ATLANTIC COAST ROUNDUP : No. 16 North Carolina Holds Off Texas El Paso

Bracey Walker of No. 16 North Carolina returned a fumble 36 yards to set up a go-ahead touchdown Saturday as the Tar Heels beat Texas El Paso, 45-39, in a nonconference game at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Leon Johnson gained 106 yards in 20 carries and scored on runs of two, one, nine and 15 yards, becoming the first freshman in North Carolina history to score four touchdowns in a game.

North Carolina (5-1), coming off emotional Atlantic Coast Conference games against top-ranked Florida State and North Carolina State, appeared flat in the opening half.

UTEP (1-4), which lost, 52-0, last week at Hawaii, led by as many as 14 points in the first half.

UTEP quarterback Shawn Gray, forced into action because of injuries to Corey Tucker and Mike Perez, fumbled with his team leading, 24-21, in the third quarter. Walker picked up the ball and ran down the left sideline to the UTEP 47.

Six plays later, Jason Stanicek connected with Curtis Johnson on a seven-yard scoring pass as the Tar Heels took their first lead at 28-24 with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

Clemson 20, No. 24 North Carolina State 14--Linebacker Tim Jones tipped a pass at the goal line to preserve the ACC victory at Clemson, S.C.

Clemson (3-1, 2-1) led, 20-0, through three quarters, but the Wolfpack scored on a one-yard run by Gary Downs and a 69-yard pass play from Geoff Bender to Eddie Goines.

After forcing Clemson to punt, North Carolina State drove 73 yards in the final four minutes as Bender completed a 19-yard pass to Ledel George, an 11-yarder to Goines and nine- and 14-yard passes to Downs.

On fourth down at the Clemson 17, Jones stepped in front of a pass by reserve quarterback Terry Harvey, who entered two plays earlier when Bender was hurt on a tackle.

No. 21 Virginia 41, Ohio 7--Symmion Willis passed for 212 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Cavaliers in a nonconference game at Charlottesville, Va.

Virginia had a school-record six touchdown pass plays in moving to its second consecutive 5-0 start and third in four years.

Ohio (0-5) lost its 14th in a row, the longest losing streak in Division I-A.

Ohio trailed, 28-0, after a first half in which it was limited to 97 yards. The Bobcats got no closer than the Virginia 38.

Willis, the ACC passing efficiency leader, completed 11 of 14 for 279 yards.

Willis’ five touchdown pass plays tied the school record set a year ago by Bobby Goodman against Navy.