The Virginia Cavaliers' drive to stay alive in the chase for bowl eligibility has started slowly Thursday night, as the Cavaliers are down at the half, 20-10, to the North Carolina Tar Heels from Scott Stadium in ACC action.
Neither team scored on their first drive, but the Tar Heels were able to put together a 10-play, 91-yard drive after the Cavaliers pinned them deep within their own territory for the game's first points on Erik Highsmith's 9-yard touchdown grab. North Carolina quarterback Bryan Renner was a perfect 5-of-5 on the drive, capped by his touchdown pass.
The Cavaliers finally got on the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter when kicker Drew Jarrett connected from 34 yards out to end an 11-play, 66-yard drive.
Virginia found the endzone midway through the second quarter when Phillip Simms completed a touchdown strike to Darius Jennigns from nine yards.
By that time, however, the Tar Heels had already scored another touchdown on an A.J. Blue rush from three yards out. North Carolina would score again late in the quarter on an interception return for a touchdown by Tre Boston to bring its lead to 10 points at half.