North Carolina Looking To Avoid Their Fourth Straight Loss As They Host Virginia
Saturday when Larry Feodora and North Carolina take the field at Kenan Memorial Stadium they will look to avoid their fourth straight loss as they host Virginia.
Carolina will renew the South's Oldest Rivalry for the 122nd time when the Tar Heels host the Cavaliers Saturday. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
UNC fell to 1-5 on the year with a 33-10 loss to No. 21 Notre Dame last weekend in Chapel Hill. Anthony Ratliff-Williams made a leaping touchdown grab late in the first half to pull the Tar Heels within seven, but the Irish outscored the hosts 19-3 the rest of the way to secure the win. Myles Dorn notched his first two career interceptions and Cayson Collins had a career-high 15 tackles to lead the Carolina defense. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
Virginia opened its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule last Saturday with a 28-21 home win over Duke in Charlottesville. Quin Blanding had a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown and Kurt Benkert tossed three touchdown passes - two to Doni Dowling - as the Wahoos improved to 4-1 on the year. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
Saturday's game will be broadcast on the ACC's Regional Sports Network, which includes Fox Sports South in most North Carolina markets. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 1-5 (0-3 ACC), Virginia 4-1 (1-0 ACC)
Rankings: Both teams are unranked.
TV: RSN. Wes Durham (play-by-play), James Bates (analyst) and Rebecca Kaple (sideline) have the call.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (click to listen), a division of Learfield Communications. Jones Angell (play-by-play), Brian Simmons (analyst) and Lee Pace (sideline) have the call.
On The Web: GoHeels.com | UNC Notes | UVA Notes
Twitter: @TarHeelFootball, @CoachFedora | @UVA_Football "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
CAROLINA-VIRGINIA SERIES NOTES
• North Carolina leads the series with Virginia, 64-53-4, and has won seven straight in the series for the first time since winning nine in a row from 1974-82.
• Last season in Charlottesville, Mitch Trubisky hit Bug Howard from 40 yards out on a trick play to spark a 21-0 run and the No. 22 Tar Heels cruised to a 35-14 victory. After losing 14 straight at UVA from 1983-2008, last year's win was Carolina's fourth in a row at Scott Stadium.
• In the last meeting in Chapel Hill, Elijah Hood rushed for two touchdowns and Carolina forced five turnovers in a 26-13 win over Virginia. Hood finished with 101 yards rushing and two 3-yard scoring runs, T.J. Logan added a 16-yard TD and Nick Weiler kicked two field goals. UNC broke a 13-all halftime tie by scoring on its first three possessions of the second half, and pitched a second-half shutout.
• Saturday's game will be the 122nd meeting in the rivalry known as the South's Oldest Rivalry. Only Minnesota and Wisconsin's annual battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe has been played more often (126 times) among FBS rivalries. Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati also met earlier this year for the 122nd time.
• North Carolina's final game of the regular season was typically played against Virginia prior to 1950. In fact, from 1919-1950, Carolina played its regular season finale vs. Virginia 28 of 32 times.
• Eight current Tar Heels are from Virginia: defensive end Malik Carney (Alexandria), defensive tackle Jeremiah Clarke (Alexandria), defensive tackle Aaron Crawford (Ashburn), offensive lineman Jay-Jay McCargo (Alexandria), wide receiver Dazz Newsome (Hampton), defensive end Tyler Powell (Midlothian), cornerback Patrice Rene (Alexandria) and cornerback M.J. Stewart (Arlington). "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
FEDORA VS. VIRGINIA
• Carolina head coach Larry Fedora is 7-0 against Virginia, with five wins at UNC and two wins while coaching Southern Miss.
• His wins over Virginia have featured several memorable plays, including a fake punt from the end zone in Southern Miss' 2011 victory at Virginia.
• In 2013, the Tar Heels executed a wide receiver pass back to Marquise Williams for a touchdown. It was the first time UNC had used that play under Fedora. Carolina scored on a 40-yard trick play last season in Charlottesville when Ryan Switzer took the snap and pitched it back to Trubisky, who connected with Bug Howard for the score. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
As for North Carolina's last game, they lost to Notre Dame who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sport except on the grid iron as Notre Dame is independent. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/13/football-carolina-and-virginia-renew-souths-oldest-rivalry-saturday.aspx
Josh Adams ran for 118 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown, and No. 21 Notre Dame beat North Carolina 33-10 on Saturday. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
Deon McIntosh added 124 yards rushing and two scores for the Fighting Irish (5-1), who played without starting quarterback Brandon Wimbush due to a right foot injury. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
Wimbush was on the sideline as the No. 2 QB behind Ian Book, though the Fighting Irish had no trouble surpassing the win total from a frustrating 2016 season. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
Book threw for a score and had two interceptions, one coming after Notre Dame reached the UNC 18 to end the Irish's perfect red-zone season conversion rate. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
Notre Dame finished with 487 yards, 341 coming on the ground. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
Chazz Surattthrew a 25-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Radcliff -Williamsbefore halftime in the only noteworthy offensive play for the Tar Heels (1-5). North Carolina didn't crack 200 total yards until late in the third quarter and finished with 265. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
THE TAKEAWAY
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish certainly can lean on their sturdy ground game. They entered ranked second nationally with 20 rushing touchdowns, third in yards per carry (7.14) and seventh in rushing yards per game (301.4). It certainly offered unflashy reliability Saturday, particularly with steady rain during much of the game. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
UNC: The Tar Heels have been in this position before under sixth-year coach Larry Fedora , starting 1-5 in 2013 before running off five straight wins and winning a bowl game. But matching that seems beyond this year's group, which entered the year with inexperience throughout a traditionally strong offensive unit and has been hammered since by injuries. That list grew again Saturday, with starting punter Tom Sheldon leaving after the first with an unspecified injury and starting safety Donnie Miles exiting in the third with an apparent right arm injury. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/7/football-no-21-notre-dame-beats-north-carolina-33-10.aspx?path=football
As for Virginia's last game, they beat Duke in Charlottesville,
The Cavaliers (4-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third straight, continuing their best start since the 2007 team started 7-1. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100717aaa.html
Daniel Jones had his second consecutive brutal effort against the Cavaliers for Duke (4-2, 0-2). The quarterback, who threw five interceptions and fumbled once in a 34-20 loss last year, completed 14 of 42 passes for 124 yards and two more interceptions. Quin Blanding returned the first, off a deflection, 58 yards for a touchdown. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100717aaa.html
Benkert also threw an interception that Jeremy McDuffie returned 42 yards to tie the game at 7-7, but then settled down. He hit Olamide Zaccheaus for an 11-yard score 45 seconds before halftime to make it 14-14, and gave the Cavaliers a 28-14 lead with touchdown passes of 5 and 17 yards to Doni Dowling "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100717aaa.html
Benkert finished 24 for 43 for 182 yards Jordan Ellisadded 96 yards on 25 carries. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100717aaa.html
The Blue Devils drove into Virginia territory in their final possession with Jones completing four consecutive passes, but sacks by Chris Peace early in the drive and freshman linebacker Chris Snowden after Duke got to the Cavaliers 34 slowed the drive, and two incomplete passes turned the ball back to Virginia. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100717aaa.html
THE TAKEAWAY
Duke: The Blue Devils' defensive front gave Virginia's line fits all day, and the defensive backs generally ran right with the Cavaliers on deep passes. The line seemed to wear down as Virginia went with a short passing game. The Blue Devils started the day sharing the ACC lead in sacks, but managed just one on the day. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100717aaa.html
Virginia: With a running game that hasn't yet proven reliable, Benkert's accuracy becomes critical. He was way off early in the game, throwing two interceptions and fumbling once as both teams struggled, but once the short passing game started working, his confidence seemed to return and he carried the day. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100717aaa.html
Kick-off is set for 3:30pm on the Regional Sports Network. "according to http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/va-m-footbl-sched.html