Tar Heels Stun Seminoles With 1st Win

Jackson occasionally chewed the white towel draped over his head with his mouth full of gold teeth and rubbed his face in agony. His 71-year-old coach, Bobby Bowden, stood alone on the field's edge with his hands on his hips and head down, as well.

North Carolina wideout Kory Bailey sprinted back and forth down the opposite sideline pumping his helmet in the air at the students creeping closer and closer and yelling louder and louder.

"It's a big shock," said FSU running back Nick Maddox, stone-faced in front of his locker in Kenan Field House after UNC's 41-9 win. "You never go into a game expecting to lose, especially being here at Florida State."

Meanwhile, fans roamed the field and climbed the goalpost in front of the student section as they worked to pull it to the ground.

The Tar Heels (1-3, 1-1 in the ACC) were celebrating.

Celebrating their first-ever win against the Seminoles. Their first win of the season. Coach John Bunting's first win. FSU's third conference loss in 10 seasons of membership. FSU's worst loss in five seasons.

"I think this is a great day in Carolina football, and it's great to be here and be a part of it," Bunting said.

The Tar Heels' defense was a huge part of it.

id he came into the game planning to run the ball and expecting to run the ball.

The Seminoles started the game with eight straight rushing plays and three consecutive three-and-out series. Ultimately, they ran the ball for 88 yards on 37 carries en route to 224 yards of total offense and 11 first downs.

Quarterback Chris Rix led the way by carrying 10 times for 44 yards. Not quite what Bowden had in mind.

"That defensive line was just swarming," FSU quarterback Chris Rix said. "They were filling the gaps and flowing to the ball. They had a lot of enthusiasm out there. They were beating our linemen, really, getting the better of us and shutting down the run game."

The Seminoles' lone offensive score came on a 29-yard pass to Talman Gardner that came on a UNC defensive breakdown. Derrick Johnson had Rix sacked on a corner blitz but couldn't bring him down before Rix found Gardner completely uncovered at the front right corner of the end zone.

"Once we went in and stopped the run, we knew they were going to have to pass it," UNC defensive tackle Ryan Sims said.

A roaming Julius Peppers stepped in front of one of those passes in the third quarter for his and the team's second interception of the year. The pick led to a 39-yard Jeff Reed field goal and a 20-9 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Peppers constantly harassed FSU linemen, who he complained were holding him, and ball carriers. The junior defensive end finished with eight tackles -- four for losses -- and a sack to move into second place by himself on the school's all-time sack list.

The Seminoles largely hurt themselves with turnovers and penalties. They committed 14 penalties for 103 yards and fumbled and lost the ball four times. UNC never coughed up the ball, although Darian Durant threw two interceptions.

UNC's Madison Hedgecock stripped Stanford Samuel of one of the interceptions, and Andr