University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina Notes Vs. Syracuse
September 6, 2003 | Football
Sept. 6, 2003
Carolina quarterback Darian Durant was 31-for-44 for 316 yards and four touchdown passes. With the four scores, Durant now has 37 touchdown tosses in his career, eclipsing Chris Keldorf for the all-time mark. Durant has set the record in just 12 career starts. He also rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown. Durant also tied the school record for completions in a game with 31. Kevin Anthony also had 31 completions against LSU in 1985. Durant now has 338 career completions to rank third all-time behind Jason Stanicek and Ronald Curry. His 4,427 career passing yards now rank third behind this same duo. He now has 4,806 career yards of total offense to rank fourth all-time.
Freshman receiver Mike Mason and junior tight end John Dunn both caught their first career touchdown passes from Durant. Dunn put the Tar Heels on the board with a 10-yard score in the first quarter, while Mason found the end zone on a 44-yard play in the second quarter.
With two field goals Saturday, place kicker Dan Orner now has five field goals over the last two years against Syracuse. A year ago, Orner tied an NCAA record with three kicks of over 50 yards against the Orangemen.
Senior receiver Brandon Russell caught five passes for 89 yards and a score, establishing a career-high for receptions in a game. His touchdown grab was his first since 2001.
Tailback Ronnie McGill's second quarter touchdown pass to Russell was the first for Carolina by a non-quarterback since Leon Johnson found Marcus Wall for a 19-yard score in a 22-17 win over Virginia on October 7, 1995.
Carolina's 27 first-half points were the most for the Tar Heels in a single half since tallying 28 points in the second half of the 52-17 victory over Duke on Nov. 17, 2001.
With 10 catches for 95 yards against Syracuse, receiver Jarwarski Pollock posted a career-high in receptions for the second consecutive week. He caught eight balls for 71 yards in his first career start against Florida State and now has 18 catches on the young season. His 95 yards today were a career high. The 10 catches for Pollock were most since Sam Aiken caught 10 passes against Maryland in 2002.
Carolina played three more true freshmen Saturday, as tight end John Hamlett and defensive tackles Isaiah Thomas and Shelton Bynum all saw their first collegiate action. With eight rookies making their debut last week against Florida State, the Tar Heels have now played 11 true freshmen in two games after playing only seven all of last season.
The 96 combined points were the most in a Carolina game, since the Tar Heels defeated Maryland, 59-42, in 1993. The 47 points scored by Carolina were the most ever in a loss in Atlantic Coast Conference history. The previous mark was 45 by Maryland against NC State in 1994 and by Duke against NC State in 1987. The old Carolina mark was 40 against Virginia in 1973. The 31 first downs were also the most in a loss. The old mark was 27 against Wake Forest and Maryland in 1988.
This was Carolina's third overtime game and first-ever at Kenan Stadium. The Tar Heels beat NC State, 37-34, in Charlotte in 1998. In the following year, Carolina lost in OT at Georgia Tech, 31-24.
