North Carolina's Tough Road Continues As #22 Notre Dame Visits Chapel Hill
Every other Notre Dame sport is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference however their team on the grid iron is independent.
Notre Dame will travel to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina Saturday at Kenan Memorial Stadium and for North Carolina this season has been anything but successful so far as they have a record of 1-4 while they're 0-3 in the ACC Coastal Division heading into this game with Notre Dame.
Carolina steps out of conference for the third time this season when the Tar Heels host FBS independent Notre Dame Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Kenan Stadium. The meeting, which is the first in the series since 2014, is part of an ongoing arrangement between Notre Dame and the Atlantic Coast Conference which sees the Fighting Irish play five league opponents each season. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/6/football-carolina-hosts-no-21-notre-dame-saturday.aspx
UNC dropped to 1-4 on the year with a 33-7 loss at Georgia Tech last weekend in Atlanta. The Tar Heels were held to a season-low 247 yards in the defeat. Sophomore Jordon Brown led Carolina in both rushing and receiving with 41 yards and a score on the ground and nine catches for a career-high 57 receiving yards.
Notre Dame rushed out to a 45-14 halftime lead and beat Miami (Ohio) 52-17 last Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish improved to 4-1 on the season and were led by Josh Adams' 159 rushing yards and three passing touchdowns from Brandon Wimbush.
Saturday's game will be broadcast by ABC.
AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 1-4, Notre Dame 4-1
Rankings: Notre Dame is ranked No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the coaches poll.
TV: ABC. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst) and Allison Williams (sideline) have the call.
Radio: Tarheel 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| ND Notes
Twitter: @ Tarheel Football , @ Coach Feodora | @NDFootballAccording to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/6/football-carolina-hosts-no-21-notre-dame-saturday.aspx
CAROLINA-NOTRE DAME SERIES NOTES/CONNECTIONS
• North Carolina and Notre Dame are meeting for the 20th time in a series that began in 1949.
• Notre Dame leads the series 17-2-0. Both Carolina victories occurred in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels scored a 12-7 decision in 1960 and beat the Fighting Irish 29-24 in 2008.
• The last meeting in the series was a memorable, high-scoring affair that saw Notre Dame hang on for a 50-43 victory. The 93 combined points were the most in the history of the series and the most combined points ever in a game at Notre Dame Stadium (built in 1930).
• In the previous 19 meetings, Notre Dame has been ranked in 12 of those. The Irish was ranked No. 1 in the country in three of the previous meetings and in the top 10 on eight occasions.
• North Carolina faced Notre Dame every season from 1949 to 1956 and 12 times between 1949 and 1962. Saturday will be the third meeting since 2006.
• In the most recent meeting in Chapel HIll in 2008, QB Cameron Sexton scored on a leaping 4-yard keeper to start the fourth quarter and Quan Sturdivant had the momentum-changing 32-yard interception return to help the No. 22 Tar Heels beat the Fighting Irish 29-24. Notre Dame reached the North Carolina 7-yard line in the final seconds before officials ruled - after a review - that receiver Michael Floyd fumbled the ball in what appeared to be a frantic attempted lateral. Trimane Goddard recovered, giving the ball back to North Carolina for a joyous kneel-down with 3 seconds left. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/6/football-carolina-hosts-no-21-notre-dame-saturday.aspx
• OT Charlie Heck'sfather Andy played at Notre Dame was a co-captain of the 1988 national championship team in South Bend. Andy Heck spent 12 seasons in the NFL as a player and is now the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/6/football-carolina-hosts-no-21-notre-dame-saturday.aspx
TAR HEELS IN THE ACC TOP 10
Carolina features a number of players on the ACC statistical top 10 charts through five weeks. They are:
• Chazz Surratt- ninth in passing yards per game, eighth in pass efficiency, 10th in total offense
• Anthony -Radcliff Williams- second in kick return average, third in all purpose yards per game
Tom Sheldon- third in punting
• Freeman Jones- 10th in field goals per game, tied for first in PAT percentage
• Cole Holcomb - fourth in tackles per game, tied for third in total tackles
• K.J. Sails- tied for eighth in pass breakups per game
"according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/10/6/football-carolina-hosts-no-21-notre-dame-saturday.aspx
As for North Carolina's last game, they lost to Georgia Tech.
There is very little good coming out of this season so far for Larry Fedora and North Carolina and if you didn't think it could get any worse for the team in Chapel Hill think again.
North Carolina was dealt their fourth loss of the season at Bobby Dodd Stadium at the hand of Georgia Tech Saturday.
Georgia Tech played keep-away against North Carolina, dominating the clock with its ball-control offense, and KirVonte Benson scored on a 63-yard run as the Yellow Jackets beat the Tar Heels 33-7 on Saturday. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
Georgia Tech (3-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) had scoring drives of 18 and 17 plays in the first half to wear down short-handed North Carolina (1-4, 0-3). "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
TaQuon Marshall ran for 137 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown run, and threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Ricky Jeune. Benson added 130 yards rushing. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
Georgia Tech ran 65 plays, compared to 58 for North Carolina, and held the all for more than 38 minutes. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
The Tar Heels have lost 13 players, including top wide receiver Austin Proehl to season-ending injuries. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
North Carolina avoided being shut out when Jordan Brown scored on an 8-yard run with 5:05 remaining. The touchdown was set up by Chazz Suratt's 34-yard pass to Jordan Cunningham. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
It was a dramatic departure from recent shootouts in the series. North Carolina averaged 44.7 points in winning the last three games against Georgia Tech. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
The Yellow Jackets held the ball for 18 plays and 8 minutes, 54 seconds on a 90-yard touchdown drive capped by Marshall's 5-yard run in the first quarter.
It was Georgia Tech's longest touchdown drive since 2012. The Yellow Jackets then added a 17-play, 74-yard drive in the second quarter that ended with a 21-yard field goal by Shawn Davis. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
It marked the first time in Paul Johnson's 10 seasons as Georgia Tech's coach the Yellow Jackets had two scoring drives of at least 17 plays in a game. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
Georgia Tech, which lost four fumbles in last week's 35-17 win over Pittsburgh, had two more lost fumbles by Marshall and Benson. One play after Marshall's fumble, A.J. Gray had the first of his two interceptions to give possession back to the Yellow Jackets. Benson then broke free for his 63-yard touchdown run. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
Benson fumbled at the goal line late in the third quarter. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
North Carolina's Freeman Jones was wide left on a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter and again was left on a 52-yard attempt to end the half. Entering the game, Jones had made three of four field goal attempts, but none longer than 39 yards. He has missed each of his three attempts this season from 40 yards or longer. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
Georgia Tech backup quarterback Matthew Jordan had a 5-yard scoring run with less than 2 minutes remaining. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
THE TAKEAWAY
North Carolina: The Tar Heels offense, so high-powered in wins over Georgia Tech the last three years, showed the effects of the latest string of season-ending injuries. In addition to Proehl, defensive tackle Tyler Powell, tight end Carl Tucker and receiver Rontavius Groves were declared out for the season this week. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
Georgia Tech: The productive spread-option attack and its emphasis on the run grabs the headlines but the Yellow Jackets are also winning with defense this season. Even though the Tar Heels have lost some key playmakers, it was a strong showing by the defense, which was led by Gray's two interceptions. Defense could be the difference in Georgia Tech's hopes in the ACC Coastal Division. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2017/9/30/football-yellow-jackets-down-tar-heels-33-7.aspx
As for Notre Dame, They won their last game against Miami of Ohio.
The No. 22 nationally ranked University of Notre Dame football squad (4-1) secured win No. 900 in program history Saturday night after its dominant 52-17 victory over the visiting Miami RedHawks (2-3). "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
The Irish offense struck early and often, tallying 45 points in the first half, which marked the most in the opening half during the Brian Kelly era. In addition, the 35-point victory was Notre Dame's third straight of 20 or more points for the first time since 2005. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
How It Happened
Both sides of the football got off to a hot start that resulted in a 14-0 Irish lead in the first 3:30 of the game. On just the second play, Josh Adams took it 72 yards to the end-zone, marking his fourth rush this season of 60+ yards. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
Two series later, Adams was at it again, this time bursting a 53-yard touchdown carry to put Notre Dame up 21-7. With his second touchdown, Adams boasted five carries for 151 yards, setting a new career best for fewest carries to 100+ yards. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
The defense also played a major role in the first quarter, forcing two turnovers via Greer Martini's first career interception and Jerry Tiller's first career forced fumble. Notre Dame converted both said turnovers into 14 points, first with a Brandon Wimbush one-yard touchdown run, followed later by a seven-yard touchdown reception by Chase Claypool. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
All said and done, the Irish put 28 points on the board in the first quarter, which was the most in a single period since Sept. 3, 2005. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
In the second quarter, Notre Dame struck twice through the air in addition to a 43-yard field goal. First, Equanimeous St. Brown scored his second touchdown of the year, scoring on a 14-yard reception from Wimbush. Then, with 37 seconds remaining in the half, Miles Boykin hauled in his first touchdown reception of the season, covering 54 yards to put the Irish up 45-14. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
The Blue and Gold tacked on one more touchdown with eight-minutes left in the fourth quarter as Deon McIntosh notched a career-long 26-yard carry, bringing the game to its final score of 52-17. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
Wimbush finished 7-of-18 for 119 yards with three touchdowns while Adams led the ground attack with 159 yards, two touchdowns, via eight carries. All-together, the Irish offense mustered 503 yards, including 333 total rushing yards. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/093017aaa.html
Will North Carolina get back in the win column or be dealt their fifth loss of the season? Last Will Notre Dame route North Carolina like they did Miami Of Ohio?
Kick-off is set for 3:30pm. The game will be televised on ABC. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/nd-m-footbl-sched.html