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Sept. 4, 1999
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – Todd Braverman, who found out three days ago he hadwon the Virginia kicking job, made a 50-yard field goal with 27.4 seconds leftSaturday as the 23rd-ranked Cavaliers edged North Carolina 20-17 in a seasonopener.
Thomas Jones, who rushed for 180 yards last season against the Tar Heels,gained 149 this time on 35 carries to help overcome three interceptions byrookie quarterback Dan Ellis.
The score was tied 17-17 when Virginia got the ball back at its 42 with 3:29left. Rain began pelting the field as Hurricane Dennis began moving inland, butthe Cavaliers had the wind at their backs.
Jones gained 21 yards on four carries to help set up Braverman, whosegame-winning kick made it over the crossbar by about a yard. His previous bestwas 47 yards against the Tar Heels last year.
The Cavaliers broke an eight-year home-team winning streak in thefifth-longest series in college football, jumping on top of the Atlantic CoastConference standings. The victory by Virginia was only its third in KenanStadium in the last three decades.
Jones scored a 1-yard TD with 33 seconds left in the third quarter to giveVirginia a 10-9 lead. Two plays after a Virginia interception of Ronald Curry’spass, Ellis found Kevin Coffey on a 32-yard scoring pass as the Cavaliersseemed to take control with a 17-9 cushion.
Ellis’ third interception of the day set up the Tar Heels at the Virginia30, and less than 2 1/2 minutes later, the scrambling Curry found Anthony Saunderswide open for an 18-yard score. Curry’s 2-point conversion pass tied the scorewith 7:44 left.
The teams traded field goals on their opening drives before both offensesbogged down.
In fact, North Carolina’s main first-half weapon was Curry scrambling fromhis quarterback position, while Virginia, as expected, relied on the running ofJones.
Ellis, who threw only six passes last season as Aaron Brooks’ backup,completed his first three before misfiring on eight of his final 11 of thehalf, including two major mistakes that cost the Cavaliers the halftime lead.
One play after a no-call on what appeared to be interference in the end zoneagainst North Carolina’s Anthony Anderson that would have given Virginia theball the North Carolina 1, Ellis broke out of the pocket.
But his pass attempt for Jones was high and behind the running back. AntwonBlack stepped in, picked it off and raced 89 yards untouched down the rightsideline for a momentum-shifting score 12 seconds before halftime.
Black’s was the third-longest interception return for a score in schoolhistory. It was the fourth straight game the Tar Heels have returned aninterception for the TD against Virginia.
Earlier in the second quarter, Ellis’ pass was intercepted at the NorthCarolina goal line by Errol Hood. That came one play after Chris Williamsreturned an interception off 27 yards to set up the Cavaliers.