University of North Carolina Athletics
The Tar Heels Trounce the Blue Devils
June 21, 1999 | Football
November 21, 1998
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Na Brown caught a pair of touchdown passes Saturday, setting North Carolina's all-time reception record, as the Tar Heels defeated Duke 28-6 to keep their slim postseason hopes alive.
The Tar Heels (5-5, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) reached .500 for the third time after starting 0-3, by beating the Blue Devils for the ninth time in a row.
North Carolina closes its season next weekend in Charlotte against N.C. State with its six-year bowl string potentially on the line.
Meanwhile, B.J. Hill rushed for a 101 yards for the Blue Devils in the first half, but lost 4 yards on only three carries in the second half as Duke (4-7, 2-6) closed the season with three straight losses after a promising start.
Oscar Davenport found Brown on TD passes of 41 and 15 yards to give the Tar Heels a 21-6 lead with 5:55 left in the third quarter. Brown's three catches gave him 157 for his career, two more than Corey Holliday, who set the previous school record from 1989-93.
Bobby Campbell didn't throw an interception after tossing an ACC-record seven in a loss to Maryland last Saturday, but was ineffective and replaced by Spencer Romine midway through the third quarter. Kevin Thompson took over in the fourth quarter.
After a last-ditch fake punt by the Blue Devils failed in their own territory, North Carolina converted on its fake on the ensuring series to set up Deon Dyer's 3-yard TD run with 6:57 left.
The Tar Heels drove 94 yards on their second series of the game, scoring on a 41-yard pass over the middle from Davenport to Brown. It was only North Carolina's second offensive TD in the first quarter in the last two seasons and tied Brown for the school record for career receptions.
Ronald Curry led North Carolina on its other first-half scoring drive after a 30-yard kickoff return by Anthony Saunders gave the Tar Heels good field position.
Curry ran for 26 yards on the scoring march, and his 15-yard completion to tight end Allen Mogridge set up Rufus Brown's 2-yard TD run.
Despite Hill's 101 yards by halftime, which included runs of 30 and 25 yards, the Blue Devils could only manage a pair of field goals by Matt Mapes and trailed 14-6.
