FB Notebook: Stephens Ready For First Career Start

October 24, 2002 | Football

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Oct. 24, 2002

By David Tinson and Kevin Best
UNC Athletic Communications

The injury-riddled Carolina football team is hoping to avoid its first three-game losing streak since starting the 2001 season 0-3. Both quarterback Darian Durant and starting defensive end Will Chapman were injured against Virginia and will not play against Wake Forest. Durant fractured his thumb and is expected to be out for at least six weeks. Chapman broke a bone in his wrist and will be re-evaulated after surgery on Friday.

Chapman is the third starting Tar Heel defensive lineman to miss a game due to injury. Defensive tackle Eric Davis was lost for the season after tearing his ACL in the season opener against Miami and defensive end Issac Mooring has missed the last four games because of broken bones in his right hand. Mooring may be able to play Saturday at Wake Forest. In addition, back-up defensive end Jermicus Banks did not play last week at Virginia because of a high ankle sprain.

C.J. Stephens, a junior from Gainesville, Fla., will replace Durant as UNC's starting QB, and head coach John Bunting has been pleased with what he has seen from Stephens in practice this week.

"I think our team has rallied around C.J. Stephens, which is no surprise to me," Bunting said. "I think he's handled it extremely well. He was excited about the opportunity. Of course, that's why he came to North Carolina -- to see if he could get an opportunity to play. He's certainly getting a great opportunity here. He has prepared well in the spring and was in a dead heat for a while with Darian Durant until Darian pulled away toward the end of summer training camp. I think he's ready to have a breakout game."

Stephens has appeared in three games this season and is 14-of-30 for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Stephens completed 9 of 15 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown after relieving the injured Durant last weekend at Virginia. Stephens transferred to Carolina from Florida, where he played in just one game.

"I was never sure how or when the opportunity would come but now that it is here I am ready to make every bit the most of it," Stephens said.

Carey Impressive In Career Debut:
Although he did not approach Derrick Fenner's school record for the most yards in the first game of a career, freshman tailback Mahlon Carey was impressive in his debut on Saturday against Virginia. Carey, a native of Mableton, Ga., rushed for 67 yards on 15 carries, an average of 4.5 yards per carry. That is the most yards by a Tar Heel in his first career game since Daniel Davis rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries against Indiana in 1999.

"I think our offensive line enjoyed blocking for him," Bunting said. "We had three running backs at the start of the season that we were counting on, along with the addition of (fullback) Madison (Hedgecock), but things have fallen on hard times for Andre' -- hopefully he'll get well -- and of course Jacque (Lewis) got injured. So we were kind of forced into the situation of playing Mahlon, but he was a very pleasant surprise. He's strong, he's tough and he drags some tacklers a couple of extra yards. For a freshman, he really saw things well for a guy playing his first Division I game."

While Carey was impressive running the ball, he was originally recruited to Carolina as either a running back or strong safety, and he could still make a move to the other side of the ball down the road. The Tar Heels already have some depth at tailback, and transfers Rikki Cook (Rutgers) and Chad Scott (Kentucky) will also battle for playing time next season. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels have little depth at safety, with DeFonte Coleman (senior), Dexter Reid (junior) and Chris Curry (sophomore) the only players who have seen significant playing time in 2002.

"It remains to be seen where he will play eventually, because he's strong and tough and extremely physical," Bunting said. "That's exactly what he brought to the game Saturday versus Virginia. No fear attitude, some strength, some burst."

Saturday Marks 99th Meeting Between Carolina and Wake:
North Carolina and Wake Forest will meet for the 99th time on Saturday, continuing the ACC's second-longest rivalry. Only North Carolina and Virginia (107 times) have met on more occasions that the Tar Heels and Deacons. Carolina leads the series with Wake Forest, 65-31-2 and has won 10 of the last 12 contests. However, Wake Forest has won two of the last three games.

Here's a look at college football's most played rivalries (entering 2002 season):

111 -- Minnesota-Wisconsin
110 -- Kansas-Missouri
108 -- Kansas-Nebraska
108 -- Texas-Texas A&M
106 -- North Carolina-Virginia
106 -- Miami (Ohio) -Cincinnati
105 -- Auburn-Georgia
105 -- Oregon-Oregon State
104 -- Stanford-California
104 -- Purdue-Indiana
103 -- Baylor-TCU
102 -- Army-Navy
101 -- Utah-Utah State
99 -- Clemson-South Carolina
99 -- Kansas-Kansas State
98 -- North Carolina-Wake Forest
98 -- Mississippi-Mississippi State

Curry To Get A Shot In Oakland?
There's been lots of talk about former Carolina quarterback Ronald Curry this week in Oakland. A broken left wrist has sidelined Raiders cornerback Phillip Buchanon, and Curry, drafted as a QB and a member of the Oakland practice squad, may get a chance to prove himself in a new position. Curry is working out at cornerback this week and also may get a shot returning punts, which he did for the Raiders in the preseason.

"Somebody's got to play corner," veteran safety Rod Woodson told the Sacramento Bee. "I don't know who it's going to be. But whoever it is better play well."

The Raiders are looking to rebound from consecutive losses after opening the season 4-0. Oakland plays at Kansas City on Sunday.