North Carolina 15 - 17 Maryland
Final
  for this game

North Carolina looks to stay in ACC race

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:25 AM (17) North Carolina (7-2) at Maryland (6-3), 3:30 pm EST

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland (Ticker) -- Before it plays at Maryland on Saturday, No. 17 North Carolina will know if it controls its own destiny in the jumbled Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division race.

The Tar Heels (7-2, 3-2 ACC) join Miami and Virginia Tech as the three teams in the division with two conference losses.

North Carolina beat Miami and lost to Virginia Tech, so the Tar Heels hold a tiebreaker edge with the Hurricanes but not against the Hokies.

Thus, the Tar Heels will be rooting for Miami to beat Virginia Tech on Thursday. If that happens, North Carolina will be in position to win the Coastal Division by running the table.

Regardless of how things turn out, North Carolina already has matched its win total in coach Butch Davis' first two seasons combined.

"We've come so far," North Carolina defensive end E.J. Wilson told the Charlotte Observer. "Coach Davis came in here with a championship attitude and he's instilled it in our players. The more people who buy in, the better we get every week and year after year."

North Carolina emerged as a threat to win the Coastal title by beating Georgia Tech, 28-7, last week. The Yellow Jackets had led the division before losing to the Tar Heels.

North Carolina is winning in different ways. In a 45-24 victory over Boston College on October 25, Cameron Sexton and Hakeem Nicks hooked up for three touchdown passes.

Last week, the Tar Heels rode the running of Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston, who combined for 164 yards and two touchdowns. North Carolina scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to reach seven wins for the first time since 2001.

Maryland is still in contention in the Atlantic Division, which is as confused as the Coastal. The Terrapins (6-3, 3-2) are one-half game behind Wake Forest and Florida State.

Maryland's hopes were damaged, however, in last week's 23-13 loss at Virginia Tech when the Terrapins rushed for minus-12 yards on 18 carries.

Maryland also needs a bounce-back effort from its defense after allowing Virginia Tech tailback Darren Evans to rush for a school-record 253 yards.

North Carolina defeated Maryland, 13-10, last season, its first win over the Terrapins since 2000.






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