Sports

Ryan Switzer returns 2 punts for touchdowns, North Carolina holds off Pittsburgh 34-27

Associated Press
Published | Updated

North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams (12) gets past Pittsburgh defensive lineman Bryan Murphy (93) and defensive back Lafayette Pitts, left, for a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (The Associated Press)

North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin, right, sacks Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage (7) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (The Associated Press)

North Carolina's Ryan Switzer returned two punts for touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 4:46 remaining as the Tar Heels held off Pittsburgh 34-27 on Saturday.

Switzer returned a punt 65 yards in the second quarter to give North Carolina (5-5, 4-3 ACC) a 21-point lead. He did it again in the fourth quarter, zig zagging 61 yards to help the Tar Heels fend off a Pitt rally for their fourth straight win.

The Panthers (5-5, 2-4) drove to the North Carolina 26 with under 2 minutes remaining but the Tar Heels stuffed Pitt running back James Conner on fourth-and-1 and escaped.

North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams ran for two touchdowns to overcome a shaky day passing and the Tar Heels sacked Pitt's Tom Savage seven times.