Nov. 27, 2002

By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus

CHAPEL HILL -- Redemption for Dan Orner came in dramatic fashion, the type of situation about which kicking specialists dream.

It was Orner's 47-yard field goal on the last play of the game that gave North Carolina a stunning 23-21 victory at Wallace Wade Stadium last Saturday.

Throughout the season Orner's kicking had been had been the lone bright spot in the team's kicking game. But, he had earlier missed 50 and 44-yard field goals and an extra point against Duke.

"I guess I was just too overconfident on those missed kicks," said Orner. "I had a good week of practice and maybe I took too much for granted. I know I left my hips open on the first two field goal attempts.

"I was really feeling bad. But, I kept hoping I'd get another opportunity. I didn't want my season or the team's to end like that."

Usually players stay away from a kicker during a game. They don't want to disrupt his concentration or put pressure on him.

Strangely, that wasn't the case Saturday.

"Guys came up to me during the final timeout and told me to just knock it through," Orner said. "I went through my regular ritual to set up and got a good hold from John Lafferty."

The field goal wasn't Orner's best looking of the season. It did not have the height of most of his kicks. In fact, some players thought it was going to be blocked. The fluttering line drive had the distance and just seemed high enough to get over the cross bar.

However, it was his prettiest of the year for Carolina fans.

Although both teams entered the game with disappointing 2-9 records, it was a typical game between the two old rivals.

Carolina had dominated the previous six games in this series. But with only a few exceptions, the series has generally featured tight games. Even when one team has been obviously superior to the other, many of the games have been decided in the final quarter and even the final moments.

Orner's kick culminated a 45-yard drive in the final 53 seconds. The Blue Devils had just scored on a 33-yard pass from Adam Smith to Senterrro Landrum.

The biggest play in the final Tar Heel drive was a 10-yard pass from Darian Durant to Sam Aiken on fourth down. Aiken fell down to end the play and called timeout with four seconds left.

"We told the receivers to get on the ground as soon as they made the catch instead of trying to gain more yardage and running out the clock," said Coach John Bunting.

Aiken finished the season with 68 catches for 980 yards. Both are school records.

Durant, who had been expected to miss the remainder of the year, was 21 of 35 for 262 yards in first action since the Virginia game.

Carolina's earlier touchdowns came on a one-yard run by Jacque Lewis, a one-yard run by Durant and a 37-yard pass to Jarwarski Pollock. It was after Pollock's score with 13:37 in the game that Orner missed his PAT.

The win over Duke marked the fourth time Carolina has won with a score on a game's final play. Of course, there have been several instances when the defense has made final-play stops to preserve a victory.

The last time the Tar Heels won on their last offensive play of a game was against N.C. State in 1998. That was a 37-34 overtime victory in Charlotte with Oscar Davenport throwing 14 yards to Na Brown. The Wolfpack had only managed a field goal on its overtime possession.

Field goals accounted for the other two last-second wins. Lee Gliarmis booted a 38-yarder against Maryland for a 32-30 victory in 1986. At the Superdome in 1975, Tom Biddle's 40-yard field goal against Tulane came as time expired for a 17-15 triumph.

Art Weiner made the most famous last-second defensive play to secure a win. That was a blocked field goal against Duke in 1949 with Carolina leading just 21-20.

Among other dramatic victories in a game's final seconds:

15 seconds against Tennessee in 1961 -- Ray Farris threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ward Marslender and then a two-point pass to Gib Carson for a 22-21 win.

There were also a two-yard run by Humes against N.C. State in 1984, Mike Voight's two-point conversion after an eight-yard pass from Matt Kupec to Billy Johnson in 1976 and Max Chapman's 42-yard field goal at Duke in 1963.

But, for Orner and the current Carolina players none were bigger than Saturday's field goal in Durham. Kickers dream about winning a game on a last-second field goal. Orner wanted a chance to do that and keep his dream from being a nightmare.

Rick Brewer is in his fourth decade with the University of North Carolina athletic department and brings a unique historical perspective to TarHeelBlue.com. A native of North Carolina, Brewer served as UNC's Sports Information Director from 1975 until his retirement from full-time work in 2000. Email Rick Brewer at rbrewer@uncaa.unc.edu.