COLLEGE FOOTBALL / WEEK 2 : ATLANTIC COAST : Virginia Kicker a Choice Topic

Virginia Coach George Welsh didn’t pick his kicker until the eve of the season opener. He made the right decision.

Todd Braverman made a 50-yard field goal with 27.4 seconds remaining to give the 23rd-ranked Cavaliers a 20-17 victory over North Carolina on Saturday at Chapel Hill, N.C.

To decide between Braverman and David Green for the job, Welsh sent them both out Monday in practice to attempt three long field goals. Each kicker made all three attempts, but Welsh went with his gut feeling despite Braverman finishing last season three of 10 on field goals.

“I wouldn’t have sent him out there if I didn’t think he had a chance,” Welsh said of Braverman’s career-best kick. “I guess we were due for one. How many last year did he go for and not get it? I am happy for him. Boy, he hung in there.”

Thomas Jones gained 149 yards in 35 carries to help overcome three interceptions by quarterback Dan Ellis.

The score was tied, 17-17, when Virginia got the ball at its 42 with 3:29 left. Rain began pelting the field as Hurricane Dennis began moving inland, but the Cavaliers had the wind at their backs.

Jones gained 21 yards in four carries to help set up Braverman, whose game-winning kick made it over the crossbar by about a yard. His previous best was 47 yards against the Tar Heels last year.

“I knew it was straight enough and fortunately there was a nice wind behind me,” Braverman said.

“That’s what I worked on in the off-season, to get my legs strong enough so that I could handle the stress kick--49- or 50-yard field goals. It worked out good today.”

North Carolina Coach Carl Torbush wasn’t so sure the kick would even make it.

“When the ball was kicked I thought it was five or 10 yards short,” said Torbush. “I felt like we would get the ball at the 35 and get two first downs and get to kick one of our own.”

No. 10 Georgia Tech 49, Navy 14--Phillip Rogers ran for 80 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, allowing Georgia Tech Coach George O’Leary to enjoy his view from the press box at Annapolis, Md.

The Yellow Jackets reeled off 28 straight points after Navy forged an early 7-7 tie. Rogers ran for 72 yards and two scores to help Georgia Tech take a 28-7 halftime lead.

O’Leary was forced to watch the game from the press box after being penalized by the NCAA in April for making an improper loan to former running back C.J. Williams. It wasn’t the vantage point he preferred, but the Yellow Jackets fared well against a porous Navy defense without him on the sideline.

Joe Hamilton completed 12 of 17 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets won a seventh straight road game, their longest streak since an eight-game run from 1950-52.