Cal Beats Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels, 21-18
California's defense helps the Golden Bears hold on to victory
With three minutes and 48 seconds left in the game, California senior cornerback Brent Austin forced and recovered a fumble before his end zone, denying North Carolina wide receiver Nathan Leacock the chance to score a go-ahead, game-winning touchdown.
Austin’s clutch play enabled his California Golden Bears (5-2, 2-1 ACC) to hold on to secure a 21-18 victory over famed football coach Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels (2-4, 0-2 ACC).
But that was not the only gift the Tar Heels gave the Golden Bears in Strawberry Canyon Friday night.
On the first play of the game, Tar Heel wide receiver Shenard Clower coughed up the ball after catching a seven-yard pass to the left. The fumble, forced by Golden Bear nickel back Cam Sidney, gave California the ball at the North Carolina 25. California then punched the ball into the end zone in four plays. California tailback Kendrick Raphael carried the rock up the middle to the North Carolina 3 after three successive rushing plays, giving his quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, the opportunity to score on a keeper.
The two teams then traded touchdowns in the first quarter before the visiting Tar Heels cut the deficit to 10-14 at halftime with a second-quarter, 41-yard field goal.
Then, in the third quarter, a North Carolina pass interference penalty by Marcus Allen on third-and-nine bailed out first-year quarterback Sagapolutele, whose pass to the right for Trond Grizzell fell incomplete. The flag brought the Golden Bears to the North Carolina 2, setting up a Raphael two-yard run up the middle for what proved to be a pivotal score.
Raphael finished the night with 81 rushing yards and one touchdown against North Carolina.
Thanks Rick.
5-2 is 5-2…which is a new thing. So that’s nice.
The eye test says it’s the same old, same old program…9 years of coin toss games that swing on 1-2 lucky plays.
UNC is a bad football team. Like, not competitive vs. P5 competition bad. We needed a couple of fluke breaks to beat them at home, off a bye.
Dunno, this sure does not seem like progress, regardless of what the standings say…
Austin’s play is just a phenomenal highlight that should be remembered irrespective of our perspectives on Wilcox. I’ll remember this play for years. Textbook performance from Austin. Not just the punch, but to remain alert and recover from being on the ground after the punch to then pounce on the ball. True heart shown to the football gods.