University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Tar Heels Fall Late To Wake Forest, 32-31
November 10, 2001 | Football
Nov 10, 2001
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By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - James MacPherson scored with 1:17 left, and Quinton Williams made the defensive play of the game seconds later as Wake Forest rallied from a 24-point halftime deficit to stun North Carolina 32-31 Saturday.
The Demon Deacons (5-4, 3-4 ACC) were outgained 338 yards to 118 in the first 30 minutes, but staged one of the best comebacks in Atlantic Coast Conference history behind MacPherson and tailback Tarence Williams, who gained 101 yards.
North Carolina (5-5, 4-3) had won five straight after starting 0-3, but now has lost two in a row to throw doubt on its bowl chances.
It was Wake Forest's seventh game decided by seven points or fewer this season.
The Demon Deacons scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and held the Tar Heels to 77 second-half yards.
The Tar Heels led 24-0 at halftime, were up 31-14 heading into the final 15 minutes, and appeared to be in control after Darian Durant threw his fourth TD pass of the day.
But things turned quickly for North Carolina.
Williams scored on a 3-yard run with 11:01 left to start the rally as Wake Forest's defense clamped down.
Tyler Ashe added a 42-yard field goal five minutes later and North Carolina hiked the ball out of the end zone on its next possession for a safety as the Demon Deacons closed within five points with 4:49 left.
Wake Forest took the free kick at its 41 and proceeded to march 59 yards for the winning score. MacPherson's 15-yard keeper and a holding penalty helped the clinching drive along and the quarterback's 1-yard keeper put the Demon Deacons ahead.
The Tar Heels had one final chance as Durant completed three passes to the Wake Forest 47 to put North Carolina into field goal range. But Williams came on a safety blitz, knocked the ball out of Durant's hand, and Caron Bracy recovered with 45 seconds left.
The largest comeback in an ACC game came in 1992, when Clemson overcame a 28-point deficit to beat Virginia 29-28.
Durant's brilliant performance was wasted.
The freshman quarterback missed all but Thursday's practice this week after helping bury his stepmother in South Carolina.
He completed 24 of 32 passes for 361 yards. Durant's passing total set the school record for a freshman. Ronald Curry threw for 304 against Stanford in 1998.
Durant had 264 yards and touchdown passes of 21, 21 and 75 yards by halftime to stun the Demon Deacons, who had lost 10 of 11 against the Tar Heels before Saturday.
Curry nursed a sore hamstring in a 28-21 loss to Georgia Tech last Thursday and was in Virginia this weekend at the funeral of a 12-year-old cousin.
Durant showed little rust, going 10-for-11 for 128 yards in the first quarter alone as the Tar Heels took control early but failed to hold on over the final 11 minutes.
