California Golden Bears vs North Carolina Tar Heels Match Player Stats On Sep 02, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 2, 2017

Ross Bowers threw four touchdown passes in his first collegiate start as California defeated North Carolina 35-30, winning in the coaching debut of Justin Wilcox on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Bowers, a redshirt sophomore who had never thrown a collegiate pass until this season opener, completed 24 of 38 passes for 363 yards.

The go-ahead points came when receiver Jordan Duncan caught a 20-yard touchdown pass with 12:58 remaining. That was one snap after the Bears converted a fourth-down play when 285-pound fullback Malik McMorris caught a pass.

California running back Vic Enwere added a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:56 to play before Tar Heels quarterback Chazz Surratt scored on a 1-yard run on the game's last play.

Freshman running back Michael Carter scored on two touchdown runs for the Tar Heels in the first-ever meeting between the teams.

Surratt's 4-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Jackson with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter sent the Tar Heels to a 24-21 lead. That came two plays after linebacker Andre Smith's 73-yard interception return.

Earlier in the quarter, Patrick Laird turned a short pass into a 54-yard touchdown to give the Bears a 21-17 lead.

Carter gained 71 first-half yards on the ground. He ended up with 94 yards on 11 carries.

The Bears scored first on receiver Jordan Veasy's 10-yard reception from Bowers.

Carter answered with a 2-yard touchdown run for North Carolina.

The Tar Heels led for the first time with 8:21 remaining in the second quarter on Freeman Jones' 39-yard field goal on the junior's first career field goal attempt.

California closed within 17-14 before halftime on receiver Vic Wharton's 67-yard catch-and-run.