Carolina got the ball at their own 18, down seven with 6:53 to play in the fourth quarter against NC State. The Tar Heels had done well to crawl back within a touchdown, having scored 14 straight points since the quarter began, having earned a rare three and out on defense to get the ball back, to have this chance.
On their prior offensive series, quarterback Mitch Trubisky had connected with senior wideout Bug Howard for a 48-yard touchdown. "We never quit. The attitudes were always good, and I always felt like we were in it," said fellow senior receiver Ryan Switzer.