Nerves Of Heel

#33 Arkansas – 7
#32 UNC – 14 (OT)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - It took overtime, but the Tar Heels of North Carolina fought off a valiant effort by the Arkansas Razorbacks to win 14-7. Trailing 7-0 as they headed for the showers, things really got interesting in the second half after UNC was forced to punt on its opening possession. Arkansas took over at its own 11-yard line, but running back Michael Smith was stripped on the first play from scrimmage by linebacker Zach Brown and UNC's Quan Sturdivant made the recovery. The Heels took advantage and capitalized quickly with a T.J. Yates eleven yard touchdown run to tie the score.

UNC had a chance to win the game late, putting together a time consuming drive throughout the final quarter. The Heels faced a 4th and 4 with under a minute remaining and elected to go for the conversion rather than attempt a long field goal - a decision which looked wise when Yates completed a pass over the middle to Greg Little, only to see the ball fumbled to the turf and recovered by the Razorbacks with less than thirty ticks on the clock.

One the next play, 'Hogs' QB Ryan Mallet threw deep downfiled, but the pass was broken up by cornerback Kendric Burney and fell right into the hands of teammate De'Norris Searcy, who returned it 23 yards to the Arkansas 36-yard line with six seconds remaining. Just outside field goal range, Yates completed a quick out to Little who stepped out of bounds with three seconds to play. After the teams traded timeouts, kicker Casey Barth lined up the game-winning field goal from 43 yards out only to watch it cruelly carom off the cross bar.

The Heels went on offense first in the extra period and used a steady dose of Shaun Draughn (14 carries, 46 yards, TD) to take their first lead of the game. Arkansas tried to respond as Mallet converted on 4th and 10, but was intercepted in the end zone on his next pass by Burney.

With the win, North Carolina will move on to face the winner of Ohio vs. Texas.