Story in Photos: Tar Heels lose another to rival Wolfpack
Here’s a link to Joe Schwartz’s half-time report and post game article.
Showing posts tagged “Robert Quinn”
Six Triangle players make first team all-ACC
Thaddeus Lewis earned second-team honors over several other worthy ACC quarterbacks. (File photo by Rob Rowe)
With the ACC regular season wrapped up, the first and second all-ACC teams were announced Monday, including 13 players from the Triangle.
Duke
The Blue Devils’ high-octane offense was led by quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who was voted on the second team. Lewis’ primary target, Donovan Varner, made first team and led the league with 5.4 catchers per game.
Kicker Will Snyderwine made the second team as well as linebacker Vincent Rey.
N.C. State
Glaringly absent from the selections is quarterback Russell Wilson, who led the Wolfpack to a dramatic win over UNC Saturday and accounted for 35 touchdowns on the season.
Tight end George Bryan made the first team, and defensive end Willie Young, who recorded eight sacks this season, was on the second team.
North Carolina
Four North Carolina players, the most of any school, earned first-team honors as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. Defensive end Robert Quinn, linebacker Quan Sturdivant, cornerback Kendric Burney and safety Deunta Williams were all selected to the first team.
Burney picked off five passes this season and racked up 200 return yards to reach second in interception return yardage in ACC history.
Defensive tackle Marvin Austin, who is considering turning pro after this season, and linebacker Bruce Carter, who told the media he would be returning for his senior season, both made the second defensive team.
UNC’s only offensive selection came in kicker Casey Barth, and the Tar Heels’ four first-team selections are the most since the 1997 season (six).
For the complete list, visit theACC.com.
UNC-NCSU Preview: Heels aim to reverse 41-10
Russell Wilson's decision-making will be key Saturday. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
North Carolina (8-3) at N.C. State(4-7)
[12 p.m., Nov. 28, Carter-Finley Stadium]
Televised by ESPN2
A win by either team Saturday won’t have any serious implications on the season as UNC has secured a bowl berth and N.C. State will be sitting at home over the holidays. But a win could go a long way in determining the future for each program.
State faces the uncomfortable offseason questions that come after a disappointing year. After being considered a sleeper in the Atlantic Division with all-ACC caliber quarterback Russell Wilson, the Wolfpack has managed to win exactly one league game with one left to play.
UNC, meanwhile, recovered from losing three straight ACC games with a four-game winning streak, including wins against two ranked teams (Virginia Tech and Miami).
Halftime UNC 20, No. 12 Miami 7: Interceptions, defense fuel Tar Heels
KENAN MEMORIAL STADIUM/CHAPEL HILL — UNC quarterback T.J. Yates and the Heels’ passing game finally started clicking Saturday as they lead 20-7 bolstered by three Miami turnovers.
Offensive coordinator John Shoop continued his innovative play design by using fake reverses to get receivers and backs open for short completions.
Kendric Burney picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and Da’Norris Searcy also caught an interception to stall the Miami offense, which effectively moved the ball against UNC’s defense but managed only seven first-half points because of turnovers and miscues.
UNC-Miami Preview: Which is worse for Chapel Hill — Ida or the ‘Canes?
North Carolina (6-3) vs. No. 12 Miami (7-2)
[3:30 p.m., Nov. 14, Kenan Memorial Stadium]
Televised by ABC
Such a fitting time for the Hurricanes to visit Chapel Hill as former Hurricane Ida dropped inch after inch of rain throughout the area and managed to depress the entire state of North Carolina.
A win against the Tar Heels might accomplish the same in just three hours. Every week becomes more and more important for a UNC program trying to advance in its third season rebuilding.
A win by the Tar Heels would cement bowl eligibility and create quite a buzz in the ACC after starting 0-3 in the league.
Key stats: There are a couple significant streaks the Heels will attempt to keep going after this game. First, UNC has beaten four straight AP top-25 teams. Second, Miami has never won in Chapel Hill (0-3).
Along with Duke's David Cutcliffe, Randy Shannon has struggled against Butch Davis. (File photo by Rob Rowe)
But these stats will have zero impact on the outcome of the game, except for the possible Jedi mind games Butch Davis plays on the Hurricanes every time he faces his former team.
Best message board tidbit on the game: A Hurricanes fan writes on Miami’s scout.com forum: I am pretty sure that I will get crucified for this, but for some reason I see this being the same type of game as the VT game this year. I think we are better than UNC on talent, however, I just do not think we are physical enough to win this game on the road against a team that has our number.
Tar Heels beat up Blue Devils in defensive struggle for Victory Bell
Duke head coach David Cutcliffe converses with UNC head coach Butch Davis prior to their second meeting as head coaches. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
KENAN STADIUM/CHAPEL HILL Football games in the state of North Carolina don’t get much bigger than this one except on pretty rare occasions.
The “Battle for the Victory Bell” means something to both UNC and Duke this season, as each team is 5-3 and needs at least two wins in its last four games to qualify for a bowl. Coming into the game Duke is even a longshot to play in a BCS bowl if the Blue Devils can win their final four regular-season games and then the ACC title game. All that is way out of context for Duke, which hasn’t had a football season to brag about since 1994.
UNC has won 18 of the last 19 meetings including five straight.
Scouts from the Champs Sports and Chick-Fil-A Bowls are in the house.
Again Triangle Offense has a record number staff on site, as I’m here along with UNC beat writer Jacob Swiger and young photographer Rob Rowe. Swiger is a UNC student and Rowe is in high school.
I was never the UNC beat writer for The Incredible Shrinking Herald-Sun, but I’ve been to Kenan quite a few times. The first was in 1964 for North Carolina’s official memorial to President Kennedy, and then I saw a few games with the family of origin in the late ’60s when the place seated 25,000 and tickets were $2 on the 10-yard line.
There will be about 60,000 on site today on a cold, sunny afternoon. It’s homecoming day and the Tar Heels are listed as 10-point favorites. And Carolina delivers, getting 164 yards on 37 carries from backup tailback Ryan Houston after Shaun Draughn is injured on his first carry in a grind-it-out 19-6 victory. Continue reading »
Halftime UNC 6, Duke 6: There’s no crying in … football?
KENAN MEMORIAL STADIUM/CHAPEL HILL — Another low-scoring, baseball-like half in Chapel Hill as the game is tied 6-6 on a pair of field goals for each team.
So far Thaddeus Lewis hasn’t had time to find receivers as UNC’s defensive front pressured him the entire half. T.J. Yates (7-for-15, 58 yards passing) couldn’t get out of the way enough to let the UNC rushing attack do more damage. Ryan Houston gained 67 yards on 15 carries as the UNC offensive line constantly won the line of scrimmage.
Key play of the half: Robert Quinn sacked Lewis on Duke’s first passing play and set the tone for a Tar Heel defense that allowed only six first-half points, including a field goal that came after a blocked punt by Duke’s Jordan Byas. Duke rushed for -4 yards in the first half and Lewis managed 86 yards through the air.
Key stats of the half: Rushing yards UNC 81, Duke -4 – yet the Tar Heels couldn’t manage to make big plays through the air via play-action pass. T.J. Yates and his receivers failed to connect on several big plays while the rushing attack didn’t miss a beat despite Shaun Draughn missing most of the first half after sustaining an injury on the first offensive series.
What to watch for in the second half: Both teams played solid defense in the first half, but UNC’s running game gained 4 or 5 yards consistently. If John Shoop sticks to running the ball in the second half, the Heels should be in position to win this game if the defense keeps the pressure on Lewis.
Lewis began to move the ball late in the second quarter but will need some life on first down if the Blue Devils are going to put touchdowns on the board.
Whoever begins forcing turnovers might be enough of a difference in the second half.
UNC-Duke preview: Triangle Offense writers debate which Blue is better
Battle for the Victory Bell
North Carolina (5-3) vs. Duke (5-3)
[3:30 p.m., Nov. 7, Kenan Memorial Stadium]
Televised by ESPNU
The Tar Heels will battle to defend the Victory Bell, but can they stop Duke's three-game winning streak? (File photo by Rob Rowe)
What stat stands out most?
Mike Potter: Two on the Blue Devils’ side. Thaddeus Lewis and backup Sean Renfree have combined to complete 67.4 percent of their passes with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. And Duke has outscored the opposition 87-44 in the fourth quarter.
Jacob Swiger: Duke averages around 75 yards per game on the ground — good for 116th in the country — still, the Blue Devils have put together their best season in recent memory. Will facing the No. 18th-ranked defense against the run set up more third-and-long situations? Will it even matter with the way Lewis is throwing the ball? In two of Duke’s three losses this season, the Blue Devils couldn’t gain more than 38 rushing yards (19 against Richmond, 38 against Virginia Tech). Don’t expect the rushing numbers to be much different against UNC.
Which player from the opposing team should scare Duke/UNC the most?
Mike: This starts the broken record. Thaddeus Lewis. A good quarterback from last year has turned into a great one this year. This Duke team has numerous weapons on both sides of the ball and the Blue Devils can win with a collective defensive effort, but as Reggie Jackson once said, Lewis is the “straw that stirs the drink.”
Jake: Defensive end Robert Quinn could end up being the MVP of this game. Quinn, a speedy sophomore, has been quiet the past few games and is due for at least a sack or two if Lewis takes too long in the pocket. Combined with the rest of the talented defensive front, the Blue Devils’ offensive line will have their hands full.
UNC-FSU preview: Win one for Ramses … er, Chapel Hill
North Carolina (4-2) vs. Florida State (2-4)
[8 p.m., Oct. 22, Kenan Memorial Stadium]
Televised by ESPN
The Thursday night atmosphere was supposed to be window dressing for a pivotal ACC contest midway through the season. Unfortunately for these two teams, neither has beaten an ACC foe and the loser will face an even tougher road to bowl eligibility.
Ramses hopes the ECU victory won't go down as the signature home win for the 2009 Tar Heels. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
UNC coach Butch Davis pitched for a Thursday night contest in Chapel Hill as part of his plan for advancing the football program. After all the fuss, a loss won’t do much to further that mission.
Bobby Bowden, meanwhile, needs a victory to stop the bleeding in what could be his final season coaching.
UNC Tuesday Tour: Here comes Bobby!
Yates and the Tar Heels need a signature win in 2009 (Photo by Rob Rowe)
Florida State travels to Chapel Hill for the first Thursday night football game in Chapel Hill history — part of coach Butch Davis’ plan to raise a giant of a program.
The drama surrounding the game ranges from where the heck people are going to park to whether enough students will show up. Oh yeah, and then there is the whole not having an offense issue, which should work out since Florida State has the whole not having a defense thing.
Not many students I’ve spoken to seem keen on staying in town for the game with the freedom of fall break interfering. That and a less than thrilling game-day experience this season (where are the flyovers?) combined to lower fan enthusiasm from last season, in my opinion.
But here comes Bobby … Bowden that is. The media and Florida State big shots have all taken shots at Bowden so far this season, but don’t let that fool you. Bowden’s crew will be ready to rain on the Thursday night propaganda, er … I mean opportunity, for Davis to show the merits of his program on national television.
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