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BLACKSBURG, Va. -- There's something to be said for taking 17th-ranked Virginia Tech to the final minute at sold-out, screeching Lane Stadium.

"We came into ... probably the toughest place to play in the country and competed against a really good team," said North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates. "There's so many things we did right in this game."

Except win.

The Tar Heels drove into Tech territory in the closing moments but couldn't cash in the tying touchdown Saturday. They fell 17-10, the third of four losses that have been decided by seven or fewer points.

For all the good they did -- UNC held the Hokies to 241 total yards, made five more first downs and rushed for 124 yards against Tech's stiff defense -- the Heels hurt themselves with two costly turnovers.

"There are no moral victories," coach Butch Davis said. "I thought our football team made some strides today, but it certainly is a little bit hollow when you don't win football games."

The Hokies (4-1, 1-0 ACC) surprised Carolina (1-4, 0-2) with a reverse to speedy receiver Eddie Royal on their first offensive play. Royal raced 53 yards, sparking a seven-play, 70-yard drive that quarterback Tyrod Taylor ended on a 5-yard touchdown scramble.

But then the Tar Heels' defense settled in, allowing only 171 yards in the next 54 minutes.

"You have to give North Carolina credit," said Hokies coach Frank Beamer. "I think they would feel that they took a big step today for their program."

The missteps, though, will haunt the Heels. They drove to Tech's 29 on their second drive of the game, where Davis elected to forego a field goal -- even though Connor Barth later hit his 15th in a row -- on fourth-and-three. Carolina, trying for a tying touchdown, failed to convert.

After the Hokies extended their lead to 10-3 on a 52-yard field goal, the Tar Heels threatened again to even the score. Aided by two Tech penalties for roughing the passer and some power running, UNC marched to the Hokies' 5. Again, a goof.

Freshman tailback Ryan Houston was stripped on a run up the middle, fumbling into the end zone, where Tech dived on it.

"The one thing, and it will always be this way, is turnovers," Davis said.

Another painful one came on the next possession. A Yates pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and Hokies linebacker Xavier Adibi intercepted it. He raced 31 yards to the Carolina 12, setting up a quick touchdown by tailback Branden Ore.

Such are the growing pains of a team starting 15 freshmen or sophomores Saturday.

"We're so far away from being experienced, it's laughable," Davis said. "Every game is a revelation. Every time we go and play, the players find out more about themselves and we find out more about them."

Saturday's discovery: These kids are resilient.

Carolina mounted a late comeback bid, with freshman tailback Anthony Elzy getting all 11 of his carries and 74 yards in the final 11 minutes.

Elzy's 1-yard TD dive cut the lead to seven with 5:34 to play. Then six straight Elzy carries took the Tar Heels into Tech territory on their last drive.

"They caught us off guard," Adibi said.

But the Hokies' defense -- ranked No. 1 nationally for two years running -- held the Heels out of the end zone. A sack, a false start and a Yates incompletion ended it.

"Those kids are young, and they'll come right back," Beamer said. "They have a good-looking football team."

Even if not a winning one.

North Carolina 0 3 0 7 -- 10

Virginia Tech 7 0 10 0 -- 17

VT--T.Taylor 5 run (Dunlevy kick)

NC--FG Barth 32

VT--FG Dunlevy 52

VT--Ore 1 run (Dunlevy kick)

NC--Elzy 1 run (Barth kick)

A--66,233.

Nc Vt

First downs 18 13

Rushes-yards 45-124 36-165

Passing 182 76

Comp-Att-Int 16-25-1 11-20-1

Return Yards 49 52

Punts-Avg. 6-47.7 7-43.1

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-45 9-80

Time of Possession 34:00 26:00

Individual Statistics

RUSHING--North Carolina, Elzy 11-74, Houston 18-54, J.White 2-10, Foster 1-4, Tate 2-3, Yates 11-(minus 21). Virginia Tech, Ore 19-93, Royal 2-60, T.Taylor 11-11, K.Lewis 2-3, Team 2-(minus 2).

PASSING--North Carolina, Yates 16-25-1-182. Virginia Tech, T.Taylor 10-19-1-66, Glennon 1-1-0-10.

RECEIVING--North Carolina, Nicks 8-94, Tate 3-31, Elzy 2-25, Thornton 1-20, J.White 1-8, Foster 1-4. Virginia Tech, Royal 4-14, J.Morgan 3-24, Harper 2-38, Weatherford 1-3, K.Lewis 1-(minus 3).