University of North Carolina Athletics
Can The Tar Heel Defense Slow Down Tech, Hamilton?
October 5, 1999 | Football
Oct. 5, 1999
ATLANTA (AP) - After a week off, the nation's top offense returns to the gridiron Saturday when No. 7 Georgia Tech plays host to North Carolina.
Georgia Tech (3-1, 1-1 ACC) leads all Division I schools with 43.5 points per game and 517 total yards per game.
Quarterback Joe Hamilton leads the explosive unit, completing 72 percent of his passes for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 244 yards and five scores.
The Heisman Award candidate tops the country in passing efficiency with a 202.4 rating and is also fourth in the nation in total offense, averaging 329.5 yards per game.
"We have the mentality that every time we touch the ball, we're going to get in the end zone," Hamilton said. "Whatever approach I can take, or whatever I can do to make that come true, I'm going to do it."
The Yellow Jackets, who have scored over 40 points in all of their games this season, last played on Sept. 30 when they beat Maryland 49-31.
Hamilton set a school record by throwing for 257 yards in the first half. He finished with 387 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another.
North Carolina (1-3, 0-3) will try to rebound for its poor start but it won't be easy. Its defense ranks 93rd in the nation and allows 409 yards and 30.8 points per game.
The Tar Heels are 0-3 in league play for the first time since losing all seven ACC games in 1989 when they went 1-10 overall.
Sophomore quarterback Ronald Curry is North Carolina's big weapon, accounting for 65.8 percent of the Tar Heels total yards. He has 191 yards rushing and 669 yards in the air. Curry, however, has been erratic, throwing 10 interceptions and just three touchdowns.
In last year's meeting between the schools, Hamilton completed just 14 passes for 303 yards and added a team-high 59 yards rushing to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 43-21 win in Kenan Stadium. It was Tech's first victory in Chapel Hill since 1945.
Eight of the last 13 meetings have been decided by seven points or less.
