saunders for an 18-yard score.

Then, Curry pulled off a remarkable two-point conversion play.

Again, he was rushed out of the pocket and but sent Virginia defensive end Travis Griffith sprawling with a couple of nifty stutter-steps. He eventually found Dauntae Finger for the tie with 7:44 left.

Running the Virginia defense ragged with his quickness, Curry had an enigmatic day. He finished just 10-of-28 passing but rushed for 55 yards and made several big plays.

“I don’t think I played well at all,” said the Virginia native, who was heckled all afternoon by a large contingent of Cavalier fans. “My passes weren’t as crisp as they usually are. In order for me to be successful, I need to cut out some of the scrambling. But I do think I can take advantage from moving around.”

Torbush has said he wanted his sophomore signal caller to be more of a pocket passer but added, “He didn’t freelance on his own. We didn’t block well for him.”

Curry did lead the Heels to a 3-0 lead in their first possession, driving 58 yards on 13 plays, ending with a 39-yard field goal by Josh McGee. He scrambled for 19 of the yards.

But Virginia came right back behind three completions by Ellis to knot the score after an even more impressive drive of 74 yards on 15 plays. Braverman booted a field goal of 23 yards.

The game then settled down to a defensive struggle. On consecutive second quarter plays, Virginia’s No. 29 Chris Williams and UNC’s No. 29 Errol Hood exchanged interceptions.

With less than a minute left, it appeared Virginia was ready to score, getting to the UNC 19. That’s when Ellis threw behind a receiver and Antwon Black picked off the pass and sailed 89 yards for a touchdown and a 9-3 UNC lead at the half.

“I was the nickel back and I did what I had to — take it to the house,” said Black, a junior from Central, S.C.

Virginia controlled most of the second half behind the running of Thomas Jones. The ACC’s top returning tailback finished with 149 yards on a workman-like 35 carries and scored on a short run with 44 seconds left in the third to give the Wahoos their first lead of the game, 10-9. On the first play after the kickoff, Curry was intercepted by Shernard Newby leading to Ellis’ 32-yard pass to Kevin Coffey for the eight-point lead.

Jones then ran four times on Virginia’s last drive to set up the winner by Braverman — and Dennis.

“This is very hard,” added Black. “We gave all we had and we’ll take this loss hard.”

Torbush expects nothing less.

“They’re very disappointed and very hurt,” he said of his players. “Itold them, ‘If you’re not, then you shouldn’t be in this locker room.’”

Curry said he will improve and so will his teammates.

“I think you’ll see a different team next week,” he said.

And hopefully, some different weather conditions.

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NOTES: Jones has rushed for 329 yards in his last two games against UNC. ... Black’s interception return was the third longest in school history. He had an 81-yard fumble recovery for a score last season. ... The Heels have scored a touchdown off an interception in the last four games against Virginia. ... Virginia’s win in Kenan Stadium was only its third in the last 30 years. The home team hadn’t lost in eight years of this rivalry, which is the nation’s fifth longest. ... UNC travels to Indiana next Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against the Hoosiers and former North Rowan star Greg Yeldell. … Carolina retired defensive back Dre Bly’s No. 31 during a halftime ceremony.