Final Score: (25) Boston College 37, North Carolina 24
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Andre Callender rushed for 174 yards on 26 carries and scored the go-ahead touchdown, as the 25th-ranked Boston College Eagles defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels, 37-24, in the Continental Tire Bowl.
Paul Peterson, who was named the game's MVP, finished 24-of-33 for 236 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles (9-3), who won five of their final six games. Peterson, who was already playing with a broken right hand, left the contest in the middle of the fourth quarter with a leg injury after being hit while recovering his own fumble.
Boston College had to settle for this bowl game despite higher aspirations toward the end of the season. The Eagles would have won the Big East title outright and earned a BCS game if they had beaten Syracuse in their regular- season finale.
The Tar Heels (6-6), who had their two-game winning streak snapped, were led by Darian Durant. The quarterback threw for 259 yards on 23-of-41 attempts and three scores, all of which came in the first half.
"We certainly had opportunities to win today and that's what it's about -- winning," North Carolina coach John Bunting said.
Derrele Mitchell finished the game with a score and seven receptions for 116 yards in the loss.
Trailing 24-21 early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles reclaimed the lead for good on Callender's one-yard plunge ending a six-play, 65-yard drive spanning 1:46. He set up the go-ahead score three plays earlier with a 38-yard scamper to the Tar Heel 10-yard line. Boston College, though, missed the extra point and led 27-24 with 14:16 left in the game.
The Eagles padded their lead to 34-24 just under four minutes later with a fake field goal run, when backup kicker Ryan Ohliger raced 21 yards to the end zone. On the drive, Peterson suffered his lower leg injury and left the game in an air cast.
"Paul is the heart and soul of this team, and everyone went back to the huddle and Coach O'Brien said, `We're not going to lose. We're going to put it in the end zone for Paul,'" said holder Matt Ryan, who handed the fake to Ohliger.
William Troost closed the scoring with an 18-yard field goal with 4:09 left to make it 37-24.
The Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead with an 11-play, 86-yard drive in the first quarter. L.V. Whitworth capped the drive with a three-yard plunge, finishing the series with 19 yards rushing on five carries.
North Carolina answered with a quick 57-yard drive that took only two minutes and ended with a Ronny McGill 12-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 7-7. Scott carried the load for the Tar Heels on the seven-play march, gaining 36 yards on four carries.
Boston College went ahead 14-7 as it drove 78 yards on 11 plays with its second possession of the contest. Grant Adams' two-yard touchdown score capped the series. Peterson completed 4-of-5 passes for 32 yards on the drive, while Callender rushed for 46 yards on six attempts.
Adams finished the game with 53 yards on five receptions.
Following a fumbled snap by Peterson, the Tar Heels took over at the Boston College 23-yard line and found the end zone six plays later when Wallace Wright made a leaping five-yard reception to knot the game at 14-14.
Durant then capped a three-touchdown first half, finding Mitchell for a 51- yard strike down the middle of the field to give North Carolina a 21-14 advantage with 1:44 left in the second quarter. Durant finished the half 11- of-19 for 141 yards.
Peterson, though, led the Eagles right back down the field and found David Kashetta for a one-yard strike right before the half ended to knot the game at 21 apiece.
Connor Barth put the Tar Heels ahead in the second half, 24-21, with a 27-yard field goal at the 4:32 mark.
Game Notes
Boston College leads the all-time series 2-1...The Eagles are 10-6 in bowl games, while North Carolina is 12-13 all-time in the postseason...Boston College is 25-52-4 versus the ACC...North Carolina is 9-8 against the Big East...Peterson was named the games MVP...The Eagles gave the Big East the conference's first win in the three-year-old bowl game. It was BC's final game in the league as it will join the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.
12/30 20:23:25 ET
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