Elon Phoenix vs North Carolina Tar Heels Match Player Stats On Sep 01, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 1, 2012

North Carolina 62, Elon 0: Giovani Bernard ran for one touchdown, caught another and returned a punt for a score in the first half as the Tar Heels rolled over the visiting Phoenix.

Bernard zipped 59 yards down the left sideline for North Carolina’s first touchdown 5:26 into the game, then caught a swing pass from Bryn Renner and bulled his way 6 yards with 4:45 left in the first quarter. Bernard finished with 93 yards rushing on nine carries.

The dazzling 70-yard punt return made it 24-0 early in the second quarter as coach Larry Fedora’s debut turned into a rout.

Renner, running Fedora’s spread offense, was 14 of 21 for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Renner also hit Jheranie Boyd for 35 yards and a score with 9:48 left in the first half as the Heels pushed the lead to 41-0 at halftime.

Elon drove to the North Carolina 15 in the first quarter before quarterback Thomas Wilson was intercepted by Jabari Price. The Heels held All-American receiver Aaron Mellette to two receptions for nine yards.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Casey Barth, who missed most of last season with an injury, had two field goals to pull within one of tying his brother Connor on the school’s all-time list. Connor kicks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. … Five of North Carolina’s seven TD drives were 1:26 or less. … It was the first football meeting between the two schools, less than 40 miles apart. … North Carolina set a school record for return yards (260).