CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Gio Bernard returned a punt 74 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 13 seconds left, helping North Carolina stun rival North Carolina State 43-35 to end a five-year losing streak in the series.
Bernard’s punt return capped a huge day for the sophomore tailback, who ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He also had eight catches for 95 yards to lead the Tar Heels (6-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who trailed 35-25 entering the final period in a back-and-forth game that lived up to the rivalry hype.
North Carolina hadn’t beaten the Wolfpack (5-3, 2-2) since Tom O’Brien took over in Raleigh in 2007, but finally halted that skid under first-year coach Larry Fedora.
Mike Glennon threw for a career-high 467 yards and five touchdowns to lead N.C. State, which led 35-25 on Glennon’s 55-yard pass to Bryan Underwood with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.
