North Carolina
Wake Forest
Tar Heels Down Demon Deacons, 42-34
November 8, 2003 | Football
Nov 8, 2003
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By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Ronnie McGill ran for 244 yards and three touchdowns to help North Carolina snap a school-record 10-game home losing streak with a 42-34 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday.
The Demon Deacons (5-5, 3-4 ACC) were coming off a stunning 45-17 victory over Clemson last weekend, but lost this one in the kicking game and with a defense that couldn't stop UNC's freshman tailback.
Wake Forest fumbled away a punt and a kickoff, and had two field goals and an extra point blocked. The two fumbles quickly led to two North Carolina scores.
The Tar Heels (2-8, 1-5) last won at home against SMU on Dec. 1, 2001. North Carolina lost to Syracuse in overtime and on the last play of the game against Arizona State at Kenan Stadium this season.
The Demon Deacons closed within eight twice with their 21-point fourth quarter, but McGill ran nine straight plays on UNC's final drive, getting four first downs to run the clock out.
McGill, who carried 29 times, became the first UNC player to go over 100 yards this season. He scored on runs of 6, 5 and 34 yards, and his 66-yard dash in the third quarter set up one of two Dan Orner field goals.
McGill got extra playing time because of a first-quarter neck injury to Chad Scott.
Wake Forest came into the game with an ACC-low 12 turnovers in nine games, but lost three fumbles in front of scouts from the Peach Bowl.
Willie Idlette's second fumble and a personal foul on the play set up McGill's third TD run and capped off North Carolina's 19-point third quarter for a 35-13 lead.
North Carolina's offense wasn't on the field much in the opening 22 minutes as Chris Barclay rushed for 122 of Wake Forest's 303 first-half yards.
 Lionell Green breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Wake Forest's Jason Anderson during the first quarter.  |
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But the Tar Heels scored 16 points in less than six minutes late in the second quarter to grab a three-point halftime lead when Durant threw a TD pass and McGill scored his first TD.
North Carolina's other two points came when Michael Waddell blocked an extra point attempt from Wake Forest and Lionell Green returned it 91 yards.
The Demon Deacons had plenty of kicking problems in the first half.
Not only did Waddell have a hand in the failed extra point, but he got one of two field goals Wake Forest had blocked on its opening two drives.
And after taking a 7-0 lead on Barclay's 1-yard run, the normally reliable Idlette fumbled a punt at his team's 22, leading to Durant's 13th TD pass of the season.
McGill's three rushing TDs were the most for a North Carolina player since Leon Johnson had that many against N.C. State in 1996.
Barclay finished with 160 yards on 35 carries for the Demon Deacons.
