North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report
10/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 9, 2002
#14 (AP) #11 (ESPN) NC STATE (6-0, 1-0) @ NORTH CAROLINA (2-3, 0-1)
DATE: Saturday, October 12, 2002
TIME: Kickoff: 12:08 p.m. (EDT) at Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC (60,000)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 11:00 a.m. (EDT) (Click for list of stations carrying game )
TELEVISION: Jefferson Pilot Sports (Regional ACC Network)
OPPONENT--North Carolina's defense was turned every which way but loose by Arizona State late Saturday night, but the Tar Heels still managed to snap the Sun Devils four game winning streak in a wild 38-35 road victory that featured nine lead changes, two ties and went down to the final minute. The last 18-minutes saw the teams combine for six touchdowns.
Even after senior kicker Mike Barth missed a 49-yard field goal attempt (his fourth miss of the game), ASU (4-2) had one final shot thanks to a quick three-and-out by the Tar Heels and three timeouts. The Sun Devils took over at their own 30 with 53 seconds to go, but sophomore quarterback Andrew Walter ended a brilliant night with his second interception when Kevin Knight wrestled a pass away from Skyler Fulton at the ASU 46.
The loss overshadowed the fourth-best passing night in Arizona State history. Walter was 27 for 45 for 474 yards, his second consecutive 400-yard game. Overall, the Sun Devils scorched the Heels with 657-yards of total offense, the most yards ever surrendered in a game by Carolina.
The Tar Heels entered play with a minus-8 turnover ratio while ASU was plus-9, but in this game the Sun Devils were minus-2 for the night, with three of their miscues leading to 17 North Carolina points. Arizona State also wounded itself by missed scoring opportunities, especially after two of Barth's misses and a Cornell Candidate fumble on the first three drives. ASU was 19 for 21 on red-zone opportunities coming into the game, but was 5 for 10 Saturday and had another drive end on an interception at the goal line. Barth's misses came from 27, 36, 36 and 49 yards.
The Tar Heels took the lead for good after ASU went ahead 35-31 with 3:53 to go on its fifth touchdown run. Four plays later, North Carolina sophomore quarterback Darian Durant (25 of 40 with 2 INT) threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to Chesley Borders who beat reserve cornerback, Mike Davis, for the game-winner. Borders (9 catches for 192 yards) entered the game with no touchdowns but had four Saturday to set a school record.
ASU's secondary was attacked all night by Durant. He threw for 417-yards which set a school record. His five touchdown passes tied a UNC mark. Four of Durant's scoring throws were against the cornerback playing opposite R. J. Oliver who was locking up Carolina's top receiver Sam Aiken (5 catches for 70 yards).
Junior Brett Hudson started at the other cornerback position but injured his hand early and could not jam his receiver. Redshirt freshman Josh Golden came in and got an interception but gave up two touchdowns. He was benched for Davis, a freshman who was burned for the 74-yard game winner. The other Tar Heels score came when senior strong safety Al Williams lost his man on a 65-yard touchdown.
ASU's rushing attack was good for 183 yards and five touchdowns. It started slowly but punched in early scores and got rolling in the second half, with Mike Williams (9 carries for 73 yards) and Hakim Hill (10 carries for 56 yards) replacing the injured Canidate. The Sun Devils receivers also stepped up. With Carolina playing mostly a two-deep zone to take away big plays, ASU star receiver Shaun McDonald riddled North Carolina early and finished with 156 receiving yards. Fulton's 122-yard night more than doubled his 2001season total while Daryl Lightfoot had 7 catches for 91 yards.
Durant leads the ACC in passing (274 ypg.) and total offense (300 ypg.) and is third in passing efficiency. His favorite target is Aiken who is No. 2 in the league in receiving (4.8 rpg., 86.4 ypg.). However, Borders and sophomore Jarwarski Pollock, a speed burner, are also excellent receivers. UNC's tight ends, Zach Hilton and Bobby Blizzard have combined for 19 catches, 276 yards and 3 touchdowns. Carolina has the worst rushing attack in the ACC (110 ypg.) and is next-to-last in the league in scoring (24.6 ppg.), but tops the ACC in pass offense (291 ypg.). Sophomore Jacque Lewis is the team's leading rusher (276 yards on 73 carries and 1 touchdown).
Defensively, the Tar Heels have had trouble stopping opponents. They're allowing more points than any team in the ACC (31.4 ppg.) and are near the bottom in rushing defense (199 ypg.) and pass defense (252 ypg.). UNC is tied with Virginia in allowing a league-high 15 rushing touchdowns. Carolina lost eight starters from last year's defense that led the ACC and was 15th in the nation in total defense. Five of those players were drafted and two signed NFL free agent contracts.
Kicker Dan Orner, a junior transfer from Michigan State, has a very strong and accurate leg. He has made 6 of 7 field goal attempts with a school-record 55 yarder and leads the ACC in field goal percentage. Another junior, John Lafferty, is last in the ACC in punting with a 35.9 yard average, but has not had a punt blocked.
Carolina has more turnovers than any team in the ACC (16) and is last in the league in turnover margin at minus-5. However, more than half of those turnovers (9) occurred in the opener against Miami of Ohio. The Tar Heels are 0-3 at Kenan Stadium this season. Don't be fooled by numbers. This is a team that appears to be getting better. Consider the Tar Heels very dangerous.
INJURIES--NC State: CB A.J Davis-Out; Fractured fibula; C Jed Paulsen-Questionable; sprained ACL; OLB Avery Gibson-Questionable; high ankle sprain; MLB Dantonio Burnette-Will play;broken thumb.North Carolina:RB Andre Williams-Questionable; Back; DE Isaac Mooring-Questionable; Broken hand; DE Will Chapman-Will play; Toe sprain.
