North Carolina 24, Rutgers 22 Final Score: Scarlet Knights Edged By Tar Heels

The Rutgers University football program put up a nice effort Saturday afternoon, but fell just short in a non-conference loss, 24-22, at the University of North Carolina. Sophomore quarterback Chas Dodd completed 25-of-47 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, while the Scarlet Knights defense forced five turnovers -- three interceptions and two fumbles -- but it wasn't enough.

UNC (2-0) used two big plays in the first quarter -- a 66-yard TD reception by senior wide receiver Dwight Jones and a 60-yard rushing TD by true freshman running back Giovani Bernard -- to take an early 14-6 lead. In the second half, RU used a 19-yard field goal from San San Te to close the deficit to 17-15, but Bernard added another rushing TD -- this time from six yards out -- to help push the lead up to 24-15 with 1:12 to play in the third quarter.

In the fourth, the Scarlet Knights (1-1) pulled back to within two points, 24-22, after senior wide receiver Tim Wright caught a five-yard TD pass from Dodd and San Te kicked an extra point. On the next RU possession, the Scarlet Knights failed to move the ball out of their own territory. From there, UNC used four plays and a five-yard offsides penalty from RU to run down the clock.

North Carolina 24, Rutgers 15: End Of Third Quarter

True freshman Giovano Bernard scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, and has help the University of North Carolina football team take a 24-15 advantage over Rutgers University heading into the fourth quarter. Bernard capped a late-third quarter drive, which consisted of seven plays and 49 yards over 3:06, with a six-yard rushing TD.

The Scarlet Knights (1-0), who trailed 17-12 at halftime, had cut their deficit to just two points after field-goal kicker San San Te connected from 19 yards with 8:53 remaining in the third. RU used its third interception of the day -- this time by David Rowe, who also has two fumble recoveries -- to help set up San Te.

UNC has scoring plays of 66 and 60 yards, while kick returner T.J. Thorpe's 59-yard return near the end of the first half helped set up a Casey Barth 46-yard field goal that split the upright with :19 to go.

The Scarlet Knights have forced five Tar Heel turnovers -- three INTs and two fumbles -- but has only tallied one TD and two field goals off of them.

North Carolina 14, Rutgers 12 Halftime Score: Big Plays Help Tar Heels Take Lead Into Halftime

Sophomore quarterback Chas Dodd has been efficient in the first half for the Rutgers University football program, but the Scarlet Knights defense and special teams have not been able to stop the big play of the University of North Carolina, which leads 17-12 at halftime in a non-conference game in Chapel Hill, N.C. Dodd finished the first half completing 10-of-24 passes for 83 yards and a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, which came with 19 second remaining in the second quarter and cut the RU deficit to 14-12.

However, on the ensuing RU kick off, UNC junior wide receiver T.J. Thorpe ran 59 yards to the Scarlet Knight 35-yard line. After a six-yard screen pass from sophomore quarterback Bryn Renner to freshman running back Giovani Bernard, Tar Heels kicker Casey Barth nailed a 46-yard field goal to help UNC take a 17-12 advantage into halftime.

The Tar Heels first score of the game came on a 66-yard TD pass from Renner to senior Dwight Jones, which helped make it 7-0. After a pair of field goals by RU kicker San San Te, which came early in the second quarter, UNC's Bernard ran 60 yards into the end zone to help make it 14-6 with 9:26 remaining in the half.

North Carolina vs. Rutgers: Scouting The Tar Heels

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North Carolina vs. Rutgers: Scarlet Knights Face First Big Test

-- Would you like more cover of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights? Visit SB Nation's On The Banks.
-- Want to track the North Carolina Tar Heels throughout the week? Check out SB Nation's Carolina March.