North Carolina 28, Miami 24…

Miami had this one. 14-0 after one. 17-7 at the half. 24-14 with just under ten minutes remaining.

In what looked to be a great start regarding ACC play, the Canes crapped the bed in the final minutes, allowing some big plays from the Heels and surrendering 14 points in the final quarter.

Miami’s defense folded late while the oft-criticized offensive playcalling again went conservative and reactive, instead of assertive and confident.

Butch Davis again outcoached Randy Shannon, rallying his troops late and keeping the score close late. This marks the second straight week a back up quarterback outsmarted Bill Young and his defense.

Patrick Nix began his attempt at running out the clock with 9:00 left on the game clock. Over the next two drives, six of eight play calls were handoffs to Graig Cooper. Not once did he test North Carolina’s defense, choosing the conservative route and relying on ball control.

Robert Marve provided some fireworks – right down to a potential game-winning pass that Kanye Farquharson couldn’t snag in the final seconds. Marve finished 18 of 27 with three touchdowns and two interceptions, the final one coming on the last play of the game.

Marve hit the ground running, throwing for two first quarter touchdowns before Shannon and staff gave way to Jacory Harris in the second quarter. Harris again looked shaky out the gate, pulled it together, finished 4 of 6 on the day – but in no way did the true freshman show the poise of #9. Marve didn’t regain his mojo until early in the fourth quarter, which is precisely when the Canes defense fell into a lull and was a non-factor for the duration of the game.

Who’d have though Young’s defense’s best outing would’ve been in Gainesville three week ago?

Kudos to UNC for weathering the storm and stealing a win behind the arm of a junior quarterback who attempted one pass in 2007 and was 3 for 8 with two interceptions in a loss against Virginia Tech last week. After blowing a 17-3 lead against the Hokies, the Heels rallied from the same deficit to spring a comeback against the Canes in what many predicted would be a defensive battle.

It’s back to the drawing board for Shannon and staff. Nix is going to hear it – deservedly – for his conservative playcalling, while Young’s defense is now responsible for back-to-back, late game collapses.

A young Miami team was expected to have its share of rookie mistakes this season.

To have so many occur in a ‘redemption’ game at home with a late 24-14 lead – it’s simply unacceptable.

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