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North Carolina's Quinton Coples (90) and Tydreke Powell celebrate after sacking Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clauson on Saturday.

Clausen looked sharp most of the day behind a line that gave him plenty of time. But the sophomore made three costly second-half mistakes.

It started when Sturdivant jumped in front of Kyle Rudolph for the pick on Clausen’s first pass. The 32-yard return cut the deficit to 17-16. Later in the period, Aleric Mullins stripped Clausen and recovered the fumble to set up the go-ahead drive. Then, after the Irish had driven to North Carolina’s 36 with about 5 minutes left, Deunta Williams picked off Clausen on the right side to set up a drive that took 3 minutes off the clock.

North Carolina — which came into the game leading the nation with 12 interceptions — also recovered a fumbled kickoff late in the first half and did not committ a turnover.

“(Defensive coordinator Everett Withers) stresses to us all week during practices to just be in the right spots and turnovers will come,” Mullins said. “Just do the little things: ’Don’t bite the cheese,’ he always says. Just wait for it and the interceptions and picks will come to you.”

Once Notre Dame got the ball back at its own 18 with 1:47 to play, Clausen guided one more drive, pushing to the North Carolina 33 with 11 seconds left before finding Floyd over the middle on what turned out to be the Irish’s final play.

“I just wanted one more chance to help this team win,” Clausen said. “Too many mistakes to be able to win a big game like this.”

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