Heels ring up a win

CHAPEL HILL -- It was fitting two players from North Carolina's defense got the Victory Bell first.

Defensive end E.J. Wilson and cornerback Charlie Brown hopped on the rickety, spray-painted wagon for a celebratory ride after the Tar Heels rode their defense, and running back Ryan Houston, to a 19-6 victory over Duke on Saturday at Kenan Stadium.

The Tar Heels kept Duke's dangerous offense out of the end zone, limited quarterback Thaddeus Lewis to 113 passing yards, sacked Lewis three times and intercepted two passes. Behind a patchwork line, Houston, the second-string back, pounded out a career-best 164 yards on a whopping 37 carries, the most carries by a UNC back since 1990.

Houston, who finished with 179 total yards, outgained Duke's entire offense, which had 125 total yards.

The win - punctuated by the victory lap on the Victory Bell and a roaring anti-Duke chant from the student section - is UNC's sixth of the season, moving the Tar Heels one step closer to bowl eligibility. The loss, the Devils' 19th in 20 games in the series, dampened the pursuit of their first bowl appearance since 1994.

"After last year going to a bowl game, I like going to them," UNC senior tackle Kyle Jolly said. "I want a return trip."

The Tar Heels need one win in their final three games to get back to a bowl game. They might not have starting running back Shaun Draughn, who injured his left shoulder on the first play of the game, but Houston was strong enough to carry the offense on Saturday.

Up 9-6 after the defense stopped Duke on fourth down from UNC's 35-yard line, forcing one of Lewis' 17 incompletions, the Tar Heels got the ball with 13:13 left in the game.

The Heels proceeded to drive 65 yards in 12 plays and milk more than 6 minutes off the clock. Houston carried the ball on 10 of the plays, covering 55 yards and grinding Duke's defense into submission. By the time UNC's offense reached the 3-yard line, Duke had no answer for a misdirection running play to receiver Jheranie Boyd, who scored untouched to push the margin to 16-6.

The way UNC's defense played, the game was over, despite the 6:57 still on the clock.

"We didn't play very well," Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. "We really were fortunate to have a chance there in the fourth quarter because bottom line is we got whipped."

With a tight Cover 1 scheme, which featured 10 players within 2 yards of the line scrimmage, UNC's defense pressed Lewis and dared him to beat them deep. After throwing for at least 300 yards in the previous four games, Lewis (16-of-33, 113 yards) found no room against UNC's defense, not even in desperation mode.

The press coverage was an adjustment for UNC's defense, which gave up 395 passing yards in a 30-27 loss to Florida State on Oct. 22.

After Boyd's touchdown, Duke's drive lasted three plays. Lewis scrambled for 3 yards, missed tight Brett Huffman and then was sacked by defensive end Robert Quinn, who got to Lewis for all three of Carolina's sacks.

"We played really tight," said UNC safety Deunta Williams, who picked his third interception of the season. "We did a good job of breaking on the short routes because we know they'd try to nickel-and-dime us."

Duke, which had won three straight ACC games since 1994, couldn't overcome its inability to run the ball.

Take away two scrambles by Lewis at the start of the third quarter and the Devils rushed 17 times for minus-21 yards.

A blocked punt set up the Devils' first field goal, a 23-yarder by Nick Maggio, who also hit from 26 in the first half to leave the teams tied at 6 after 30 minutes.

UNC kicker Casey Barth, coming off of kicking the winner on the final play of a 20-17 win Oct. 29 at Virginia Tech, converted four field goals. Brown's interception and 54-yard return set up Barth for a 41-yarder on the last play of the third quarter that gave UNC a 9-6 lead.

It would ultimately prove to be enough to win, but Houston added the extra mustard. As UNC celebrated, Duke walked off the field and wondered what might have been.

Inching closer to a bowl bid was almost as sweet as keeping Duke stuck at five wins, Williams said.

Almost.

"Nah," Williams said. "It's all about us."

North Carolina 19, Duke 6

First quarter

NC--FG Barth 40, 11:25. Duke--FG Maggio 23, 1:10.

Second quarter

NC--FG Barth 29, 9:59. Duke--FG Maggio 26, :00.

Third quarter

NC--FG Barth 41, :00.

Fourth quarter

NC--Boyd 3 run (Barth kick), 6:57. NC--FG Barth 33, 3:56.

Individual statistics

Rushing--Duke, Lewis 10-7, Boyette 3-4, Hollingsworth 1-1, D.Scott 5-0. North Carolina, Houston 37-164, Elzy 2-12, Little 4-12, Draughn 1-9, Boyd 2-6, J.White 1-5, Team 2-(minus 4), Yates 2-(minus 12).

Passing--Duke, Lewis 16-33-1-113, Renfree 0-1-1-0, Team 0-1-0-0. North Carolina, Yates 16-28-1-119.

Receiving--Duke, Kelly 4-22, Vernon 3-21, Varner 2-14, D.Scott 2-10, Hollingsworth 2-6, B.King 1-22, Williams 1-12, Bell 1-6. North Carolina, Pianalto 5-42, Little 3-26, Highsmith 3-21, Houston 3-15, D.Jones 2-15.

Att.--59,750.

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