North Carolina Notes vs. Wake Forest
November 8, 2003 | Football
Nov. 8, 2003
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The 42-34 Carolina victory was the first at home for the Tar Heels since a 19-10 win over SMU on Dec. 1, 2001. The defeat of Wake Forest snapped a school-record 10-game losing streak at Kenan Stadium. The 42 points scored by the Tar Heels were a season-high for a regulation game. Carolina scored 47 in a triple-overtime loss to Syracuse Sept. 6.
Freshman Ronnie McGill rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns. The 244 yards are the ninth-highest single-game total in school history and rank as the third most by a freshman. McGill's rushing total was the most for a Tar Heel since Natrone Means went for 249 against Maryland in 1992. McGill is the first freshman to rush for 100 yards since Willie Parker went for 158 against Maryland in 2000. McGill's 66-yard rush during the game is UNC's longest since Parker posted a 78-yard run against Maryland in 2001.
With three rushing touchdowns Saturday, freshman Ronnie McGill became the first Tar Heel to score three times in a game since Chesley Borders caught four touchdowns at Arizona State last year. He is the first Carolina player to score three rushing touchdowns since Leon Johnson versus NC State in 1996. McGill now has seven scores on the ground this season, which ranks as the most rushing scores by a Tar Heel since Jonathan Linton ran for 10 touchdowns in 1997.
With 147 yards passing Saturday, quarterback Darian Durant has now passed for 2,059 yards this season. He is the first Tar Heel to pass for over 2,000 yards in two seasons. Durant threw for 2,123 yards a year ago.
According to available records, the Tar Heels blocked three kicks for the first time in program history. Michael Waddell blocked a field goal and extra point to become the first Tar Heel to block two kicks in one game since Andre Purvis blocked a pair of punts against Tulane in 1993. Jonas Seawright added a first quarter field goal block for his third of the season. He also blocked extra points against Florida State and Arizona State. Waddell's first quarter field goal block was the first for a Tar Heel since Kevin Knight blocked a field goal at Florida State in 2002.
True freshman Shelton Bynum made his first career start at defensive tackle, giving the Tar Heels a pair of rookies in the middle of the defensive line. Isaiah Thomas also got the start. Bynum's spot became available when junior Chase Page shifted from tackle to end for the first time in his career. Twelve true freshmen have played for Carolina this season, with eight (Bynum, Thomas, Adarius Bowman, Melik Brown, Larry Edwards, John Hamlett, Mike Mason and Ronnie McGill) earning starts in 2003.
Carolina's 16-13 lead at the half marked just the second lead at the break for the Tar Heels this season. UNC led Syracuse, 27-14, at intermission in the second game of the season.
After turning the ball over seven times in its last two games, Carolina turned the ball over just once against the Demon Deacons and forced three fumbles. The plus-two differential in turnover margin is the best for the Tar Heels this season.
