University of North Carolina Athletics
Cedars History Report: An Offensive Classic in Kenan
November 20, 2002 | Football
Nov. 20, 2002
By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
An Offensive Classic in Kenan
November 20, 1976
It was a nightmare for defensive coaches and statisticians, but a delight for fans who love offensive fireworks.
The 1976 Carolina-Duke game featured 77 points and 914 total yards in a 39-38 Tar Heel victory.
The Blue Devils came to Kenan Stadium with a 5-4-1 record and needing a victory for a winning season. The Tar Heels were 8-2. A win would assure them a spot in the Peach Bowl.
Tailback Mike Voight was not only making his final home appearance, but ultimately the last game of his Carolina career. An ankle injury suffered in practice just before the Peach Bowl sidelined him for that game.
He went out in blazing fashion.
The 6-0, 205-pound senior from Chesapeake, Va. carried the ball 47 times for a career-high 261 yards. He also ran for four touchdowns and at the time became the school scoring leader, breaking Charlie Justice's career record.
Carolina needed all that because quarterback Mike Dunn was almost as outstanding for Duke. He had 17 carries for 130 yards and scored four touchdowns himself. He also completed seven of 13 passes for 109 yards.
Those two were so sensational that they overshadowed Tar Heel freshman quarterback Matt Kupec. He completed seven of 11 passes for 85 yards and one touchdown. He made several key plays, especially in the game's closing moments when his team was coming from behind to win.
There was only one tie in the game, 7-7. After that, the lead changed hands seven times, including five times in the fourth quarter.
A hint of what was to come might have been the game's opening play when Duke's Art Gore ran the kickoff back 47 yards to midfield. In nine plays Tony Benjamin scored on a three-yard run and Vince Fusco's extra point made it 7-0.
Carolina drove deep into Duke territory twice in the first quarter, but Voight lost fumbles on both occasions. The Tar Heels finally tied the game early in the second period when Voight bolted 14 yards off left tackle and Tom Biddle added the PAT.
Dunn brought his team right back, scoring on a 13-yard sweep, but the extra point was missed.
Before halftime Voight added two more scores on a one-yard dive and an 11-yard run. Dunn's 11-yard keeper just before intermission left Carolina with a 21-19 advantage at the break.
The third quarter saw Duke regain the lead, 22-21, on Fusco's 20-yard field goal.
But, it was the fourth quarter when the offenses really heated up.
First, it was the Tar Heels going 79 yards in 18 plays for a 19-yard field goal by Biddle. All but 11 of those yards came on the ground with Voight getting 49 of them.
Gore again got Duke moving with a 49-yard kickoff return. Six plays later Dunn completed a 51-yard drive with a 14-yard TD run. He also ran in a two-point conversion. With 9:14 on the clock, the Blue Devils were back on top, 30-24.
Starting at his own 32, Kupec directed a 68-yard march. Voight got it started with a 17-yard run. On third-and-three at the Duke 45, Kupec fired a 15-yard pass to Jim Rouse. Five plays later, on third-and-one at the nine, Voight blasted in for his fourth touchdown of the day and the 42nd of his career.
But, Dunn wasn't finished. A 78-yard drive was highlighted by Mike arney's 40-yard sprint on an option pitch. Dunn later scored from the nine and Benjamin ran in another two-point conversion.
The Blue Devils led 38-31 with just 2:53 left.
Carolina began a final drive at its own 21. Voight got nine yards on two plays. Kupec dropped back to pass, but saw a hole and ran for five yards and a first down. Delbert Powell then made a juggling 19-yard catch at the Duke 46.
On the following play, Kupec threw deep to Walker Lee at the 12. He was hit with the ball in the air and pass interference was called. The Tar Heels were awarded a first down there.
Voight got four yards to the eight. Kupec then tossed a soft pass to fullback Billy Johnson at the five. He easily got into the end zone with only 37 seconds left.
Forced to go for two, Kupec rolled right on an option play. "I kept looking for someone to come up at me because I wanted the ball in Voight's hands," said Kupec. "Finally they came up and I just pitched it to him. Mike took care of the rest."
Voight scored easily for the 39-38 Tar Heel lead.
Dunn's desperation throw on the final play of the game was intercepted by Francis Winters, ending another classic battle in the Carolina-Duke rivalry.
Rick Brewer is in his fourth decade with the University of North Carolina athletic department and brings a unique historical perspective to TarHeelBlue.com. A native of North Carolina, Brewer served as UNC's Sports Information Director from 1975 until his retirement from full-time work in 2000. Email Rick Brewer at rbrewer@uncaa.unc.edu.
