Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
When: Saturday, October 4th, 7:00 PM
TV: ESPN2
Records: UNC 3-1; UConn 5-0
Yet another major test.
This is considered the fourth straight tough game for UNC. It started with Rutgers who turned out to be not that good but still UNC had to win an outside of NC road game on Thursday night. Then came Virginia Tech, who pulled the rug out late on UNC and took TJ Yates down when they did it. After that tough loss came the great comeback to beat Miami on the road. What would be nice is seeing someone like Virginia on the other sideline but instead the Heels have to contend with UConn who is 5-0 and recently cracked the Top 25.
Butch Davis says he will play both Cam Sexton and Mike Paulus but I suspect it will be more Sexton than Paulus since the former is getting more of the snaps in practice this week. We can only speculate for how Davis intends to sub Paulus in. For Sexton, who played a great game last week, will be looking to do two things: Prove it was not a fluke and by extension of that demonstrate he can be that good on a consistent basis. Sexton showed he can be smart with the football under pressure and with the trio of Nicks, Tate and Foster, all Sexton is required to do is get the ball in the hands of these guys and let their legs do the rest. How well does UConn defend the pass? The Huskies are 43rd in pass defense and allowed Louisville(52nd in pass offense) to throw for 247 yards, one touchdown and snagged two INTs. UNC has the 48th ranked pass offense in the country so in many ways this is a pretty tough matchup between a good UConn secondary and good UNC passing game. On the flipside of that particular matchup, UConn does not pass the ball and when they do it is with poor results. On top of that, UConn lost their starting QB versus Louisville and will lean on sophomore Zach Frazier but I would not expect to see him passing that much.
No, this game will be similar to VT and Miami in that UNC will need to stop the run on defense and find some ways to run the ball on offense. UConn’s Donald Brown has run for over 900 yards and 11 touchdowns in five games. Against Louisville’s 11th ranked rushing defense he went for 190 and against the weaker run defenses of Temple and UVa he clocked over 200 on the ground. So stopping Brown will be paramount. There will be much pressure on the defensive line to control the line of scrimmage and avoid giving Brown too many gaping holes to exploit. The strategy here is the same as the VT game: Force UConn to pass the football where they are notably weaker, though there is no certainty on what kind of game to expect from Frazier since he saw limited time versus Louisville. Still, UConn will look to run first and if the Heels can stop that, there may be some fun to be had for Trimane Goddard and the boys in the secondary. As for UNC’s running game. Who knows Hopefully it will show up. Louisville certainly ran hog wild on the Huskies and you have to hope the Heels can find a way to do the same.
I will refrain from calling this “the biggest game since yada yada yada.” Instead I prefer to see it as another step in a season of steps that hopefully lead to the Heels establishing themselves in tier above where they are now. VT was a missed opportunity but the Heels got something back in beating Miami. Now with a ranked and undefeated opponent coming to Kenan in a Saturday night nationally televised game, this is certain huge chance to demonstrate UNC football is ready for primetime.
UNC 30 UConn 21
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Let’s go boys!!!
What a game!!!! Damn we are good.
Woody Durham impersonates Dr. Seuss: “Shaun Draughn is gone.”
Also, the defense plays “lights out.”
You’ve been great. Don’t forget to tip your waitress.
Wow, that was fun. So far this season at home we’ve had a lightning delay, a parachutist jump into the wrong stadium, a tough loss after being up 14, and now two banks of lights go out, the crowd does the wave and the PA system blasks “Kung Fu Fighting.” Can’t wait to see what else is in store this year.
Those announcers on ESPN were talking about possibly a 1 loss season with who’s left on the schedule. Don’t want to jynx anything which is why I never look ahead in basketball, but I do this in football so what do you think?
Seems like GT, BC, and ND are the toughest opponents left (not counting if we so happen to win Coastal which would require VT to lose twice in the division). All of those are home games, don’t believe in ND or BC that much so that Tech game should be a good one.
Fantastic Game. Kenan was soooooo loud. It seemed like the wave lasted 10 minutes, and even the uconn folks joined in.
I think GT will be our toughest game left, but Va has decided to show up and just the notre dame name can spook a young team. To get past the irish would really help to prepare for the trip charlottesHell, where we have had our share of problems and bad luck.
I’m done attending games this year so it’s safe to go the Kenan again. My only two trips were the too much lightning and the not enough lighting contests.
Go Heels!!!
I just saw this…
Chapel Hill, N.C. —— The University of North Carolina football team is back in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time 2001. The Tar Heels received 196 votes to rank No. 22 in this week’s poll.
Uh-oh…
Caulton Tudor has just picked us to run the table. He predicted much the same for ECU, which hasn’t won since…
People seem to forget we are still operating with a backup QB and an offense that didn’t even gain 200 yards on Saturday. Yes, the defense is playing out of their minds and the schedule is favorable, but I’m not ready to bet this month’s rent on 11-1 just yet.
I’ll be tickled with 9-3 and a nice bowl trip to ATL or Florida…
Well not everyone has complete faith in us yet…although no real surprise that Heather Dinch thinks our ranking is undeserved.
Check out her latest ACC blog on ESPN.
And Kenan was amazing last night…although there always seems to be some sort of malfunction; whether lights, scoreboard or game clock.
THF said it before the McNeese game. EVERY game is a toss up and that status hasn’t changed, but my confidence in this team is sky high. I’m sure enjoying this resurgence of Tar Heel football.
Our team has some game breakers and I think we just added Bruce Carter to that list.
I’m also interested in seeing how we use Greg Little from now on. He is a very talented football player and I think he too will have a break out game soon.
Cam is playing well and if we are 8-1 or 7-2 when TJ is ready to play again, that will be interesting as well.
Go Heels.