North Carolina vs. Notre Dame Post-Game Notes

Quarterback Joe Dailey threw three touchdown passes for this first time this season. He had a 12-yard scoring pass in the first quarter, a 13-yard TD pass in the third quarter and a 72-yarder in the third quarter. That is the most for Dailey since throwing five touchdown passes vs. Baylor in 2004 as Nebraska's starting quarterback.

Carolina scored 26 points against Notre Dame today. That is the most Carolina has ever scored in the 17 meetings. It is also the most points Carolina has scored against a Division I-A team this season.

Freshman wide receiver Hakeem Nicks had six receptions for 171 yards in today's game. That is a UNC single-game record for receiving yards by a freshman. The previous best was 165 by Octavus Barnes (6 catches) vs. Duke in 1994. His 72-yard touchdown catch from Joe Dailey in the third quarter ties for the 20th-longest pass play in Carolina history.

Senior wide receiver Jesse Holley caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to extend his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 27. That is the second-longest streak in the ACC. It is Holley's second touchdown reception this season and sixth of his career.

Holley's touchdown pass tied the score at 7-7. It is the first time Carolina has scored at Notre Dame Stadium since 1962, a 21-7 loss. The Tar Heels were shut out in the three most recent games at Notre Dame in 1965 (17-0), 1966 (32-0) and 1971 (16-0).

Carolina matched its season high with three sacks today vs. Notre Dame. It also had three vs. Virginia. Redshirt freshman defensive end E.J. Wilson made his second career sack in the second quarter. Senior defensive tackle Shelton Bynum posted a sack for the second consecutive week. Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer and linebacker Victor Worsley combined on a sack in the third period.

Sophomore Brandon Tate scored on a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter. It is his second career kickoff return for a touchdown, which ties the career record held also by Marcus Wall. Tate returned the game's opening kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown against Utah last season.

Junior place-kicker Connor Barth had an extra point blocked in the second quarter. It is the first time he has missed an extra point since his freshman season in 2004 at Duke (also blocked), a streak of 43.

Notre Dame's Tom Zbikowski had a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter to give the Irish a 31-13 lead. It is the first time an opponent has returned a punt for a touchdown since Georgia Tech's Jonathan Smith in 2003.

Redshirt freshman Bobby Rome saw his first action of the season at tailback today. Rome, who has played fullback most of the season, had a five-yard run on his first carry. A former high school quarterback, Rome also threw an incomplete pass in today's game.

Players Mentioned

Kentwan Balmer

Connor Barth

Joe Dailey

Jesse Holley

Hakeem Nicks

Bobby Rome II

Brandon Tate

E.J. Wilson

Victor Worsley

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University of North Carolina Athletics