Nov. 19, 2008

By Lauren Brownlow

Every Thursday, check TarHeelBlue.com for the latest edition of the Game Guide, which provides all the information you need to get ready for gameday.

The Basics

No. 25/UR North Carolina (7-3, 3-3) will play its last home game of the season against NC State (4-6, 2-4). Carolina is coming off of a 17-15 loss at Maryland. Carolina still has an outside shot of reaching the ACC Championship game if other teams lose, but right now it is just trying to improve its bowl game seeding. NC State has won two games in a row, including a home win over No. 24 Wake Forest. The Wolfpack could gain bowl eligibility by winning the final two games.

Carolina leads the all-time series between the two teams, 63-28-6. Carolina had a streak of three straight wins over NC State snapped last year. This will be the 97th meeting between the two teams, the fourth-most played ACC matchup. The team that has out-rushed the other has won 15 of the last 16 games (except for the 2004 game when Carolina was outgained 304-164 in a 30-24 win). Butch Davis won all four meetings against Tom O'Brien when both were at their former schools (Miami and Boston College) but is 0-1 against him in ACC play. Carolina is 34-16-2 against NC State in Chapel Hill.

Game Time: NC State at North Carolina, 12:00 PM, Raycom

Carolina's game notes can be found here and NC State's official football site is here.

Last Time: Carolina lost 31-27 at NC State last season on November 10, 2007. T.J. Yates was intercepted on his second pass of the game at the Carolina 48-yard line, but the defense held NC State to a field goal and nothing was going well early as NC State took a fast 17-0 lead. Then suddenly, everything changed. Charles Brown intercepted Daniel Evans at the Carolina eight-yard line and returned it for a touchdown, bringing Carolina to within 17-7. Carolina managed a field goal to make it 17-10 with 6:31 to go in the first but NC State mounted a successful touchdown drive to take a 24-10 halftime lead. The two teams traded punts until Bobby Rome completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Tate on a trick play. Carolina was with seven at 24-14. The teams continued to trade punts until Carolina hit a field goal to make it 24-17 just as the fourth quarter began. Then as State drove down to the Carolina 22-yard line, Kendric Burney picked off a pass and returned it 76 yards for a score to make it 27-24, Carolina, with 9:40 to go. On Carolina's next offensive series, Yates was picked off at the Carolina 28-yard line and it was returned to the 25-yard line; State converted it into a touchdown to go up 31-27. Thirteen plays and 64 yards later, Carolina couldn't convert a fourth-and-goal at the NC State 7-yard line.

NC State held Carolina to a net gain of 12 yards on 20 rushing attempts. Yates completed 22-of-42 passes for 241 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Connor Barth missed a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter but had a 47-yarder in the second and a 27-yarder in the fourth. Durell Mapp led Carolina in tackles with a staggering 23 (15 solo). Hilee Taylor had two sacks. Quan Sturdivant had 11 tackles. Jamelle Eugene led the Wolfpack, which had struggled to run the ball all last season, with 159 yards on 32 carries. Eugene was also the second-leading receiver, nabbing six balls for 33 yards. Daniel Evans completed 26-of-42 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Gameday Weather: Check the local weather forecast before heading for the game.

Radio Coverage: Tar Heel Sports Network coverage begins at 11:00 AM. The radio broadcast is also available on XM Channel 190 at 12:00. Since it's a home game, the Tar Heel Sports Network broadcast can be heard on XM.

TV Coverage: The game will be available regionally on Raycom.

Game week TV/radio coverage: "Butch Davis Live", Coach Davis' weekly radio show, will be broadcast live from the Top of the Hill restaurant on Franklin Street every Wednesday at 7:00. Inside the Huddle with Butch Davis airs Saturday morning at 9 a.m. on FOX Sports South. Inside the Huddle with Butch Davis will air on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WTVD ABC 11 in the Triangle and will review Saturday's game. The Tar Heel Football Review show featuring highlights of the previous week's games will air Tuesday's at 7 p.m. and Thursday's at 8 p.m. in the Triangle and Fayetteville on the local Time Warner Cable station.

Storylines

Back to the basics offensively: For this season, Carolina has had its share of thrilling big plays for touchdowns or to move the ball on the field. That was on display again against Maryland; Carolina had five plays of 20 yards or more through the air and on the ground; one went for a touchdown, Carolina got two field goals out of two others and the other resulted in a lost fumble and a missed field goal. Of course it was troubling that Carolina couldn't score on those big plays. But what's more alarming was its seeming inability to stay on the field. Quarterback Cameron Sexton would be the first to tell you that he had a bad day. But Carolina was held to 75 yards on 26 carries, 2.9 yards per carry. Without Brooks Foster's 32-yard rush on a reverse, Carolina ran for 43 yards on 25 carries (1.7 yards per carry).

Carolina had just 11 first downs and only five in the second half. On its first three drives, it had one play of 20 yards or more to get it into Maryland territory; those three plays totaled 105 yards (35.0 yards per play). Carolina also ran ten other plays on those first three drives for a total of 25 yards (2.5 yards per play). Carolina could not take advantage of its best field position of the season, starting only one drive inside its own 20-yard line and that drive was just before the first-half clock ran out. Carolina started two drives in Maryland territory and came out with three points. Carolina's best starting field position of the day was at the Maryland 33 and it was as a result of the defense forcing a fumble. Carolina ran three plays for a grand total of zero yards and was forced to punt. After that drive with the missed field goal in the third quarter, Carolina ran 20 plays for 41 yards (2.1 yards per play) the rest of the game. No more big plays meant that Carolina could no longer sustain anything offensively.

But it's not the fault of Cameron Sexton, even though he would be the first to tell you that he had a bad game. The wet field played a role, although it's not an excuse. The offensive line was having trouble containing a very physical Maryland front seven. Receivers dropped easy passes. Even though Davis has re-opened the quarterback competition this week with the healthy T.J. Yates back at practice, it doesn't matter who the quarterback will be if the rest of the team can't execute.

"At quarterback, because of the uniqueness of it, sometimes they're at the mercy of the supporting cast," Davis said. "Sometimes, it's either not always their fault or sometimes they get too much credit. How well did you run the ball? Did guys drop balls? How well was the protection? So sometimes the quarterback's performance can certainly be skewed a little bit by the supporting cast. If they play extraordinarily well and you're not asked to do anything, you may look brilliant. It may be through nothing of your own doing."

So while the Carolina offense can do all it wants in terms of trick plays, Rome - who said the staff had been waiting a long time to call that play - knows it's simpler than that. "Games that we don't turn the ball over, we win. Games that we do turn the ball over, we end up losing," Rome said. "So we've got to take better care of the football. We've got to give our defense a chance to rest on the sidelines, which means that we have to run the football and try to control the clock because the time of possession was totally off. They had twice more possessions with the ball than we did. We've just got to learn how to run the football and execute as an offense."

The battle to stay on the field: Carolina has been able to beat teams like Georgia Tech and Boston College because even if its running game wasn't going early on (as in the Boston College game), the Tar Heels stuck with it and were able to make something work. Nothing worked against Maryland. When Carolina couldn't run the ball, it went to the air and in the fourth quarter, Carolina ran 13 plays and eight were passes. Carolina completed 2-of-8 for 16 yards. Carolina ran the ball four times for 15 yards and one first down, excluding a sack, in the fourth quarter. But that was after Carolina had rushed for two yards on six tries in the third quarter. In the second quarter, excluding the Foster 32-yard rush, it ran for 20 yards on 10 attempts.

Carolina's only touchdown came on a 59-yard play and were it not for a Maryland turnover at its 30 and a punt return to the 44-yard line of Maryland, Carolina would perhaps never have crossed the Maryland 30-yard line. But Carolina ended each of its first five drives in Maryland territory and ended up with 13 points. In the second half, two drives stalled in Maryland territory and resulted in zero points. "We had opportunities inside the 20, 25-yard line where we had to settle for field goals and by not converting touchdowns, it's going to certainly come back to haunt you," Davis said.

Carolina has been getting opponents off the field at times through turnovers or through gutsy defensive performances, like the one against Georgia Tech. At times, the Carolina defense is content to a certain extent to lay in wait for an opponent to make a mistake. But that doesn't always happen and when it doesn't, Carolina has to be able to get the opponents off the field. Carolina got just one turnover from Maryland and the Carolina offense began its drive at the Maryland 33-yard line and managed zero yards, forced to punt. NC State is a team that does not turn the ball over, at least not lately. It has lost 15 turnovers this season but over the last five games, NC State has lost only two turnovers. That is the longest stretch of games with two or fewer turnovers in NC State history.

But NC State isn't beating teams by gaining turnovers, either. NC State has gained 17 turnovers this season (seven fumbles and ten interceptions) but has gained just two turnovers in the last four games, a lost fumble at Maryland and a Wake Forest interception. NC State has won games this season by holding its last two opponents to under 100 yards on the ground. It came close against Maryland as well; in the last three games it has held opponents to 7-of-12 red zone scores. Duke was just 2-of-5 in the red zone despite gaining 411 total yards and running 21 more plays than NC State. Wake Forest was 2-of-3 in the red zone. The Wolfpack also held Wake Forest to 4-of-13 on third down.

Carolina has converted 13-of-40 third downs in three losses (32.5%) compared to 39-of-95 conversions (41.1%) in seven wins. Carolina has also converted just 7-of-21 third downs in the second half of its three losses (33.3%). Taking out the Virginia game, during which Carolina converted 5-of-9 in the second half, that number drops to 3-of-12. In seven wins, Carolina has converted 22-of-46 third downs (47.8%) in the second half, including 12-of-24 in the fourth quarter of wins compared to 4-of-10 in losses.

Carolina is 11th in the league in opponent third-down conversions, allowing 63-of-155 (40.6%). NC State is 11th in the league in third-down conversions, making just 47-of-137 (34.3%). After converting just 1-of-9 third downs against Florida State, it traveled to Maryland and converted 9-of-15. It beat Duke 27-17 despite converting just 2-of-10 third downs and it beat Wake Forest on the strength of 9-of-16 third down conversions. NC State is last in opponent third-down conversions, allowing 57-of-136 (41.9%). But in the last three games (two wins), NC State has held opponents to 14-of-37 (37.8%) on third downs; prior to that point in the season, it had allowed 43-of-99 third-down conversions (43.4%).

Both NC State and Carolina bring up the rear in opponent first downs; Carolina is 11th, allowing 20.8 per game while NC State has allowed 22.5. Both are the only teams to have allowed more than 20 per game. The two teams also bring up the rear in first downs; NC State is 11th with 16.1 per game and Carolina is last with just 15.7 per game. Carolina is averaging just 12.0 first downs in the last two games, earning 13 against Georgia Tech and just 11 against Maryland. Carolina had gained 59 first downs from the Notre Dame game through the Boston College game (19.7 per game). Carolina's defense had also allowed Notre Dame to get 27 first downs (later to be tied for most allowed this season by Maryland's 27 first downs) and followed that up by allowing 32 first downs in the next two games (16.0 per game).

Carolina has been great on third down this season and is still third in the league, converting 55-of-135 (40.7%). But in the last two games, it has converted 5-of-25 third downs (20 percent) and just 1-of-11 at Maryland. Carolina has allowed an opponent to convert more third downs than Maryland (9) once - Notre Dame converted 10-of-16 in Carolina's narrow win. Carolina has allowed an opponent to convert eight or more third downs in five games; the first was against McNeese State in a comeback win (9-of-19) and Miami converted 8-of-16 in another Carolina comeback effort. Connecticut converted 8-of-16 in Carolina's blowout win. In Carolina's other two losses, its opponents converted just 8-of-31 third downs. But Virginia converted 2-of-3 in the fourth quarter. Maryland converted 5-of-10 third downs in the second half, 3-of-6 in the fourth quarter and 2-of-4 on its game-winning (plus a fourth-down conversion).

Another issue for Carolina has been the red zone. Carolina has missed at least one red-zone chance in four games this season and has a 2-2 record in those games. Carolina missed a field goal late in the blowout against Connecticut but it didn't matter. Carolina missed two red-zone chances against McNeese State but one was a missed field goal and the other was when Carolina ran the clock out at the end of the game. But Carolina missed a field goal against Virginia Tech in the loss and another in the Maryland loss. The Maryland missed field goal snapped a streak of 14 straight red-zone trips converted. Carolina allowed its first six opponents to convert 16-of-17 red-zone chances; the only except was the interception at Miami to save the game. Opponents averaged 2.8 trips a game. In the next three games - Virginia, Boston College and Georgia Tech - Carolina allowed 4-of-5 conversions in the red zone; it shut Georgia Tech out of the red zone completely and held Virginia to 1-of-2 in the red zone. But Maryland converted all three chances.

Dealing with emotions: It would appear that some of Carolina's freshman were a bit taken aback by the intensity of the rivalry last season. Junior Bobby Rome knows that from experience; the Virginia native had no idea and he knows what a shock to the system it is to play in your first State game. "Hearing about it is way different than actually playing in it. When you're playing in it, you know a couple of things. You know the game is going to be physical, fast, and you know it's going to be a high-energy game," Rome said. "You'd better be ready to play because all records go out the window when it's time to play NC State. This is their Super Bowl, just like it's our Super Bowl, when we play them."

But Carolina isn't heading into this game the same way it did last season. In an oddly similar score, Carolina actually beat Maryland 16-13 at home the previous week to mark its third win of the season. It was Carolina looking to play spoiler as NC State needed two more wins to reach bowl eligibility, which was out of the question for Carolina by then. NC State had won three straight coming into the game. This season, Carolina is seeking a better bowl seeding and a possible (though unlikely) ACC title and NC State is not only seeking to play spoiler but also to gain bowl eligibility for themselves, needing to win out. Carolina is coming off of a disappointing loss instead of a win but just like last season, the Wolfpack has found its stride late.

Still, what has become a strong part of this team's identity this season is bouncing back from adversity. This team has done very well after losses; it went down to Miami after losing to Virginia Tech (and losing its starting quarterback), came back from a late deficit and won, 28-24. After the Virginia loss, Carolina took out its frustrations on a good Boston College squad, 45-24. While the wins are nice, what has been more important is the attitude of the players after losses. No matter what the outcome of a game is, Davis and his staff have used a term the marines use - FIDO (Forget It and Drive On). The highs have never been too high nor have the lows been low.

"I think that one of the real trademarks of your football team as it's growing is keeping things in perspective - not allowing the highs to get so high and the lows to get so low that it prevents you from bouncing back and being able to play the next week.," Davis said. "Whether it was a great win against Miami or a great win against Notre Dame or a disappointing loss to Virginia, I think if the coaching staff, I think it's all about the way in which you approach the day after the game when you talk about the film. Our players are starting to get smart enough football-intelligent wise to look at their own performance."

At The Game

Listening to the Tar Heel Sports Network at the game: WCHL 1360 is the local affiliate.

Parking/construction update: For the latest information, click here.

Pregame activities: Tar Heel Town will open at 9:00 AM on Saturday and the Countdown to Kickoff radio show will broadcast live there beginning at 10:00. The Old Well Walk will be at 9:45 and then the Marching Tar Heels will perform on the steps of Wilson Library at 11:00 before heading to the stadium. Then at 11:15, start making your way to Kenan Stadium and make sure you're in your seats early. For more information, see the new <"http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/unc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2008fanguide">2008 Fan Guide on TarHeelBlue.com.

Postgame activities: See the Fan Guide on TarHeelBlue.com for the latest information on postgame parking and activities.

Watching At Home

Turn down the sound: If you're watching at home while listening to the radio or over the computer via Carolina All-Access, there will inevitably be some delay. For the reason - and a possible solution - click here.

A full list of THSN affiliates can be found here.

Raycom coverage: The game will be the Raycom ACC Game of the Week and will be shown regionally. Bill Rosinski will handle play-by-play, Jeff Bostic will be the analyst and Scott Pryzwansky will be the sideline reporter. For a list of Raycom affiliates, click here.

Names To Know

Brooks Foster: The senior wide receiver may not have the numbers of Hakeem Nicks or even teammate Brandon Tate this season, but to say that he has been a steady option for Carolina would be an understatement. His season appeared to be at a turning point against Notre Dame. Brandon Tate went out early but Foster dropped the first two passes thrown his way. The rest of the game, he caught three of five passes thrown to him and one of the misses was the controversial catch or no-catch late in the game that would have iced it for Carolina. On that same drive, he had an 11-yard catch on 3rd and 3 to keep that potential clock-killing drive moving. He also had a first down catch to the Notre Dame 30-yard line that would help lead to Carolina's go-ahead touchdown. Then against Virginia, he made two catches to convert third downs.

In the last five games, Foster has been targeted 26 times and has caught 15 passes, nine for first downs and five to convert a third down. He came close against Georgia Tech, coming up with a huge 25-yard catch on 3rd and 26 to give Carolina a fourth and one, which it converted and changed the momentum of the game. But Boston College was quietly his "breakout" game, even if most might not have noticed it. He was targeted six times and caught all six balls for 52 yards. Four of those catches were for first downs and two were third-down conversions.

He caught two of five passes to him against Maryland and nearly gave Carolina a score that would have likely iced the game. After catching a 44-yard pass from Bobby Rome on a trick play in the third quarter, Carolina faced third and nine and Foster caught the pass with nothing between him and the end zone and slipped on the wet field. He was visibly disappointed. Carolina would miss the field goal try. Foster single-handedly got Carolina in scoring position twice, once on the Rome play and another time in the second quarter on a 32-yard rush on a reverse. Carolina did make the field goal that time. The Foster wrinkle to the running game has been around for the last two games as Foster has run for 53 yards on four carries (13.3 yards per carry). Foster has also been a very effective gunner on the punt team this season and has led it to be one of the best cover units in the league.

The senior wide receiver has been in the shadows for most of his Carolina career. In the last chance to watch him, Carolina fans should enjoy his route-running, downfield blocking and most of all, watch for him to fly down the field as a gunner on punt team and hope he gets a chance to lay a hit on someone.

Jordan Hemby: The 5-10 junior cornerback had a tough assignment last weekend - trying to cover Darius Heyward-Bey. Along with the linebackers and the rest of the secondary, they were often having to come up and make tackles when the Maryland running backs penetrated the line, leading to him notching eight tackles (five solo). Hemby had his bad moments - like a pass interference call that gave Maryland the ball at the Carolina 36-yard line and led to its first touchdown - but he also had his good moments. In fact, he forced Maryland's only turnover, knocking the ball away from backup quarterback Josh Portis at the Maryland 33-yard line.

The young cornerback is getting picked on a bit more than his teammate Kendric Burney and both he and Burney, like all other cornerbacks, have been left on an island quite a few times as the Tar Heels' pass rush has struggled to find consistency. But he has been a hard hitter, forcing two fumbles on the season. The first was against Notre Dame, which saved the game for the Tar Heels as the Irish were driving late. The second nearly saved the game against Maryland had the Tar Heels been able to capitalize. Hemby also had six tackles against Georgia Tech and helped contain that offense. But Hemby will likely continue to be targeted by the efficient Russell Wilson and the NC State receiving corps is getting better. The Carolina secondary was nearly the difference in the game last season (two picks returned for touchdowns) and with Hemby hitting his stride, the offense won't be able to pick on one side or the other.

Mark Paschal: The popular and hard-working Tar Heel senior linebacker "gets" this rivalry arguably more than any other player on the field. He grew up with it, has lived it and understands the importance of it. Paschal, along with the other seniors, has also been through a lot in his Carolina career and will likely be looking to end it in style. Even in the aftermath of the loss to Maryland in which he had ten tackles (four solo), he still recognized the importance of the NC State game coming up. "We've got State next week at home," Paschal said after the game. "I can guarantee you that not one guy on this team is going to look past, look forward to anything but playing State at home. They've had some good, close games this year so we look forward to them next week."

The senior has five games with double-digit tackles this season and has 30 tackles in the last three games. After beginning the season with 6.5 tackles for loss, he has none in the last three games. The senior leader does not take kindly to losses and even though this season has been a dream come true for him, he will be the first one there to remind his teammates that they aren't done yet.

Russell Wilson: The redshirt freshman quarterback has been one if the main reasons for the Wolfpack's resurgence, particularly offensively, this season. He is No. 2 in the league in passing efficiency, completing 55.2% of his passes for 1,270 yards, 12 touchdowns and just one interception. In fact, he has not thrown an interception in his last 175 attempts, second in school history behind Jamie Barnette's 179 straight in 1998. In his last six starts (all of which have been interception-free), he has completed 57.1% of his passes and has a 135.74 rating.

Wilson is the reigning ACC Rookie of the Week with his performance against Wake Forest, accounting for all three of NC State's touchdowns. He completed 16-of-33 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the Wolfpack's leading rusher, gaining 69 yards on 14 carries and a rushing touchdown, his third rushing touchdown of the year. He has now become the first quarterback since Phillip Rivers to throw multiple touchdown passes in four straight games.

"Wilson the quarterback is a great competitor," Davis said. "He's a terrific athlete, 175 throws without an interception speaks to his decision-making ability. His athleticism is extraordinarily good. They do a great job of getting him on the perimeter in situations that allow him to have run-pass options and he has a great arm."

Carolina's bread and butter all season long has been waiting for quarterbacks to make a mistake and capitalizing on it. Wilson faced one of the toughest pass defenses in the league in Wake Forest and did not throw one interception. Wilson also is the type of quarterback that has given Carolina trouble in the past; he can get outside the pocket and make plays with his legs.

Nate Irving: The NC State redshirt sophomore linebacker has been an absolute beast this season and his statistics don't even tell the full story of how much of an impact his presence has had. He began the year with 23 tackles (3.5 tackles for loss) in the first two games. He returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the game at Clemson, but the Wolfpack would go on to lose. He had another interception and 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over East Carolina. He hurt his ankle and missed the South Florida and Boston College games, both losses. He came back for the Florida State game but could not finish because of injury. He came back against Duke and notched ten tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. In the win over Wake Forest, he had another 11 tackles, 2.0 for loss and one sack, his first of the season. Despite his limited playing time, he is tied for the lead on the team in tackles for loss (8.0) and leads the team in interceptions with three. Last year against Carolina, he had three tackles (one solo) and 0.5 sacks.

"He can fly around. He's physical," Davis said. "All good linebackers are not one-dimensional. He's good in coverage. He makes plays at the point of attack but he makes plays in extended areas. When you're looking at linebackers, you're looking at guys that can play outside the box and he certainly does that."

Willie Young: The junior defensive end has been a force for the Wolfpack this season, leading the team in sacks with 4.5 and tied for first in tackles for loss with 8.0. He also leads the team in quarterback hurries with 21. He has two fumble recoveries and two passes defended, the only defensive lineman to have more than one pass defended. He had his best game of the year in a narrow loss to Florida State, notching 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. In the Wake Forest win, he had four tackles including one sack.

Last year against Carolina, Young had two tackles (one solo), one sack and four quarterback hurries. One quarterback hurry came on third down in the first half when Carolina was driving and forced to settle for a field goal; another hurry came on the interception after Carolina had taken the lead. The pick was returned to the Carolina 25-yard line and led to the go-ahead touchdown.

Lauren Brownlow is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly.