CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Bryn Renner threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter after a goal line stand preserved North Carolina’s lead, and the Tar Heels ended Virginia’s postseason chances with a 37-13 victory Thursday night at Lane Stadium.
The Tar Heels (7-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) were hanging on to a 20-13 lead when they stopped Kevin Parks for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1. They then drove 97 yards in 12 plays, Renner capping the drive with a 23-yard pass to a wide open Giovani Bernard over the middle for the touchdown.
A 5-yard completion to Erik Highsmith on fourthand-2 came on the play just before the touchdown pass, and after Virginia (4-7, 2-5) was forced to punt on the ensuing possession, Renner’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Highsmith finished it.
The Cavaliers had won two in a row and were hoping to win two more in order to qualify for a bowl game. They shut down Bernard, the conference’s runaway rushing leader, but were picked apart by Renner’s passing.
He finished 29 for 36 for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns.His favorite target was freshman Quinshad Davis, who caught 15 passes, one shy of the school record, for 174 yards.
The game looked as if it might become a classic in the oldest rivalry in the South, then turned quickly when the same North Carolina defense that allowed 68 points to Georgia Tech last Saturday made a huge play.
The Cavaliers drove to a first-and-goal at the Tar Heels’ 8. A draw play by Michael Rocco gained 5 on first down, and runs by Perry Jones and Kevin Parks gained a yard each. But on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Parks was thrown for a 2-yard loss.
The Tar Heels followed with their big drive and, when Darius Jennings got behind the secondary and Phillips Sims floated a certain 81-yard touchdown pass into his hands on third-and-13, Jennings juggled and dropped it. The Cavaliers punted, and five plays later, Renner’s pass to Highsmith made it 34-13.
Renner was 19 for 23 in the half for 201 yards, and Davis had 10 catches for 130 yards.
SOUTHLAND SE LOUISIANA 35, NICHOLLS STATE 16
THIBODAUX, La. - Rasheed Harrell rushed for two touchdowns, and Southeastern Louisiana cruised to a victory against Nicholls State after leading 14-3 at halftime.
The Lions (5-6, 5-2 Southland Conference) took advantage of two turnovers to take a 14-0 lead.
Southeastern Louisiana’s first touchdown was scored after the Lions recovered Devan Walker’s fumble at the Nicholls State 42. Harrell ran it in from 3 yards out for a 7-0 lead.
Colonels quarterback Landry Klann was intercepted by Todd Washington, giving the Lions the ball on Nicholls State’s 39. Harrell ran the ball six times on the drive, scoring from the 4 for a 14-0 advantage.
Harrell finished with 72 yards rushing, and Xavier Roberson rushed for 89 yards. Jeremy Myers caught three passes, two for touchdowns.
Klann threw for 211 yards and a touchdown for Nicholls State (1-9, 0-7), which has lost seven games in a row.
Sports, Pages 23 on 11/16/2012