University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Football History Book
July 7, 1999 | Football
July 7, 1999
Carolina 21 Mississippi St. 17
January 2, 1993
Atlanta, Ga.
Attendance: 69,125
Defensive MVP Bracey Walker blocked consecutive third-quarter punts, returning one of them for the tying touchdown, and forced a fourth quarter interception which Cliff Baskerville returned 44 yards for a touchdown to lead Carolina to a 21-17 Peach Bowl win over Mississippi State.
Walker's heroics capped a fierce second-half comeback in which the Tar Heels came from 14 points behind to score three times, although just once on an offensive possession.
MSU took a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter and had two more scores in the second quarter called back due to holding penalties.
Carolina regrouped at halftime, however, and cut the lead to 14-7 just six plays into the third quarter. Mike Thomas connected with Bucky Brooks for a 53-yard completion on the fourth play of the half and Natrone Means scored from a yard out two snaps later.
Means led the Tar Heel offense with 128 yards rushing and was named the game's Offensive MVP.
Later in the third quarter, Walker blocked a punt but Carolina's field goal try was unsuccessful. On the next series UNC again forced the Bulldogs to punt and this time Walker blocked the kick, picked up the loose ball and raced 24 yards untouched for the tying score.
Early in the final quarter Walker forced a midair loose ball with a jarring hit and Baskerville plucked the ball out of the air and sprinted 44 yards down the left sideline for what proved to be the winning score.
Carolina held off two late MSU rallies to hang on to the lead. Linebacker Kerry Mock's interception stopped one threat at the UNC 17 with 2:32 to play and a fourth-down incompletion with just six seconds left halted the Bulldogs at the Carolina 21-yard line.
Carolina 0 0 14 7 - 21 Miss. State 14 0 0 3 - 17MS - Truitt 2 pass from Plump (Gardner kick) MS - Roberts 22 run (Gardner kick) NC - Means 1 run (Pignetti kick) NC - Walker 41 blocked punt return (Pignetti kick) NC - Baskerville 44 interception return (Pignetti kick) MS - Gardner 46 FG
UNC MS First Downs 13 24 Rushes-Yardage 36-149 41-144 Passing Yardage 106 296 Passes 7-17-2 25-45-2 Total Offense 255 450 Return Yardage 106 20 Punts-Average 6-38.2 5-22.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0 Penalties-Yardage 4-36 9-87
Rushing Carolina: Means 21-128, Faulkerson 4-9, M. Thomas 9-6, Jordan 1-3, Brooks 1-3. Mississippi State: Roberts 9-64, M. Davis 10-32, James 6-24, Prince 5-19, Jordan 1-9, Hudson 1-5, Truitt 1-0, Plump 8-(-9).
Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yds) Carolina: M. Thomas 7-16-2-106, Jerry 0-1. Mississippi State: Plump 24-40-2-287, Jordan 1-4-0-9, Hudson 0-1.
Receiving Carolina: Brooks 2-60, Jerry 2-20, Means 1-15, Holliday 1-13, Felton 1-(-2) Mississippi State: Harris 8-127, Roberts 5-49, Truitt 3-31, Prince 2-23, Clanton 2-21, James 2-0, Ward 1-20, Jones 1-16, Knight 1-9.
