PITTSBURGH — With North Carolina’s 24-point lead erased and only four minutes remaining in a tied game, the choice was clear for freshman punt returner Ryan Switzer.
Switzer stepped into the backfield, his mind already made up about what he was going to do after the ball made contact with Pittsburgh punter Matt Yoklic’s foot.
As he watched his defense give up four consecutive Pittsburgh scores, Switzer knew that he had a chance to give UNC that spark it so desperately needed. And as the ball came spiraling toward him, Switzer knew it was his time.
“I wasn’t going to fair catch that one,” said Switzer after the 34-27 win. “That wasn’t in my mindset. Coach (Larry) Fedora called the same play I scored on against Virginia. So I knew I had time to catch it and I just tried to make a play for my team and that’s what happened.”
Switzer fielded the ball at the 39-yard line and made a beeline for the left sideline as Pittsburgh’s gunners began to clog his path. With one quick step, he dodged the charging Panthers and cut back across the field to cross the goal line on the far right corner, breaking the tie and scoring the game-winning touchdown to put UNC only one win away from bowl eligibility.
The 61-yard punt return for the win was Switzer’s second of the day and third this season, tying the school record for punt returns for a touchdown in a game and breaking the single-season record with three punt returns for touchdowns.
Earlier in the game, Switzer fielded a punt and streaked down the sideline for a 65-yard return to give the Tar Heels (5-5, 4-3 ACC) a 24-3 lead going into halftime.
“He did something that’s never been done in the history of North Carolina football,” Fedora said. “He’s a special player. Ryan would probably tell you this too, he’s got 10 guys with him that are making it happen. They are selling out blocking their butts off.
“They’ve got that spark and they know he can take it the distance every time, so they’re just giving a little bit more each and every time they’re out there.”