North Carolina Looks To Avoid A 0-2 Start As They Host Louisville
North Carolina will look to avoid a 0-2 start Saturday when they host Lamar Jackson and Louisville at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
Imagine what it felt like for North Carolina to lose to Georgia a year ago in their season opener. Well, that same feeling was felt in this seasons opener last Saturday as North Carolina hosted California.
Ross Bowers threw for 363 yards and four touchdowns in his first college start, helping California beat North Carolina 35-30 on Saturday in the Golden Bears' first game under Justin Wilcox. "according to http://theacc.com/news/2017/9/2/football-unc-falls-to-cal-in-season-opener.aspx?path=football
Bowers, a sophomore, had never thrown a pass in a college game and had to win a preseason battle for the starting job. But he shook off two interceptions and came up with several good throws to help Cal (1-0) win its first East Coast day game since 2012. "according to http://theacc.com/news/2017/9/2/football-unc-falls-to-cal-in-season-opener.aspx?path=football
Vic Wharton III had five catches for 156 yards for Cal, which trailed 17-7 in the second quarter. But a targeting penalty on UNC's Jalen Dalton extended a drive to set up Wharton's 67-yard score just before halftime, a game-changing sequence that helped Cal outscore UNC 28-7. "according to http://theacc.com/news/2017/9/2/football-unc-falls-to-cal-in-season-opener.aspx?path=football
Michael Carter scored twice for UNC (0-1), which started LSU graduate transfer Brandon Harris at quarterback but leaned more on redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt. "according to http://theacc.com/news/2017/9/2/football-unc-falls-to-cal-in-season-opener.aspx?path=football
The Tar Heels entered the offseason and preseason camp with a lot of questions on offense, most notably with the departure of No. 2 overall NFL draft pick Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. And this game showed that the Tar Heels are going to need a lot of work to look anything like the fast-paced and high-scoring unit of past years. "according to http://theacc.com/news/2017/9/2/football-unc-falls-to-cal-in-season-opener.aspx?path=football
As far as Louisville's last game went they had to overcome some mistakes to be able to beat Purdue.
Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and compiled 485 total yards helping No. 16 Louisville escape with a 35-28 victory over Purdue. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
The mistake-prone Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Jackson, of course, was the difference. He went 30 of 46 with 378 yards through the air while running 21 times for 107 yards. He also moved into the top five in school history on TD passes and yards rushing. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
And when Louisville (1-0) needed the defending Heisman Trophy winner to be at his best in the fourth quarter, he didn't disappoint. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Jackson hooked up with Dez Fitzpatrick on a 20-yard score with 9:01 remaining to give the Cardinals a 32-28 lead then drove them into field goal position on the ensuing possession to make it a seven-point game. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
"Our defense came through," Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. "They (Purdue) did a nice job executing their offense. We had a hard time stopping their outside guys." "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Purdue (0-1) couldn't rally in coach Jeff Brohm's debut, losing its eighth straight. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
"I thought we showed fight," Brohm said. "But unfortunately we came up short." "according to tohttp://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Louisville blew three scoring chances in the first half - losing two fumbles at the goal line and mismanaging the clock at the end of the half. The Boilermakers converted another fumble recovery in the third quarter into a touchdown and nearly forced a fourth fumble. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Louisville also was called for five false start penalties in the first 16 minutes, finished with nine and had another penalty for an illegal snap. Cornerback Jaire Alexander an All-American hopeful, got hurt on an ill-advised return off of a blocked field goal, costing the Cardinals 19 yards on a play that nearly resulted in yet another turnover. Alexander did not return. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Purdue took advantage of the miscues by building a 14-10 halftime lead, extending it to 21-13 in the third quarter and then retaking the lead on Elijah Sindelar's 14-yard TD pass to Jackson Anthrop with 10:48 left. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
But Jackson put it away by leading Louisville to back-to-back scores. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
THE TAKEAWAYS
Louisville: The victory shouldn't fool anyone. While the Cardinals pulled it out and Jackson put up Heisman-like numbers, the Cardinals must make a lot of improvement over the next two weeks to challenge defending national champion Clemson in the ACC. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Purdue: Brohm and the Boilermakers faced long odds but fought hard and played well enough to challenge a team expected to compete for a College Football Playoff spot. It's an encouraging start for the rebuilding program. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
The mistake-prone Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Jackson, of course, was the difference. He went 30 of 46 with 378 yards through the air while running 21 times for 107 yards. He also moved into the top five in school history on TD passes and yards rushing. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
And when Louisville (1-0) needed the defending Heisman Trophy winner to be at his best in the fourth quarter, he didn't disappoint. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Jackson hooked up with Dez Fitzpatrick on a 20-yard score with 9:01 remaining to give the Cardinals a 32-28 lead then drove them into field goal position on the ensuing possession to make it a seven-point game. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
"Our defense came through," Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. "They (Purdue) did a nice job executing their offense. We had a hard time stopping their outside guys." "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Purdue (0-1) couldn't rally in coach Jeff Brohm's debut, losing its eighth straight. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
"I thought we showed fight," Brohm said. "But unfortunately we came up short." "according to tohttp://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Just short. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Louisville blew three scoring chances in the first half - losing two fumbles at the goal line and mismanaging the clock at the end of the half. The Boilermakers converted another fumble recovery in the third quarter into a touchdown and nearly forced a fourth fumble. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Louisville also was called for five false start penalties in the first 16 minutes, finished with nine and had another penalty for an illegal snap. Cornerback Jaire Alexander an All-American hopeful, got hurt on an ill-advised return off of a blocked field goal, costing the Cardinals 19 yards on a play that nearly resulted in yet another turnover. Alexander did not return. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Purdue took advantage of the miscues by building a 14-10 halftime lead, extending it to 21-13 in the third quarter and then retaking the lead on Elijah Sindelar's 14-yard TD pass to Jackson Anthrop with 10:48 left. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
But Jackson put it away by leading Louisville to back-to-back scores. "according to http://www.gocards.com/news/2017/9/3/football-no-16-louisville-overcomes-mistakes-to-beat-purdue.aspx?path=football
Will Lamar Jackson and Louisville be able to avoid mistakes? Including fumbles, being called for false starts as well as miss managing the clock? Will North Carolina be able to get their first win of the season and avoid going 0-2 to start the 2017 season?
Kick-off is set for 12 pm. The game will be televised on ABC/ ESPN/ESPN2. "according to http://www.gocards.com/schedule.aspx?path=football