Despite hot start, UNC trails Maryland 28-21 at half

CHAPEL HILL - After North Carolina scored touchdowns on two of first six offensive plays early in the first quarter against Maryland, the Tar Heels appeared headed for a blowout victory. But now it's the Heels who appear lost.

Since UNC's two early touchdowns, Maryland has mostly controlled the game and holds a 28-21 lead at halftime.

It took less than a minute late in the half for the Terrapins to tie the game and take the lead, and send the Tar Heels off the field to a chorus of boos on senior day.

First, Maryland used a trick play to tie the game at 21. Stefon Diggs, the Terps' freshman receiver, went in motion and caught the ball on a pitch. He passed to Matt Furstenburg, who was open in the end zone, for an 8-yard touchdown.

Romar Morris returned the ensuing kickoff 11 yards before fumbling, and Maryland's Anthony Nixon recovered at the UNC 28 with 13 seconds to play. The Terps needed just one play to take the lead, and did when Shawn Petty threw a 28-yard pass to Kevin Dorsey.

Maryland has scored more than 21 points just once since Sept. 8, but the Terps have more than that at halftime. Their 304 yards of offense are more than they've had each of their past three games.

The game changed after UNC took an early 14-0 lead. The Heels dominated the injury-depleted Terrapins early, and needed just three plays to score their first touchdown. That came on a 30-yard pass from Bryn Renner to Eric Ebron, who broke a couple of tackles and dove over the goal line for the score.

UNC scored its second touchdown a couple of minutes later after Petty, a former linebacker who became a quarterback after the Terrapins lost four other quarterbacks to injury, threw an interception.

Darien Rankin, the Tar Heels' safety, intercepted Petty's pass and returned it 43 yards to the Terrapins 3-yard line. A couple of plays later, Renner threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Quinshad Davis, whose reception gave the Heels a 14-0 lead with 12:11 to play in the first quarter.

Maryland, though, persevered and played its way back into the game. After trading defensive stops, Maryland finished off a 10-play, 66-yard drive with Brandon Ross' 1-yard touchdown run.

UNC and Maryland traded another set of defensive stops before Ross set up the Terrapins next touchdown with a 71-yard run down the left sideline. After Ross' long run, Petty scored from two yards out to tie the game at 14 midway through the second quarter.

UNC took the lead on its next drive, when A.J. Blue's 12-yard touchdown reception punctuated a 12-play, 63-yard drive that lasted a little more than four minutes. But Maryland drove right back down the field and scored on that pass from Diggs, which set up the fumbled kickoff return that led to another touchdown.

Maryland has outgained UNC 304 yards to 206, and the Terrapins have gained 149 yards rushing - which would be their second highest total of the season if the game was over.

- Andrew Carter

Carter: 919-829-8944