bgorman@heraldsun.com; 419-6668
CHAPEL HILL -- The North Carolina football team clinched a spot in a bowl game for the second consecutive season with a 33-24 win over Miami on Saturday.
And even though it's first time that's happened since the Tar Heels went to seven straight from 1992-98, the real story of the game was cornerback Kendric Burney.
The junior picked off Miami quarterback Jacory Harris three times for a total of 170 yards, returning one for a 77-yard touchdown for his second career interception return score.
But the pick that had garnered the most attention was Burney's final interception, which turned the tide of the game in the Tar Heels' favor. Burney grabbed the ball at UNC's 10 and returned it 45 yards before losing control of the ball. As the ball slipped out of his hands he directed it toward teammate Melvin Williams, who ran 44 yards for a touchdown and a 30-17 UNC lead.
The play was reviewed and the referees decided Burney fumbled the ball, instead of throwing it forward. After the game, however, Burney's intentions became a bit more clear.
"I actually did bobble the ball a bit," Burney said after the game. "The play before that, the interception where I scored, Melvin was asking me why I didn't pitch him the ball. So it was funny that I pitched it to him there, cause you know, he stood there for like a half of a second."
Miami coach Randy Shannon briefly shared his thoughts on the play after the game, but mostly said he didn't want to get involved.
"To me it looked like he pitched it forward, but I can't get involved with it," Shannon said. "I mean it's a game, one play shouldn't make a difference in a game."
The Tar Heels fell just short of being ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, as Rutgers (7-2) received 145 points to UNC's 144.
Up next for UNC is a trip to Boston College (noon, ESPN2) to try and improve its overall record to slide into a better bowl game. The Eagles (7-3, 4-2) are coming off a 14-10 victory over Virginia on Saturday.
