CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Bill Byrne threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Rich Clouse with 2:24 left Saturday to lift Navy to a 33-30 upset victory over North Carolina in its season opener.
Clouse caught the winning TD pass near the North Carolina 20-yard line, five yards behind the nearest Tar Heel defender, to give Navy a 31-30 lead. Napoleon McCallum took a pitch from Byrne and swept left end for the 2-point conversion.
North Carolina's comeback attempt ended when Navy linebacker Mike Taylor intercepted Kevin Anthony's pass on the Tar Heels' next possession. Navy picked up a first down when the Tar Heels were penalized for roughing the punter and ran out the clock.
North Carolina had taken a 30-25 lead late in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard run by senior tailback Ethan Horton. But two plays later, Byrne hit Clouse for the winning touchdown.
McCallum, a senior tailback who led the nation in all-purpose running last season, was the game's top rusher with 117 yards on 19 carries. He also caught four passes for 29 yards and returned a punt and two kickoffs for 49 yards.
Anthony and quarterback Mark Maye led North Carolina to a 21-12 halftime lead.
Eddie Colson, who led the Tar Heels in rushing with 97 yards on 13 carries, opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then added a 1-yard scoring dive in the second.
The Tar Heels got their final first-half touchdown on a 31-yard pass from Maye to split end Eric Streater.
Navy scored on Todd Solomon field goals of 45 yards in the first quarter and 26 yards in the second. With 39 seconds left in the first half, Navy pulled to within 21-12 on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ken Heine from Bob Misch, who alternated with Byrne at quarterback. The conversion pass failed.
Navy pulled to within 21-19 early in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Byrne to Tony Hollinger and Solomon's extra point.
North Carolina's Robb Rogers countered with a 41-yard field goal to put the Tar Heels ahead 24-19 with 10:25 left in the period. But two minutes later, Byrne connected on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Weiler to give Navy its first lead, 25-24.
