Tar Heels take 2 OT victory
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Casey Barth kicked a 23-yard field goal in the second overtime to send North Carolina past Tennessee 30-27 in a Music City Bowl that will be remembered much more for the crazy finish of regulation Thursday night.
Barth kicked a 39-yard field goal after officials reviewed what had been the final play of the game and decided to penalize the Tar Heels (8-5) for having “more than 11 men” on the field. The Big Ten officiating crew also announced T.J. Yates had spiked the ball with 1 second left.
That allowed Barth to run out and kick the field goal that tied it at 20.
Tennessee (6-7) was stunned at the sudden switch that cost the Vols an apparent bowl victory to cap Derek Dooley’s first season. Tyler Bray threw a 25-yard TD in the first overtime, but Quan Sturdivant picked him off to end the Vols’ last chance in the second OT.
Holiday Bowl Washington 19, No. 17 Nebraska 7
At San Diego, Jake Locker bounced back from an injury and scored on a 25-yard run in the third quarter, and tailback Chris Polk ran for 177 yards and a score.
The Huskies (7-6) avenged a 56-21 loss to the Huskers (10-4) in Seattle on Sept. 18. The Cornhuskers piled up 533 yards of total offense in that game, including 383 rushing.
Armed Forces Bowl Army 16, SMU 14
At Dallas, Josh McNary scooped up a fumble and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and Army held on for its first winning season since 1996.
Army (7-6) had a 16-0 halftime lead on SMU’s home field, then ran out the final 4 minutes after Matt Szymanski was wide left on a 47-yard field goal attempt that would have given the lead to the Mustangs (7-7).
Pinstripe Bowl Syracuse 36, Kansas State 34
At New York, Delone Carter ran for 198 yards and two touchdowns, Marcus Sales caught three long TD passes and Syracuse got some help from a celebration penalty on Kansas State in the first Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Adrian Hilburn slipped a tackle and raced to a 30-yard touchdown catch with 1:13 remaining to pull Kansas State within two. Hilburn saluted the crowd behind the visitor’s dugout and was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, which pushed the 2-point conversion attempt back to the 17-yard line.
