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Panthers pounce on Pack in second half

Carolina loses an early 14-0 lead, but wins 31-14 behind a veteran quarterback and a rookie running back.

©Associated Press

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 28, 2000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina quarterback Steve Beuerlein threw touchdown passes of 3, 12 and 3 yards Monday night as the Panthers all but ended Green Bay's playoff hopes with a 31-14 victory.

Backup running back Brad Hoover, a rookie out of Western Carolina, took over for the injured Tim Biakabutuka and rushed for 117 yards on 24 carries and scored his first NFL touchdown from 1 yard in the fourth quarter.

Muhammad caught a 3-yard touchdown 1:55 into the third quarter to give Carolina a 24-14 lead.

That came 45 seconds after Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman was stripped of the ball by Mike Minter deep in Green Bay territory early in the third quarter.

Eugene Robinson returned the fumble to the 5, and three plays later, Carolina scored.

After Hoover's score, the game's last, De'Mond Parker ran for 29 yards to the Carolina 3. But a sack backed the Packers up to the 12, and after Antonio Freeman's catch over the middle to the 4, a fourth-and-goal pass failed.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, a fan ran on to the field and was decked by Packer defensive back Tyrone Williams, who was blocked into the fan by a Panthers player.

In the third quarter, a face-mask penalty by Carolina center Frank Garcia wiped out what would have been a 55-yard touchdown reception by Michael Bates.

Two of Beuerlein's touchdowns gave Carolina a 14-0 lead, but a pair of his turnovers allowed Green Bay to close within 17-14 at halftime.

The Packers got a break early in the second quarter whenLeRoy Butler stripped Beuerlein of the ball near midfield. It was returned by Nate Wayne to the Carolina 38.

Two plays later, Ahman Green raced virtually untouched up the middle from 26 yards for a touchdown.

The Panthers were poised to increase their 14-7 lead late in the second quarter after Ken Walter's high punt hit Green Bay blocker Mike McKenzie at the Green Bay 20 and the ball was recovered by Karl Hankton.

But Beuerlein was intercepted by Tyrone Williams on third down to set up Brett Favre's 250th career touchdown pass, a 30-yarder to Donald Driver.

Joe Nedney's 26-yard field goal 1:01 before the half gave the Panthers a three-point margin.

The Packers lost defensive tackle Santana Dotson early in the second quarter with a right quad strain. Vonnie Holliday, another key defensive lineman, didn't start because of a bad ankle.

Beuerlein got the Panthers going from the outset, completing a 31-yard pass to tight end Kris Mangum on the first play from scrimmage to reach the Green Bay 37.

A screen pass to Hoover for 16 yards on third and 6 set up Beuerlein's 14th touchdown of the season, a 3-yarder to Chris Hetherington less than five minutes in.

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