Tar Heels rally in second half to win Shrine Bowl 26-19 (AUDIO)
Bluffton's Michael Grant (L) and Lexington's Shaq Roland were SC's MVPs in Shrine Bowl
North Carolina scored 20 second half points behind the tough running of Todd Gurley to rally for a 26-19 win over South Carolina in the 75th annual Shrine Bowl game at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg. The Tar Heels have won six of the last ten in the series and pick up their 30th win all time. SC has 41 victories and there have been four ties.
SC led 13-6 at halftime but on its second possession of the second half, starting at the SC 41, NC quickly drove for a touchdown with Gurley running in from a yard out. That tied the game at 13.
The Tar Heels then stuffed a SC fake punt attempt and took over at the Sandlappers 43. Gurley, who had a 20 yard run on the drive, scored on a tackle breaking 15 yard scamper. That put NC up 20-13 with :46 to play in the quarter.
The Tar Heels took that lead into the fourth quarter and added to it on a 76 yard run by Jela Duncan. The extra point was missed and NC led 26-13 with 12:51 to play.
The Sandlappers, however, still had some fight in them. They went on a 20 play, 78 yard drive that took over eight minutes. Goose Creek’s Virgil Smalls scored from a yard out. The extra point snap was bad so the score stood at 26-19 with 5:05 left.
Needing a good stop on the kickoff and on defense, the Sandlappers failed. Jamel Harbison returned the kick 59 yards to the SC 35. Gurley then carried six straight times getting a pair of first downs in the process, and the Tar Heels were able to run out the clock.
NC had the chance to build an early lead in the first quarter. Gurley broke free for a 94 yard touchdown run in the first quarter but it was called back for holding. In the second quarter, the Tar Heels blocked a punt and recovered at the SC 14. But they couldn’t move the ball and settled for a 33 yard field goal attempt by Clemson commitment Bradley Pinion that was no good.
SC then got its passing game going. Quinshad Davis of Gaffney made a leaping catch over a NC defender for a 41 yard catch to the Tar Heel 18. On the next play, Gaffney’s Joey Copeland connected with Lexington’s Shaq Roland for an 18 yard scoring pass. The extra point snap was bad and a desperation throw for a two point conversion by Byrnes’ Kaleb Patterson fell incomplete. With 8:51 left in the half, SC led 6-0.
That lead lasted just a few seconds as Harbison took the kickoff back 94 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good and the game was tied 6-6.
Late in the half, SC took to the air again, and again it was Roland doing the damage. He caught a 57 yard pass to the NC 25. And then Copeland hit Roland on a post pattern with a 25 yard scoring strike. At the half, SC led 13-6.
NC finished with 285 yards, 260 on the ground. The Tar Heels had 200 rushing yards in the second half. Gurley had 119 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries. Duncan rushed for 112 yards and one score.
SC had 329 total yards, 289 thru the air. Copeland completed 8 of 13 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Rowe was 16 for 26 for 120 yards and one interception. Roland caught eight passes for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dillon’s Kwinton Smith also had 8 catches for 67 yards.
NC also had 204 yards on four kickoff returns, including one return for a touchdown. The Tar Heels worst starting field position from the other three kickoffs was their own 37. For the game, NC’s average field position was their own 48, while for SC it was their own 17.
Michael Grant of Bluffton led SC ‘s defensive effort with 9 tackles, 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss.
And the most impressive stat of the day…the Shriners announced a donation of $1,677,520.11 for their hospitals.
The game’s MVPs were Shaq Roland and Michael Grant for SC, and Todd Gurley and Martin Munn for NC.
Jonathan Bullard also had a strong game for NC with 2 sacks and 3 total tackles. After the game he was asked about his recruiting status.
Bullard plans to announce his decision Wednesday at 2:45 at his school.
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