University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Syracuse
Tar Heels Edged By Syracuse, 49-47, In Triple Overtime
September 6, 2003 | Football
Sept. 6, 2003
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Walter Reyes ran for a career-high 191 yards and Kelvin Smith came up with a huge defensive stop on a 2-point attempt as Syracuse rallied to beat North Carolina 49-47 in triple overtime Saturday.
Reyes scored three touchdowns, including from 5 and 25 yards in the extra periods. His 2-point conversion run in the third OT gave Syracuse an eight-point lead in its season opener.
North Carolina (0-2) was given some life on an interference penalty on fourth down and Darian Durant's fourth TD pass pulled the Tar Heels within two.
But Smith stopped Jacque Lewis short of the goal line after he took a shovel pass from Durant on the 2-point attempt as the Tar Heels lost their school-record eighth straight home game.
North Carolina led the entire game until Collin Barber's 37-yard field goal with 27 seconds left in regulation tied it at 34-34.
Barber missed a 37-yard field goal wide left in the second overtime that would have ended the game after two OTs. But Reyes raced 25 yards untouched on the next play to put Syracuse on top for good.
The Orangemen once again had trouble stopping the pass despite three new starters in the secondary as Durant was 31-of-44 for 316 yards.
Syracuse was last in the nation in 2002 by allowing 303.8 yards a game through the air.
Durant had touchdown passes of 10, 44 and 15 yards Saturday giving him 36 in just 12 career starts, passing Chris Keldorf on North Carolina's all-time list. Keldorf had 35 TD passes from 1996-97.
North Carolina could have locked up the game late in the third quarter, but Willie Parker fumbled inside the Syracuse 10 with his team leading by 10. Parker appeared to be down on the pass play, but the officials ruled in favor of the Orangemen, who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to tie it.
North Carolina drove into Syracuse territory on all six first-half possessions for a 27-14 lead at the break.
Durant started 12-for-13 and finished the half with two TD passes and 198 yards.
The previous best for Reyes was 130 yards last season against Central Florida.
Quarterback R.J. Anderson also had a big day, throwing for 288 yards and three TDs.
