NORTH CAROLINA (3-6, 2-3) at NC STATE (4-5, 2-3)
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 2006
TIME: Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. (EST) at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (57,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network. Airtime: 11:00 a.m. (EST)
TELEVISION: Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports (ACC Network)
OPPONENTMaryland, depleted by injuries and fighting to keep bowl hopes alive, trailed North Carolina by 13 points in the third quarter Saturday night at Kenan Stadium. The Terps reached back and found something extra, but it wasn’t quite enough, and the Tar Heels escaped with a 16-13 win.
Maryland scored 10 straight points, driving to UNC’s 41 in the game’s final minute with a chance to set up a game-tying field goal attempt. But on fourth-and-2, quarterback Chris Turner was pressured by defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer and threw high toward the sideline, ending the drive with 36 seconds remaining.
It was Maryland’s third straight loss, dropping the Terps to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the ACC. North Carolina snapped a two-game losing streak.
The contest was anything but artistic with Carolina flagged for 11 penalties and Maryland nine. The Terps’ mistakes and inability to sustain drives, especially in the first half, proved too much to overcome.
Give credit to the UNC defense, too. “This is maybe the best defensive performance we’ve had, from a standpoint of a lot of guys on defense really contributed,” said Tar Heels coach Butch Davis.
Connor Barth kicked three field goals for Carolina. His 45-yarder gave UNC a 6-3 lead with 1:01 to play in the second quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff, Turner was intercepted by strong safety Trimane Goddard on Maryland’s first play from scrimmage. Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates took advantage, completing a 20-yard pass to Hakeem Nicks that led to a 45-yard field goal for Barth.
Yates 30-yard touchdown pass to Nicks put UNC up 16-3 in the third. Maryland responded with Keon Lattimore’s 5-yard TD run and a 29-yard field goal by Obi Egekeze to cut the deficit to 16-13 in the fourth, but could get no closer.
Yates was 16-of-26 passing for 149 yards and 2 interceptions. Turner finished with 209 yards through the air on 20-of-36 with one pick. Both teams lost a fumble.
Maryland outgained Carolina 302 to 259, but the Heels defense held the Terps to only 93 yards rushing. UNC ran for 110 yards, including a career-high 92 by freshman tailback Johnny White.
An improving defense and better rushing attack have made a difference lately for North Carolina.
Most of the improvementespecially on defense-- has come since the fifth game of the season After the first four games, the Tar Heels were allowing 375 yards a game. In the last five games, they’ve knocked that average down to 334 yardsgood enough for a No. 28 national ranking.
The last three games are even better. UNC opponents are averaging only 284 yards during that stretch, including just 114 yards a game on the ground.
Carolina’s defensive line is anchored by two seniors who are second-year starters. Balmer (6-5, 295) is a pro prospect who is No.2 on the team in stops (47), including 6.5 tackles for loss. Hilee Taylor (6-3, 245), an outstanding pass rusher, is among the ACC leaders in sacks (8) and tackles for loss (12.5). He has also forced a team-high 3 fumbles.
The linebackers are led by third-year starter Durell Mapp (6-2, 225). The senior from Burlington ranks second in the ACC in tackles (9.9) and has posted four games with 10 or more stops this season. That’s not bad for a guy who started his career as a walk-on.
Freshmen anchor the other two starting linebacker positions. The most notable of that pair is Quan Sturdivant (6-2, 230). Since he was inserted into the starting lineup at Virginia Tech, Sturdivant has made big plays. He had 8 stops, including a sack against the Hokies, recovered a fumble against South Carolina and blocked a punt and picked off a pass in the Miami game.
Carolina’s defense has recorded 15 take-a-ways this season, including 9 interceptions (topping its total of seven from a year ago). Free safety Deunta Williams (6-2, 195), a redshirt freshman, leads Carolina with 3 picks.
Except for Goddard (5-11, 195, Jr.), all the top players in the Heels’ secondary are first-year starters. Goddard, a second-year starter, is one of Carolina top-three tacklers (47) and leads the team in pass break-ups (4). He’s the ACC Defensive Back of the Week after recording 10 stops, a pass breakup and an interception against Maryland.
The cornerbacks, Charles Brown (5-10, 190) and Kendric Burney are both freshmen who also like to hit people. The pair has combined for 74 stops this season.
Overall, a total of 28 freshmen (true or redshirt) have played for UNC this year, making the Tar Heels one of the youngest team in the nation.
Offensively, North Carolina’s rushing attack continues to evolve. In the last five games, UNC has averaged 121 yards rushing. That significant improvement from the first four games when the Heels earned only 80 yards a game on the ground.
White (5-10, 210) and Anthony Elzy (5-10, 210) have accounted for most of Carolina’s rushing yards. The two redshirt freshmen are joined by true freshman Ryan Houston (6-2, 250) as the only UNC runningbacks with at least 100 total rushing yards.
The improved running game is welcomed by Yates who has carried a lot of the offensive load this season. Except for throwing more interceptions (14) than touchdown passes (12), the redshirt freshman has been pretty solid. He’s third in the ACC in passing yards (228 ypg.) and total offense (220).
Yates has completed 62 percent of his passes and is the seventh freshman in ACC history to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season. But he had trouble against the Terps who frequently disguised their defensive schemes, especially up front.
Carolina has plenty of talented wide receivers capable of big plays. Yates’ top-three targets are Nicks (6-1, 215, So.), Brandon Tate (6-1, 195, Jr.) and Brooks Foster (6-3, 205, Jr.). All have been involved in pass plays of 50-yards or more this season.
Nicks ranks third in the ACC in both receptions per game (6.2) and receiving yards per game (78.0). His 56 catches rank third in UNC single-season history. He’s scored 4 touchdowns. Foster is the Heel’s No. 2 receiver (23 catches, 2 touchdowns).
Tate leads the team at 19.3 yards per catch and has recorded 3 touchdowns. He’s also dangerous running the football with 100 net yards and a TD in only 9 attempts.
All the experience on the offensive line is on the right side. Redshirt senior center Scott Lenahan (6-1, 290), redshirt junior guard Calvin Darity (6-3, 300) and junior tackle Garrett Reynolds (6-7, 295) are all second-year starters.
Barth is one of the ACC’s top kickers. The Lou Groza Award semifinalist has made 13-of-14 field goal attempts this season and 24 of his last 25 overall. Junior college transfer, Terrence Brown, is ranked sixth in the league in punting with a 42.1 yard average.
Tate leads the ACC in all-purpose yards per game (150.7) and is in the top-10 in the league in both kickoff returns (24.0) and punt returns (9.8). He needs 125 yards to become the ACC’s all-time leader in career kick return yardage.
Carolina’s special teams have blocked 3 punts this season.
NOTES: This will be the 97th meeting between State and Carolina. The Heels lead the series 63-27-6 and they have won 11 of the last 14 meetings, including three straight...The State-Carolina series the fourth-most played series in the ACC...In the last 15 State-Carolina games, the team with the most rushing yards has won 14 times. The only exception was 2004 when State ran for 304 yards, but lost 30-24...During State’s 3-game winning streak, the Wolfpack has either won or broken even in the turnover battle in each game...The Wolfpack is last in the ACC in turnover margin (-13). Carolina is eleventh (-8)...State will be after its first single season, four-game winning streak since 2003...Darrell Blackman who is third in the ACC in all-purpose yards recorded 194 all-purpose yards in the win at Miami...Defensive end Willie Young ranks fifth in the ACC in tackles for loss after posting three at Miami...In the Wolfpack’s last 3 games, Daniel Evans has averaged 296 passing yards with 6 touchdowns and only two interceptions while completing 57 percent of his throws (74-130)...State has the No. 4 passing offense in the ACC (244) while UNC has the league’s No. 5 pass defense (198)...Jamelle Eugene has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of his last 4 games, averaging 91.3 yards during that stretch...State is last in the ACC in Red Zone offense, scoring 22 times in 30 attempts with 14 touchdowns...How is this for an improving pass rush? Twelve of State’s 20 sacks have come in the last 3 games...Linebacker Ernest Jones leads the Pack in tackles, averaging 9.4 stops a game...Safety DaJuan Morgan who has recorded 22 stops in his last 2 games is the Pack’s “Disrupter.” He leads the team with 10 pass break-ups. His brother, cornerback DeAndre Morgan, broke up 5 passes at Miami, including two in the end zone... NC State has scored in 148 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in ACC history...The Pack is 7-4 in overtime games after its win at Miami last week...NC State’s third down defense has been solid, holding opponents to 35 percent efficiency (No.4 ACC)...Donald Bowens who caught 11 passes for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns against Virginia had only 2 receptions for 9 yards at Miami...Ten Wolfpack starters have missed a total of 32 combined games this season due to injury. A different starter has been forced to the sidelines with an injury in all nine games...Four of Carolina’s six losses have been by 7 points or less.
INJURIES--NC State: WR John Dunlap (ankle)-questionable; SS Javon Walker (knee)-out; FB Ced Hickman (shoulder)-questionable; OT Julian Williams (knee) probable; TB Andre Brown (fractured foot)-out; RB Toney Baker (knee)--out for season; TE Anthony Hill (knee)-out for season; FB John Kane (concussion)-out for season; TE Rashad Phillips (rehab from auto accident)-out for season. UNC-CH: None reported.
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