South Bend, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – Everett Golson turned the ball over three
times, but No. 6 Notre Dame pulled away to beat North Carolina 50-43 Saturday
with the help of an uncommon penalty.
All three of Golson’s turnovers led to North Carolina touchdowns, including a
fumble three plays into the game that set up Elijah Hood’s 6-yard touchdown
run and an interception that linebacker Jeff Schoettmer returned 29 yards for
a score to make it 14-0 in the first quarter.
Golson fumbled again late in the third and North Carolina quarterback Marquise
Williams caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Quinshad Davis on
the next play to give the Tar Heels a 36-35 lead.
The Irish responded with a 15-play drive for the go-ahead score — much of it
coming after the Tar Heels were whistled for a roughing the snapper penalty on
a punt from the Notre Dame 32 on 4th-and-18.
Golson found Tarean Folston for a 9-yard touchdown and Ben Koyack caught the
two-point conversion to give the Irish a 43-36 lead with 10:39 remaining.
Williams was then picked off by Irish cornerback Cole Luke after he tried to
flip a pass to Bug Howard near the sideline while under pressure, and Folston
scored his third touchdown on a 6-yard run with 2:19 remaining to put the game
out of reach.
The last two Irish (6-0) scoring drives included pass interference penalties
on North Carolina in the end zone.
Williams threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins with 47 seconds left
but the Tar Heels (2-4) couldn’t recover an onside kick and lost their fourth
game in a row.
