Carolina spins its wheels in 2nd half

Hokies hold Tar Heels to 60 yards

On the bus ride to Lane Stadium on Saturday, North Carolina's football team got stuck in heavy traffic.

On the field Saturday night, especially in the third quarter, the Tar Heels got stuck again, never could get going and gained just 60 yards in the second half.

"We couldn't run the ball and we couldn't pass because of their pass rush,'' said bruised quarterback Matt Baker, who took a physical pounding in Carolina's 30-3 loss to division champion Virginia Tech.

"It seemed I was always getting up [off the ground],'' said Baker, who was 15-for-41 against a Hokies defense that brought the most relentless rush he had faced.

Prior to those third-quarter blues, it was difficult to distinguish the challenger from the champ. Carolina trailed 6-3 at the break after having a field goal blocked and dropping a potential touchdown pass in the end zone.

"We were excited [then],'' said Baker, who had hoped to lead UNC to a sixth victory and bowl-game qualification.

But, as coach John Bunting put it, the Hokies just "beat us up" in the third quarter.

Field position also was a telling factor. Tech gained control of the real estate. The Hokies' first three touchdown drives of the second half covered 45, 60 and 21 yards. That put the Tar Heels' defense, which played so defiantly in the first half, with their backs to the wall.

UNC end Tommy Davis dumped Marcus Vick twice, bringing his season sack total to eight. But the Heels' senior and his defensive buddies couldn't stop Cedric Humes (134 yards) and Branden Ore (104), who did a nifty version of the "Hokie Pokey."

MOVING ON: Jesse Holley, Carolina's top receiver, dropped a pass in the end zone that would have given UNC a lead at the half.

Asked how long he would remember the blunder, Holley replied: "By Monday it'll be gone. I have football amnesia."

As for playing on UNC's basketball team again, Holley said he doesn't know yet if he will rejoin the Tar Heels hoopsters.

TAR HEEL DOWN: Carolina lineman Kendraus Guy suffered a leg injury in the second half and was taken to the hospital. A medical update on his condition wasn't available immediately after the game.

JUST FOR KICKS: Virginia Tech's Darryl Tapp blocked a UNC field goal attempt, and the Hokies Victor "Macho" Harris deflected a Tar Heel punt, which set up an early-second half touchdown.

That's a big part of Beamer Ball. In 226 games under coach coach Frank Beamer, Tech has blocked 108 kicks.

Staff writer Robbi Pickeral contributed to this story.