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Oct 13, 2001
By JOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Andre’ Williams ran for 147 yards and a touchdown,and Dexter Reid scored on an improbable 67-yard interception return as NorthCarolina beat Virginia 30-24 on Saturday.
North Carolina (4-3, 3-1 Atlantic Coast) won its fourth straight afteropening the season 0-3. It is the Tar Heels’ longest winning streak since theywon 10 straight from 1996-97.
Virginia (3-3, 2-2) scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub toBilly McMullen with 1:01 left, but couldn’t recover the onside kick. TheCavaliers have lost two straight after opening 3-1.
Reid scored early in the fourth quarter after a pass caromed off KaseLuzar’s hands, then bounced off his body as he was falling to the ground. Reidscooped up the ball just before it hit the ground and raced down the sideline.
Williams scored on a 7-yard run for North Carolina’s first score, bullingthrough Jerton Evans for the final 3 yards. It was his first 100-yard rushinggame.
North Carolina, which started slowly in its first six games, got goingquickly against Virginia. The Tar Heels had 312 yards by halftime – more thanany of their first four games – and finished with a season-high 477.
Schaub, who had been alternating with Bryson Spinner, started strong andnever came out. He completed 33 of 54 passes for 334 yards three touchdowns.
McMullen, the ACC’s receptions and yardage leader, caught 11 passes for 122yards.
Virginia tied it on a 7-yard pass from Schaub to Tyree Forman midway throughthe third quarter, but North Carolina answered less than two minutes later on a66-yard touchdown pass from Ronald Curry to Sam Aiken.
Curry also had a 39-yard run late in the second to set up a 30-yard fieldgoal by Jeff Reed, but didn’t play in the second half because of a soreAchilles’ tendon.
North Carolina reached the Virginia 25 on two other drives in the firsthalf, but Jacque Lewis fumbled and Darian Durant had a pass intercepted byChris Williams after the ball bounced off Bosley Allen’s hands.
Durant was 10-for-16 for 162 yards.
Virginia had trouble with special teams for the second week in a row.
The Cavaliers, who had a punt and a field goal blocked last week againstMaryland, had a 46-yard field goal attempt blocked by Michael Waddell – oneplay after a penalty negated a successful one from 41 yards.