THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510080197
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
Ninth-ranked Virginia went down to North Carolina in a fit of anger Saturday afternoon in Kenan Stadium.
The Cavaliers' five-game winning streak and first-place standing in the ACC rumbled to an end in a 22-17 loss to the unranked Tar Heels.
A late opportunity to salvage the victory was spoiled by a personal foul.
Offensive tackle Chris Harrison, a sixth-year senior, accepted the blame for the momentum-killing infraction and called it ``one of the biggest mistakes of my life.''
The penalty came with five minutes remaining and quarterback Mike Groh moving the Cavaliers toward what would have been the go-ahead touchdown.
Groh had completed a pair of passes for a first down on the Carolina 33. On the next play, Tiki Barber slammed into the line and was arm-tackled around the neck for no gain.
The whistle sounded and Harrison said he felt a blow to his back.
He angrily turned and swung his right fist against the face mask of Carolina defensive back Sean Boyd.
As what usually happens in such situations, the retaliating blow brought the penalty and Virginia was marched back to the 48, where it was now second and 25.
Two plays later, the Cavaliers were forced to punt.
They got the ball back a final time, but with no timeouts and no momentum, they couldn't take advantage.
The loss dropped Virginia to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the ACC, where Florida State was left with the only unblemished record.
Carolina, after two losses to begin the season, celebrated its third straight victory and first-ever against a top-10 ranked team during coach Mack Brown's eight seasons.
None of the Cavaliers felt worse about their first defeat since losing to Michigan in the season opener than Harrison, normally one of the mildest players on the squad.
``I screwed up,'' Harrison said after a quick shower.
``The dude came and hit me in the back and I just lost it. It is my fault and my fault only. I have played long enough to know you have to keep your poise when it is tight like that.
``So, no one to blame but myself.''
Harrison, though, couldn't take the whole rap for the loss.
The Cavaliers had other chances, but couldn't match the impressive Tar Heels with big plays.
Carolina tailback Leon Johnson rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns and also threw passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Virginia had trouble revving up its offense.
Groh was sacked three times, and sophomore defensive end Greg Ellis had a hand in each. Tackle Marcus Jones helped limit Virginia to 116 yards rushing.
``Marcus Jones is an All-American,'' Harrison said.
``That was the best defense we've played,'' added Groh, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 181 yards.
So dominating was the No. 1 defense in the country that Virginia found itself down 13-0 before making its initial first down four minutes into the second quarter.
Groh finally cranked up the offense for a touchdown, on a 26-yard pass play to wide receiver Germane Crowell at 5:24 in the second quarter.
Virginia trailed, 16-7, at intermission for the first time this season following a 26-yard field goal by Carolina's Scott Caparelli in the final seconds of the half.
The Cavaliers had the momentum for most of the second half.
Barber had a 4-yard touchdown run in the third period and kicker Rafael Garcia drilled a 32-yard field goal two minutes into the fourth quarter to give Virginia its first lead, 17-16.
But Carolina came back on a time-consuming 77-yard drive that Johnson completed with back-to-back runs of 19 and 6 yards around right end.
After a 2-point conversion attempt failed, the Cavaliers received the kickoff with 6:07 remaining.
A 13-yard pass to tight end Walt Derey and a 27-yard completion to wide receiver Pat Jeffers moved them to the Carolina 33, where the drive stalled following Harrison's penalty.
Still, it seemed the Cavaliers had enough time when they stopped Carolina on three downs and regained possession with 1:51 left.
But the Cavaliers went out in four plays, including a pair of incompletions and a 9-yard fumble loss by a scrambling Groh.
``We had chances to win it and didn't,'' coach George Welsh said.
He admitted there was ``some confusion'' on the sidelines and on the field that caused Virginia two burn two timeouts earlier in the fourth period.
The Cavaliers seemed disappointed but not emotionally spent by the defeat.
``I am hurt more than I am shocked,'' Barber said.
While having their winning streak snapped, the Cavaliers' did extend their streak of games to 23 in which they have had one or more interceptions.
Safety Paul London snared the game's only turnover when he picked off a pass by Carolina quarterback Mike Thomas early in the fourth period.
That began the drive that led to Garcia's field goal and Virginia's brief 17-16 lead. by CNB