University of North Carolina Athletics
Football Prepares for Wake Forest
June 21, 1999 | Football
Oct. 19, 1998
THE MATCHUP
TAR HEELS & DEMON DEACONS
LAST YEAR IN CHAPEL HILL
LAST TIME IN WINSTON-SALEM
RECAPPING PITTSBURGH
Carolina spotted Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead, but then outscored the Panthers 29-7 the rest of the game for an impressive 29-10 win at Kenan Stadium. Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban had 13 tackles, including two quarterback sacks for 25 yards and two more tackles for losses of four yards. He tackled Pittsburgh quarterback Matt Lytle in the end zone for a safety less than a minute into the third quarter to give Carolina an 8-3 lead. Oscar Davenport threw for 175 yards and a touchdown and had a 14-yard scramble for his longest rushing play of the season.
Tailback Rufus Brown gained 60 yards on 16 carries, including a 21-yard run. That run was the longest this season by a Tar Heel other than quarterback Ronald Curry. The previous long run by a tailback was Ravon Andersons 14-yard run against Georgia Tech. Browns 60-yard game was the top figure by a Tar Heel back this season. Wide receiver Na Brown caught seven passes for 111 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave Carolina a 15-3 lead. It was Browns second 100-yard game of the season and third in his career. He passed Octavus Barnes to move into third place in Carolina history in career receptions. Brown has 133 collegiate catches.
Cornerback Steve Fisher had an interception and two pass breakups. It was the second interception of Fishers career. Running back Ronnie Robinson scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was Robinsons first career score. Fullback Deon Dyer capped the scoring with a 9-yard run. The score was his first rushing touchdown of the season and third score in his career. He had a 31-yard touchdown run against Virginia in 1997 and a 12-yard touchdown reception against Clemson earlier this year.
Ekubans safety was the first by a Tar Heel since Brian Simmons tackled Maryland quarterback Brian Cummings in the end zone in 1997. Brian Schmitz had a 59-yard punt and averaged 42.8 yards on six kicks. Carolina wide receiver Danny Davis blocked a punt in the fourth quarter. Steve Fisher recovered the punt and set up a UNC touchdown drive. The punt was the first blocked punt by Carolina this season. Fisher also recovered a blocked punt in 1997 against Wake Forest.
INJURY UPDATE (updated after Monday practice, Oct. 19)
Offensive guard Joe Ellison fractured his left fibula against Clemson and re-injured the leg in pre-practice warm-ups the week of the Pittsburgh game. He did not play against Pittsburgh, but returned to practice last week. He is doubtful for Wake Forest.
Place-kicker Josh McGee sprained his right anterior cruciate ligament (non-kicking leg) on Monday, October 12th in a touch football game. He was able to kick short field goals two days later and is probable for the Wake Forest game. He will likely need surgery after the season to repair the injury. He is questionable for the Wake Forest game.
Centers Cam Holland and Ryan Carfley are both nursing injuries. Holland has a foot injury that caused him to miss his start against Pittsburgh. However, Carfley sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee early in the game and Holland played the rest of the contest at center. Carfley did not practice during the open date week, but is questionable to return to the lineup for Wake Forest.
Tailback/kickoff returner Tyrell Godwin sprained his right knee returning a kickoff against Pittsburgh. He had a significant amount of fluid drained from his knee on October 12th, but was not able to practice last week. He is doubtful for the game in Winston-Salem. Wide receiver Jason Peace tore his left anterior cruciate ligament on September 16th. The injury was a non-contact injury during practice. Peace is out for the season and will also not play in the spring.
Tight end Alge Crumpler, defensive back Nathan Sutton and offensive lineman Bryant Malloy are out for the season due to knee injuries. Crumpler and Sutton suffered their injuries in spring drills; Malloy was injured just prior to the start of the season. Tight end Joey Walters (wrist) is out for the season. Offensive tackle Robert Nixons career is over due to shoulder and ankle injuries.
TEAM NOTES
Carolina has committed 14 turnovers and forced nine. UNC has been intercepted six times and lost eight fumbles. The opposition has turned those turnovers into 51 points. Stanford converted four turnovers for 20 points (two touchdowns and two field goals). Georgia Tech cashed in two of four turnovers for 10 points (one touchdown and one field goal). Clemson returned an interception for a score and converted a fumble deep in UNC territory into another touchdown. Pittsburgh returned an interception for a touchdown that was called back because of a Panther penalty, but Pittsburgh scored a touchdown five plays later.
Carolina's offense has run 57 fewer plays than the opposition. UNC has run 314 plays; the opponents have run 371. The Tar Heels are averaging 0.23 more yards per play than their opponents. Carolina is averaging 4.71 yards per play and the opponents are averaging 4.48 yards per play.
Through five games, Carolina is averaging just over six fewer minutes time of possession than the opponents are. The Tar Heels are averaging 26:56 time of possession. The opponents have had the ball an average of 33:03. In the second half thus far, Carolina has had the ball only 59:48 out of 150 minutes (40 percent).
OSCAR DAVENPORT
Started against Pittsburgh and completed 13 of 20 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. Threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Na Brown in the third quarter. It was his third TD pass of the season and 12th of his career.
Completed 19 of 37 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns against Clemson. The 37 pass attempts were the second most in his career. The 19 pass completions were the fourth-highest total in his career. The 234 yards against Clemson marked the third time in his career he had thrown for more than 200 yards in a game. Last year, he had a career-high 360 yards at Georgia Tech and 281 yards at Maryland.
Davenport is now 7-2 as a starting quarterback at Carolina. The only losses are against Florida State in 1997 (when he was knocked out of action in the third quarter with a fracture/dislocation of his right ankle) and Miami in 1998 (when he injured his left knee on the fourth play of the game).
Is now 12th in school history in pass completions with 185. Has completed 185 passes in 300 attempts, a percentage of .617. That is the highest percentage in school history for any player with at least 200 attempts. Davenport moved past Jonathan Hall (182) and Bill Paschall (176) into 12th place in Carolina history in completions. Junior Edge is 11th with 193.
RONALD CURRY
Suffered a pinched nerve in his left shoulder against Clemson. Played just two series against the Tigers due to the injury. He did not complete a pass in three attempts and rushed once for five yards. Continues to lead the Tar Heels in total offense at 151.2 yards per game.
Has rushed for two touchdowns and thrown three TD passes. Leads the team in rushing with 202 of Carolinas 500 rushing yards. The last time a Carolina quarterback led the squad in rushing was Gayle Bomar in 1968. Bomar rushed for 495 yards in 10 games. Bomars sons, David and J.P., are currently members of the UNC football team. The last time a UNC quarterback compiled more than 100 rushing yards in an entire season was in 1994. Jason Stanicek rushed for 281 yards that year. The last two players to lead the team in rushing and passing yards in the same season are Gayle Bomar (1967 and 1968) and Charlie Justice (1946, 1947 and 1948).
Completed 19 of 34 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against Stanford. He also had a team-high 66 rushing yards on 13 carries. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Week for his play against the Cardinal. Against Stanford, Curry threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Na Brown and a 19-yard scoring pass to Kory Bailey and scored himself on an 8-yard run. The 69-yard pass cut Stanfords lead to 13-10, the 8-yard run in the fourth quarter evened the game at 27-27, and the 19-yard pass to Bailey tied the score at 34-34.
Set Carolina freshman records against Stanford for most total offense yards in a game (370), most passing yards in a game (304), most completions (19), most total offense plays (47) and longest touchdown pass (69 yards).
The 69-yard pass to Na Brown equaled the 19th-longest pass (all of them for touchdowns) in Carolina history. It is the longest by a freshman quarterback.
The 304 yards passing marked the 11th-highest figure in Carolina history by any player and is the 12th 300-yard passing game by a Tar Heel. (It was the third loss by Carolina in a game in which a player threw for 300 yards; all three losses were the three-lowest 300-yard figures).
The 370 yards of total offense marked the fourth-highest total offense figure in school history. The only three players with more total offense yards in a single game were: Mark Maye (420 yards vs. Georgia Tech, 1987), Gayle Bomar (416 yards vs. Wake Forest, 1968) and Chris Keldorf (374 yards vs. Texas Christian, 1997).
The previous freshman records are as follows: total offense yards (Mike Thomas, 318 yards vs. Duke, 1992); total offense plays (44 by Chuck Sharpe vs. Wake Forest, 1978); passing yards (299 by Mike Thomas vs. Duke, 1992); pass completions (15 by Todd Burnett vs. Virginia, 1988).
KORY BAILEY
Leads the team with three touchdowns (two by reception and one by kickoff return).
Is fourth in the ACC in punt returns and 12th in all-purpose yards. Key performer in Carolinas win over Pittsburgh. Amassed 126 all-purpose yards against the Panthers. Had four catches for 47 yards, four punt returns for 31 yards and two kickoff returns for 42 yards. Set up Carolinas fourth-quarter touchdown that gave UNC a 22-10 lead with a 33-yard reception off a screen pass. The play came on a 3rd-and-5 situation and gave the Tar Heels 1st-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 2-yard line.
Caught a 20-yard TD pass from Oscar Davenport against Clemson. Had four receptions for 50 yards against the Tigers. Moved into the starting lineup (in three wideout sets) after the season-ending injury to Jason Peace.
Made his first college catch against Miami and added two receptions for 22 yards against Stanford. With 3:20 to play in the fourth quarter, Bailey made a sensational, over-the-shoulder, 19-yard catch for a touchdown in the back left corner of the end zone. That catch, on a fourth-and-5 play, tied the game at 34-34. Made a 45-yard catch against Georgia Tech to set up Carolinas first score. Went up between two defenders and with full extension came down with the catch.
Leads the team in all-purpose yards with 446 (175 receiving, 119 on punt returns and 152 on kickoff returns). Opened the second half against Georgia Tech with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The return tied the sixth-longest return in UNC history and was the first kickoff return by a Tar Heel in Kenan Stadium since Eric Blount returned both a punt and a kickoff for scores against William and Mary in 1991.
EBENEZER EKUBAN
Over the last two weeks, has 29 tackles, a safety caused, a fumble caused and a blocked field goal. The 29 tackles include eight tackles for losses, four of which were quarterback sacks. Has a team-high 13 tackles for losses of 74 yards and five sacks for 56 yards.
Had 13 tackles, including two quarterback sacks for 25 yards and two more tackles for losses for four yards, against Pittsburgh. Tackled quarterback Matt Lytle in the end zone for a third-quarter safety. Named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play against Clemson. He made 16 tackles, 12 of which were primary stops, including four for losses of 28 yards. He had two quarterback sacks for 25 yards, caused a fumble and blocked a field goal attempt. Is third on the team in tackles and first among defensive linemen with 57.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Carolina is second in the country in kickoff returns (28.3 yards per return with two touchdowns), 21st nationally in net punting (38.4 yards per punt) and 25th in the nation in punt returns (12.1 yards per return). Carolina has returned kickoffs for touchdowns in two games this year. It marks the first time in UNC history that the Tar Heels have returned at least two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season. Tyrell Godwin had a 100-yard return at Stanford and Kory Bailey scored on a 95-yard return against Georgia Tech.
Brian Schmitz has averaged at least 40 yards per punt in each of the first five games and averaged at least 45 yards in three of the five. Schmitz leads the ACC and is 11th in the country in punting at 44.8 yards per kick.
NA BROWN
Moved into third place in Carolina history in receptions with 133. The only UNC players with more catches are wide receiver Corey Holliday (155) and tailback Leon Johnson (151).
Needs 23 catches in the final six regular-season games (3.8 per game) to break the UNC career receptions record. Brown has 1,526 receiving yards, the sixth-highest figure in school history.
Had a season-high seven receptions for 111 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown, against Pittsburgh. The 44-yard score gave Carolina a 15-3 lead in the third quarter. It was the second 100-yard game for Brown this year and the third of his career.
Came into the season without a career reception longer than 40 yards and already has touchdown catches of 69 and 44 yards in the first five games.
Caught six passes for 71 yards against Clemson. Caught six passes for 139 yards at Stanford. The 139 yards are the second-highest figure in his career. Last year, he made nine receptions for 145 yards at Texas Christian.
Had a 69-yard touchdown catch at Stanford. That is the longest reception in Browns career and the 19th-longest in Carolina history. His previous longest catch was a 40-yard play against Duke in 1996 (from tailback Leon Johnson).
L.C. STEVENS
Only two players in Carolina history have more receiving yardage than Stevens. He is third with 1,752 yards. Corey Holliday (2,447) and Octavus Barnes (2,398) and are the only UNC players with more receiving yards. Stevens has 11 receptions this year. He is the eighth player in Tar Heel history to record 100 or more receptions in a career. Stevens is tied with College Football Hall-of-Famer Art Weiner for sixth place at UNC with 106 catches. Earl Winfield is fifth with 107. Sprained his left knee in the fourth quarter at Stanford and did not play against Georgia Tech. Returned to action against Clemson and had three catches for 36 yards.
Caught four passes for 74 yards at Stanford, including a remarkable, 37-yard grab in the fourth quarter. Stevens made the catch despite being double-covered. The play began at Carolinas own 2-yard line with UNC trailing in the fourth quarter by seven points. The catch started a drive that ended with a game-tying touchdown pass by Ronald Curry to Kory Bailey.
JOSH MCGEE
Is five for six in field goals this season and 26 for 39 in his career (66.7 percent).
Is tied for 13th place in Carolina history in career scoring with 162 points.
Is tied with tailback Ethan Horton. McGee is sixth in UNC scoring by a place-kicker.
BRANDON SPOON
Leads the ACC in tackler per game with 15.2 hits per game. Has 76 tackles in the first five contests. He had a career-high 20 hits against Miami (Ohio) and led all UNC tackles for the second straight game with 16 against Stanford. Spoon also had a team-high 12 primary stops against Georgia Tech.
Is second on the team in sacks with four for 29 yards. Had his first two-sack game against Clemson. He had a 5-yard sack in the first half and a 7-yard sack early in the fourth quarter. Spoon played three quarters against the Tigers with a broken nose. Spoon has 76 tackles in five games. Last year, he had 65 tackles in 11 tackles as the top reserve linebacker. Spoon has four sacks this year and seven and one-half in his career.
TYRELL GODWIN
Tied the NCAA record and set the UNC record for longest kickoff return when he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score against Stanford. Godwins return cut a 27-13 deficit in half with the return. Godwin is the fourth player in ACC history to return a kickoff 100 yards. The others include: Marylands Ken Ambrusko vs. Navy in 1964, Dukes Greg Boone vs. Tennessee in 1982, and Dukes Leroy Gallman vs. Tennessee in 1993.
The previous longest kickoff return in UNC history was a 98-yarder by Delbert Powell vs. Wake Forest on Oct. 30, 1976. The 100-yard kickoff return was the first for a touchdown by a Tar Heel since Leon Johnson had a 94-yard return at Wake Forest in 1996. Godwin began the season at cornerback, but is now at tailback, the position he originally came to UNC to play. Godwin made his first career reception against Stanford (for -2 yards). He had his first collegiate rushing attempt for three yards against Tech. Sprained the right medial collateral ligament (knee) returning a kickoff against Pittsburgh. He is doubtful for the Wake Forest game.
ROOKIE AT QUARTERBACK
True freshman Ronald Curry made his first collegiate start at Stanford. Curry relieved an injured Oscar Davenport on the fifth play of Carolinas initial possession in the 1998 opener against Miami (Ohio). Curry completed 11 of 22 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions against the RedHawks. He tossed a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Allen Mogridge late in the first half that gave Carolina a 10-0 advantage.
Curry became the first Tar Heel quarterback to play as a true freshman since Jason Stanicek and Mike Thomas both played as true freshmen in 1991. Thomas played in the season opener against Cincinnati and the fourth game against William and Mary, but injured his thumb against the Tribe. He sat out the rest of that season and received a medical red-shirt from the NCAA.
Curry's start at Stanford was the first start at quarterback by a UNC true freshman since Staniceks start against the Blue Devils on Nov. 23, 1991.
BLY SETS UNC, TIES ACC INTERCEPTION MARK
Junior cornerback Dre Bly tied the alltime Atlantic Coast Conference record for interceptions when he picked off a pass in the first quarter of the season opener against Miami (Ohio).
The over-the-shoulder theft was Blys 17th in 24 regular-season games. He also had two in the 1997 Gator Bowl, but those do not count toward his official totals. Bly broke the UNC record which he shared with Lou Angelo (1970-72). Five other players picked off 17 passes in ACC history. They include Tom Brown of Maryland (1960-62), Ronnie Burgess of Wake Forest (1981-84), A.J. Greene of Wake Forest (1985-88), Terry Kinard of Clemson (1978-81) and Keith McMeans of Virginia (1987-90).
BLY AMONG COLLEGE FOOTBALLS ELITE
Dre Bly is the only football player in Carolina football history and one of five in ACC history to earn first-team consensus All-America honors in two different seasons. Bly earned consensus honors in 1996 and 1997. The other ACC players to achieve that are Florida States linebacker Marvin Jones in 1991-92 (although FSU was not a member of the ACC in 1991), the Seminoles linebacker Derrick Brooks in 1993-94, Clemsons safety Terry Kinard in 1981-82 and N.C. State center Jim Richter in 1978-79.
Since 1950, only four players in all of Division I college football have earned consensus All-America honors three times. Bly could become the fifth player in the second half of the century to accomplish the feat. The four players to earn three-time consensus All-America honors since 1950 are UCLA linebacker Jerry Robinson, UCLA safety Kenny Easley, Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green and Georgia tailback Herschel Walker.
AFCA All-America Team
Cornerback Dre Bly was named to the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Players to Watch All-America Team. Florida State wide receiver Peter Warrick and Virginia safety Anthony Poindexter were the only other ACC players named to the team.
CAROLINA MAKES PERFECT TEAM
Sports Illustrated named Carolinas defensive tackles on its Perfect Team in its August 31, 1998 college football preview issue. Sports Illustrated listed one school at each position to form its perfect team. The criteria given was college performance over the past 10 years. Carolinas defensive tackles in that period of time include Marcus Jones, Andre Purvis, Rick Terry, Vonnie Holliday, Nate Hobgood-Chittick, Marcus Dow and Russell Davis. Jones was a first-team All-America and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 1995. Holliday was a first-round NFL draft pick by Green Bay last year, one season after Terry was a second-round selection by the Jets. Purvis is in his second year with Cincinnati and Hobgood-Chittick made the New York Giants camp this season as a free agent signee.
The other teams that comprised SIs Perfect Team include: Ohio State (tailbacks), Notre Dame (fullbacks), Washington State (quarterbacks), Florida (wide receivers), Washington (tight ends), Nebraska (offensive line), Florida State (defensive ends), Colorado (linebackers), Kansas State (cornerbacks) and UCLA (safeties).
CAREER STARTS
Senior wide receiver L.C. Stevens started 26 consecutive games over the last three seasons prior to not playing against Georgia Tech due to an injured left knee. Stevens has made 31 career starts (including bowl games). Stevens is the only current player on offense to have started every game in 1996 and 1997.
Wide receiver Na Brown now has the longest consecutive starts streak on offense with 17 games. Brown started all 12 games (including the Gator Bowl) last year and the first five games in 1998. Brown also started the first eight games in 1996, and played in, but did not start, the final four games in 1996 due to a sprained ankle. Cornerback Dre Bly is now the only Tar Heel who has started every game since the start of the 1996 season.
Defensively, the only players with career starts prior to this season are end Mike Pringley (now with 30 career starts), cornerback Dre Bly (29), tackle Russell Davis (23), linebacker Keith Newman (18) and safety Jomo Legins (9).
Among the players on the two-deep lineup there are two true freshmen (wide receiver Bosley Allen and quarterback Ronald Curry) and eight red-shirt freshmen (tailback Rufus Brown, fullback Anthony Saunders, wide receiver Danny Davis, wide receiver Kory Bailey, linebacker Quincy Monk, cornerback Anthony Anderson, safety Billy-Dee Greenwood and cornerback Errol Hood).
Last year, four true freshmen played for UNC. They were kick returner Tyrell Godwin, linebackers Sedrick Hodge and Merceda Perry and tailback Domonique Williams.
DAVENPORT NOMINATED FOR UNITAS AWARD
Senior Oscar Davenport is one of 13 players in the country nominated for the Johnny Unitas Award, given to the nations best quarterback. Joining Davenport on the list are: Michael Bishop (Kansas State), Dauntae Culpepper (Central Florida), Joe Germaine (Ohio State), Brock Huard (Washington), Corby Jones (Missouri), Shawn King (Tulane), Brian Kuklick (Wake Forest), Graham Leigh (New Mexico), Donovan McNabb (Syracuse), Cade McNown (UCLA), Brandon Stewart (Texas A&M) and Herb Tyler (LSU). Huard is the older brother of Carolina freshman quarterback Luke Huard.
