University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Welcomes WCU For Senior Day
November 17, 2017 | Football
Carolina snapped a six-game losing streak last Thursday with a thrilling 34-31 win at Pitt. Anthony Ratliff-Williams became just the third FBS player since 1996 to throw for a touchdown, catch a touchdown pass and return a kickoff for a touchdown in the victory. The sophomore WR/KR also tied a school record with his second kickoff return TD of the year and currently leads the country in kickoff return yardage. Making his first career start, QB Nathan Elliott completed 20 of 31 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns as the Tar Heels won their fifth straight against the Panthers.
Western Carolina dropped to 7-4 on the year with a 35-33 home loss to Mercer last Saturday. The Catamounts are led by RB Detrez Newsome and QB Tyrie Adams. Newsome enters the game with 993 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Adams has thrown for 2,225 yards and 21 scores. WR Terryon Robinson has team highs of 60 catches for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns.Â
Saturday's game will be broadcast by ACC Network Extra and can be watched online at WatchESPN.com or through the ESPN app on mobile and streaming devices.
AT A GLANCERecords:Â North Carolina 2-8, Western Carolina 7-4
Rankings:Â Neither team is ranked.
TV: ACC Network Extra. Dave Weekley (play-by-play) and Stan Lewter (analyst) 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 | WCU Notes
Twitter: @TarHeelFootball, @CoachFedora | @WCU_FB
CAROLINA-WCU SERIES NOTES
• Carolina and WCU have never met in football.
• Saturday's contest between the Tar Heels and Catamounts is the first of a two-game series between the two programs. UNC and WCU will meet again next season on Nov. 17.
• Carolina and WCU are also set to meet in men's basketball this season, with that contest coming on Dec. 6 in Chapel Hill.Â
RATLIFF-WILLIAMS' RECORD DAY
• WR/KR Anthony Ratliff-Williams had a night to remember last Thursday at Pitt. The sophomore was responsible for three touchdowns - a 98-yard kickoff return on the game's opening kickoff, a 35-yard TD pass to Josh Cabrera in the second quarter and the game-winning receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter.
• Ratliff-Williams became just the second FBS player in 2017 to pass for a touchdown and return a kickoff for a touchdown, joining Penn State's Saquon Barkley. After adding the receiving touchdown, Ratliff-Williams became just the third FBS player since 1996 to do all three in the same game. Only D'Eriq King of Houston (2016) and Eric Page of Toledo (2010) had accomplished the feat in the last two decades prior to last Thursday.
• Ratliff-Williams now leads the country in kickoff return yardage with 836 yards on 30 returns. He currently ranks fourth in school history in the category, just 124 yards shy of the school record of 960 set by T.J. Thorpe in 2011.
• Ratliff-Williams was named ACC Specialist of the Week for the second time following his standout performance.
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