Despite being decimated by injuries, the Pack rallied back for a victory in its final game of 2009.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Jarvis Williams and junior wide receiver Owen Spencer finished with two touchdowns apiece and State recovered in the fourth quarter to beat rival UNC-Chapel Hill, 28-27, in Raleigh.

It was the third time in as many years the Pack defeated UNC in football. The team has not lost its rival game under head coach Tom O’Brien.

The Tar Heels started the scoring a few minutes in with a field goal to make it 3-0. UNC junior quarterback T.J. Yates connected with Jheranie Boyd for a touchdown just seven seconds into the second quarter, but Williams responded for the home team to make it 10-7.

The Tar Heels outrushed, outpassed and outplayed the Pack throughout the first half, leading to a score of 24-14 going into the break. However, the bowl-eligible Heels were derailed by a series of contested calls. UNC amassed 10 calls and lost 122 yards as a result, allowing the Pack to slip back into the game.

Every time State struggled for a touchdown, Carolina responded in spectacular manner. But that changed late in the fourth quarter when Spencer scored off a 38-yard Wilson pass and gave the Pack its first lead of the game.

State did not post a single turnover against Carolina, the fourth time this season it managed to do so. All four games were wins.

UNC had a field goal attempt blocked late and senior safety Clem Johnson picked off a Yates pass to seal the win.

“The UNC game is big no matter what,” Johnson said. “It’s been a down year for us, but we were motivated to beat them.”