Final
North Carolina-N.C. State Preview
Nov 24, 2009 - 10:12 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS WriterNo. 24 North Carolina (8-3) at North Carolina State (4-7), 12:00 p.m. EDT
North Carolina's defense was shredded by North Carolina State last season, surrendering nearly 500 yards of offense in its most lopsided loss to its ACC neighbor in 19 years.
The 23rd-ranked Tar Heels feel they have the defense to turn the tables in 2009.
North Carolina's fifth-ranked defense will be out for revenge Saturday in Raleigh as the Tar Heels face the rival Wolfpack looking to win a fifth consecutive game for the first time in more than eight years.
Both North Carolina (8-3, 4-3) and N.C. State finished with 4-4 conference records last season, but the Wolfpack were much happier with the conclusion of their league schedule.
N.C. State (4-7, 1-6) dropped its first four conference games before closing on a four-game winning streak that included a 41-10 thrashing of the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. North Carolina, meanwhile, dropped two of its final three ACC contests after an impressive 7-2 start that included wins over three ranked opponents.
The loss to the Wolfpack was the Tar Heels' most lopsided in the series since falling 40-6 in 1989.
"It just baffles me how bad we played, as a team, as a whole," Tar Heels quarterback T.J. Yates said after finishing 10 of 22 for 116 yards and an interception. "They came in today on a mission, came to take us out as soon as possible."
The Wolfpack, meanwhile, totaled a season-high 466 yards of offense, with quarterback Russell Wilson going 17 of 28 for 279 yards an two touchdowns.
"What it speaks to is we're the best football program in the state," N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said after his team finished 4-0 against fellow North Carolina schools, "without question."
That certainly hasn't been the case this season, as the Wolfpack have turned into arguably the ACC's worst team. N.C. State's 22 turnovers since the start of conference play are fourth-most among Football Bowl Subdivision teams, and a sharp contrast to last season, when it gave the ball away three times in its last seven regular-season games.
North Carolina seems primed to continue that trend in Raleigh. The Tar Heels have forced 28 turnovers - tied for ninth in the FBS - and returned two of Boston College's six giveaways for touchdowns last Saturday in a 31-13 win in Chestnut Hill.
Junior safety Deunta Williams had three of the five interceptions for North Carolina, which can record its first five-game winning streak since Sept. 22-Oct. 20, 2001, with a win in Raleigh.
"(Our defense knows) that they're obviously carrying us an extreme amount, because they're getting turnovers and scoring touchdowns for us," said Yates, the ACC's lowest-rated passer (108.4). "I really respect the defense and everything they do. When we're struggling, they're out there getting us points and when we're sputtering on offense, they're not ones to point fingers."
North Carolina ranks in the top 12 nationally in four major defensive categories, including fifth in total defense (261.6 yards) and 12th in scoring (15.9 points).
"Defense is the one thing that can be consistent," coach Butch Davis said. "You may not catch the ball or throw the ball as well. There's a lot of variables that may happen, and you can't control the weather."
Yates' offense may find moving the ball easier against a Wolfpack team that's allowed 41.4 points per game in losing six of seven. N.C. State's offensive has contributed to those problems, turning it over four times and having Wilson sacked five times last Saturday in a 38-10 loss at Virginia Tech.
In addition to trying to figure out the tough Tar Heels defense, the Wolfpack's offense will close the regular season with heavy hearts. N.C. State offensive coordinator Dana Bible was diagnosed late last week with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and won't coach Saturday, instead remaining in a Chapel Hill cancer center for 30 days of treatment.
"It's a big blow to us," offensive guard Julian Williams said. "He has other things he has to take care of right now and we'll take care of the football."
O'Brien will bring back former graduate assistant Jay Civetti to help against the Tar Heels. Civetti has spent the past two years as offensive coordinator at Division III Tufts, which has concluded its season.
North Carolina leads the all-time series 63-29-6.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UNC 3 21 3 0 27
NCSTATE 0 14 7 7 28 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: NORTH CARO - FG, CASEY BARTH 31 YD, 5:09. UNC
3-0
2ND QUARTER: NORTH CARO - TD, JHERANIE BOYD 35 YD PASS FROM
T.J. YATES (CASEY BARTH
KICK), 0:07. UNC 10-0
NC STATE - TD, JARVIS WILLIAMS
Nov 28 3:13 PM - NCAAF
UNC 27
NCSTATE 28 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Nov 28 3:13 PM - 163
rootsRUWTbot Added 19 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
North Carolina(23) 27, NC State 28 4th - 0:16Nov 28 3:13 PM - 144
rootsRUWTbot Added 43 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
North Carolina(23) 27, NC State 28 4th - 4:44Nov 28 2:55 PM - 101
rootsRUWTbot Added 52 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
North Carolina(23) 27, NC State 28 4th - 8:44Nov 28 2:46 PM
TD NC STATE OWEN SPENCER 38 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 27, NC State 28 4th - 14:31Nov 28 2:35 PM
TD NC STATE OWEN SPENCER 38 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 27, NC State 28 4th - 14:31Nov 28 2:35 PM
TD NC STATE OWEN SPENCER 38 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 27, NC State 28 4th - 14:31Nov 28 2:35 PM- NCAAF
UNC 27
NCSTATE 28 14:31 LEFT, 4TH QTR
North Carolina(23) 27, NC State 28 4th - 14:31Nov 28 2:35 PM - NCAAF
UNC 27
NCSTATE 21 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Nov 28 2:31 PM
TD NC STATE OWEN SPENCER 56 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 24, NC State 21 3rd - 10:23Nov 28 2:06 PM
TD NC STATE OWEN SPENCER 56 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 24, NC State 21 3rd - 10:23Nov 28 2:06 PM
TD NC STATE OWEN SPENCER 56 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 24, NC State 21 3rd - 10:23Nov 28 2:06 PM- NCAAF
UNC 24
NCSTATE 21 10:23 LEFT, 3RD QTR
North Carolina(23) 24, NC State 21 3rd - 10:23Nov 28 2:06 PM - NCAAF
UNC 24
NCSTATE 14 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Nov 28 1:33 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JHERANIE BOYD 70 YD PASS FROM T.J. YATES (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 24, NC State 14 2nd - 0:46Nov 28 1:27 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JHERANIE BOYD 70 YD PASS FROM T.J. YATES (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 24, NC State 14 2nd - 0:46Nov 28 1:27 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JHERANIE BOYD 70 YD PASS FROM T.J. YATES (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 24, NC State 14 2nd - 0:46Nov 28 1:27 PM
TD NC STATE JARVIS WILLIAMS 14 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 17, NC State 14 2nd - 4:33Nov 28 1:18 PM
TD NC STATE JARVIS WILLIAMS 14 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 17, NC State 14 2nd - 4:33Nov 28 1:18 PM
TD NC STATE JARVIS WILLIAMS 14 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 17, NC State 14 2nd - 4:33Nov 28 1:18 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JOHNNY WHITE 40 YD RUN (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 17, NC State 7 2nd - 9:28Nov 28 1:03 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JOHNNY WHITE 40 YD RUN (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 17, NC State 7 2nd - 9:28Nov 28 1:03 PM
TD NC STATE JARVIS WILLIAMS 6 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 7 2nd - 10:12Nov 28 12:57 PM
TD NC STATE JARVIS WILLIAMS 6 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 7 2nd - 10:12Nov 28 12:57 PM
TD NC STATE JARVIS WILLIAMS 6 YD PASS FROM RUSSELL WILSON (JOSH CZAJKOWSKI KICK)
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 7 2nd - 10:12Nov 28 12:57 PM- NCAAF
UNC 10
NCSTATE 7 10:12 LEFT, 2ND QTR
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 7 2nd - 10:12Nov 28 12:57 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JHERANIE BOYD 35 YD PASS FROM T.J. YATES (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 0 2nd - 14:53Nov 28 12:44 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JHERANIE BOYD 35 YD PASS FROM T.J. YATES (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 0 2nd - 14:53Nov 28 12:44 PM
TD NORTH CAROLINA JHERANIE BOYD 35 YD PASS FROM T.J. YATES (CASEY BARTH KICK)
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 0 2nd - 14:53Nov 28 12:44 PM- NCAAF
UNC 10
NCSTATE 0 14:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR
North Carolina(23) 10, NC State 0 2nd - 14:53Nov 28 12:44 PM - NCAAF
UNC 3
NCSTATE 0 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Nov 28 12:40 PM
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