North Carolina 30, Tulsa 9

Saturday, September 2nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-Quarterback Ronald Curry generated 261 yards of offense in his first game since a ruptured Achilles' tendon injury last year as North Carolina rolled past Tulsa 30-9 Saturday night.

Curry, who was injured during the fifth game of 1999, completed 12 of 22 passes for 192 yards and rushed for 69 more as the Tar Heels won in the season-opener for both teams.

Redshirt freshman tailback Willie Parker rushed for two touchdowns while another redshirt in wide receiver Jamal Jones scored on a 55-yard toss from Curry. Walk-on kicker Jeff Reed added two field goals and another senior kicker in Chris Bender added a third.

The Tar Heels spotted the Golden Hurricane three points on a 41-yard field goal from Chris Earnest on the opening drive and then reeled off the next 27 points. Parker capped an 11-play, 47-yard drive with a 1-yard run with 3:03 left in the first quarter to take a 7-3 lead.

Reed's first field goal, a 30-yarder with 4:34 to play in the second quarter, gave the Tar Heels a 10-3 lead at halftime.

North Carolina stretched the lead on its first possession of the second half when Curry sidestepped Tulsa's blitzing Chris Miller and found Jones, who had broken free down the right sideline.

Parker's second touchdown, a 3-yard run, came on the Tar Heels' next drive. Reed later added a 38-yard field goal.

Tulsa's touchdown came on a 78-yard pass from quarterback Josh Blankenship to wide receiver Corey Brown with 11:32 to play in the game.

The loss spoiled the head coaching debut of Tulsa's Keith Burns, who came to the Golden Hurricane from Arkansas, where he had been the defensive coordinator for the past two years. It also marked a successful start for UNC offensive coordinator Mike O'Cain, who was fired in 1999 after seven seasons at rival North Carolina State.

The start of the first meeting ever between the two teams was delayed 13 minutes by lightning at Kenan Stadium.

Tulsa 3 0 0 6 -- 9

North Carolina 7 3 17 3 --30
Final

Scoring Summary
Tulsa Chris Earnest 41 yd FG 9:25 1st Qtr.
North Carolina Willie Parker 1 yd run (Jeff Reed kick) 3:03 1st qtr.
North Carolina Reed 30 yd FG 4:34 2nd qtr.
North Carolina Jamal Jones 55 yd TD pass from Ronald Curry(Reed kick) 12:44 3rd qtr.
North Carolina Parker 3 yd TD run 4:25 3rd qtr.
North Carolina Reed 39 yd. FG 0:13 3rd qtr.
Tulsa Cory Brown 78 yd. TD pass from Josh Blankenship (conversion failed) 11:34 4th qtr.
North Carolina Chris Bender 28 yd FG 2:58 3rd

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Tulsa, Bohanon 13-42, Hart 7-19, Blankenship 5-(minus 24), Shoals 1-(minus6). North Carolina, Curry 12-69, Russell 10-25, Parker 10-17, Sanders 4-48, Robinson 3-17, Williams 2-2, Black 2-(minus 11).
PASSING_Tulsa, Blankenship 17-38-0-214. North Carolina, Curry 12-22-0-192, Black 4-8-0-50.
RECEIVING_Tulsa, Shoals 7-77, Brown 5-107, Wimberly 1-11, LeCrone 1-11, Carey 1-5, Bohanon 1-2, Hart 1-1. North Carolina, Bailey 5-49, Jones 3-85, Aiken 3-68, Allen 3-11, Saunders 1-20, Parker 1-9.