COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECAP

North Carolina rallies to beat San Diego State

The Sports Xchange

September 06, 2014 at 11:39 pm.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Elijah Hood’s first career touchdown gave North Carolina its first lead of the second half and Brian Walker intercepted two passes as the No. 21 Tar Heels rallied past San Diego State 31-27 on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium.

Hood, a freshman running back, scored on a 2-yard plunge to complete an eight-play, 80-yard drive with 8:01 to play as the Tar Heels took a 28-27 lead.

Sep 6, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA;North Carolina Tar Heels running back Elijah Hood (34) scores a touchdown during the second half against the San Diego State Aztecs at Kenan Memorial Stadium. North Carolina won 31-27. Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

But it took Tim Scott’s interception in the end zone with 14 seconds remaining to thwart the Aztecs, who drove to the North Carolina 3-yard line with a first down in the final minute.

Scott, a senior, has eight career interceptions, but none bigger than the one against quarterback Quinn Kaehler.

Walker, a cornerback, returned an interception 100 yards for the game’s first points, but San Diego State (1-1) had its way for stretches after that.

Then with North Carolina clinging to a one-point lead, Walker’s second pick-off set up the Tar Heels at the San Diego State 14 with 5:44 remaining. That led to Nick Weiler’s 23-yard field goal at the four-minute mark before San Diego State threatened again.

North Carolina is 2-0 for the first time under coach Larry Fedora, who is in his third season.

San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey scored on two touchdown runs. His second run put the Aztecs ahead 21-7 late in the third quarter.

From there, North Carolina began a comeback, with quarterback Marquise Williams connecting with receiver Quinshad Davis on an 11-yard touchdown play. That drive was kept alive by Williams’ fourth-down scramble.

The Aztecs countered with Donald Hageman’s 49-yard field goal for a 24-14 advantage with 14:03 left.

On the next play from scrimmage, Williams hit receiver Mack Hollins in stride for what became a 91-yard touchdown. That was the third-longest touchdown pass play in Tar Heels history.

But San Diego State pushed its edge to 27-21 on Hageman’s 40-yard field goal with 10:30 to go.

Walker came up big in both halves. He picked off a Kaehler pass in the second quarter and sprinted untouched the length of the field. The Aztecs had moved inside the North Carolina 5 before the errant pass.

Eric Judge’s 56-yard touchdown reception from Kaehler tied the score in the second quarter, marking the first of two San Diego State touchdowns in a 2 1/2-minute stretch.

The Aztecs went ahead on Pumphrey’s 12-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

Kaehler completed his first seven passes, but the Aztecs’ first drive stalled following a holding penalty after keeping the ball for almost seven minutes.

The first quarter ended with no scoring, marking the first time North Carolina was scoreless after the first quarter in a 10-game span.

NOTES: North Carolina opened the season with consecutive night games for the first time since 2007. … The only previous meeting between the teams came in the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl, with North Carolina winning 20-13. … This was the Aztecs’ 13th game in the Eastern time zone since joining the Division I level in 1969. They won two of the previous 12 times. … Both teams are off next week. North Carolina makes a Sept. 20 visit to East Carolina, and San Diego State goes to Oregon State on the same day.

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