University of North Carolina Athletics
Gameday Blog: Wake Forest
October 27, 2007 | Football
Oct. 27, 2007
Email The Gameday Blog at uncblog@gmail.com with your questions, comments and observations.
Heels fall to 2-6 on the season
Posted at 3:10 p.m., Wake 37, UNC 10, 0:00 fourth quarter
That will do it from Winston-Salem. The Heels will return to Chapel Hill and host the Maryland Saturday at 3:45 p.m. Thanks for following along on the Gameday Blog.
Mental errors help doom Tar Heels
Posted at 3:04 p.m., Wake 37, UNC 10, 2:00 fourth quarter
Penalties, missed tackles and missed throws - all taken advantage of by the Demon Deacons - have contributed to this lopsided score. The Heels hoped that, coming off a bye week after a strong second-half performance against South Carolina, they could put together a strong showing against the Deacons. False starts, holds and ineligible receivers downfield have short-circuited some drives. The special teams mistakes put the defense back on their heels, and gave the Deacon offense a short field on which to score. This performance can described as frustrating, at least.
Quick numbers check indicts offense and special teams
Posted at 2:52 p.m., Wake 37, UNC 10, 8:50 fourth quarter
Just looking at the scores and drives of the Deacons, and it seems 27 of Waks points are the direct result of poor kick coverage, muffed punts or interceptions. That's the stuff that drives coaches nuts.
Pick-six for Wake Forest
Posted at 2:45 p.m., Wake 37, UNC 10, 11:00 fourth quarter
The Tar Heels were driving, but T.J. Yates' second interception of the day is a costly one, as Aaron Curry takes the ball back 77 yards for a touchdown.
Another dagger
Posted at 2:36 p.m., Wake 30, UNC 10, 13:46 fourth quarter
Matt Merletti saved another Kevin Marion touchdown, but Josh Adams ran it in on the first play of the drive. S-P-E-C-I-A-L T-E-A-M-S.
Yates to Rome for 6
Posted at 2:31 p.m., Wake 23, UNC 10, 14:04 fourth quarter
Maybe we shouldn't have exclaimed, "Bobby Rome" along press row. What can we say? He was open and we wanted T.J. to see him. Well, he did, and Rome's eighth catch of the season resulted in his first touchdown.
T.J. Yate's 11th touchdown toss puts him six behind Darian Durant, whose 17 TDs in 2001 set a freshman record.
Wake up 20 after 3
Posted at 2:27 p.m., Wake 23, UNC 3, end third quarter
As the quarter ends, the Tar Heels have completed three consecutive passes to three different receivers (Nicks, Tate and Pianalto) for 45 total yards. They'll have 2nd and 2 at the Wake Forest 34 when the fourth quarter gets underway.
Swank good from 46
Posted at 2:23 p.m., Wake 23, UNC 3, 1:20 third quarter
Make it 23-3. The Tar Heel offense has to make something happen. With just more than 16 minutes left in this game, the Heels find themselves behind by three scores. It's about time the offense arrived.
Timeout Deacons
Posted at 2:19 p.m., Wake 20, UNC 3, 2:10 third quarter
Except for the field goal, this has been an as-yet-uneventful third quarter. The home crowd was not happy about an illegal block called on the Deacons, backing them up for 3rd and 26 from the Tar Heel 35.
The phrase of the day . . .
Posted at 2:04 p.m., Wake 20, UNC 3, 8:14 third quarter
. . . is special teams. A Wake Forest kick return touchdown and a recovered rugby-style punt have made this game 20-3.
Prior to the Swank field goal, Charles Brown forced an Adams fumble, or so we thought. The play was overturned thanks to replay. Replay has gone against the Tar Heels twice in this game.
A bad bounce
Posted at 1:54 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, 11:45 third quarter
Swank's rugby-style kick hit Richie Rich in the back, and Wake Forest recovered. The play is under review. If this stands (it does), it will sour a nice sack and stop by Kentwan Balmer and Cam Thomas on third down.
A look at the first half numbers
Posted at 1:45 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, halftime
Wake Forest isn't dominating this game stats-wise like you'd expect from the 14-point differential. They've out-rushed the Heels by just three yards, 47 to 44. Passing yards is 84-64, Wake. So what's killing the Heels? Well, that kickoff return for a TD was a dagger after the Heels managed a Barth field goal. Since then, though the defense has done a good job of holding the Deacs.
Yates' interception was one of just two incompletions he has had in the game, as he's 9-11. But the O-line hasn't stopped him from getting sacked, and that's pushed the Heels out of some manageable conversions. Six Tar Heels, by our count, have carried for positive yardage: Johnny White, Greg Little, Ryan Houston, Brandon Tate, T.J. Yates and Anthony Elzy.
L.J. Quinn writes in to say the Tar Heels can't blame their mistakes in youth anymore. Maybe he's right. By this, their eighth game, the young Tar Heels have seen the field enough not to blame mistakes on inexperience. They simply haven't executed well in important situations, L.J. says.
The clock runs out on the first half
Posted at 1:30 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, halftime
The Tar Heel defense is playing pretty well, despite the halftime score. The Wake Forest field goal came just after the Yates interception, and another seven points came on a kickoff return. We'll get some interesting stats to you shortly.
Heels aren't helping themselves this time, either
Posted at 1:20 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, 1:19 second quarter
Something is bugging the Tar Heel O-line. This drive was backed up by another false start. A holding penalty on the punt protection gave the Deacons another ten yards to the 36.
Another good 3 and out
Posted at 1:15 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, 3:39 second quarter
Another nice stop for the defense. Kendric Burney and Charles Brown make some nice stops. The Tar Heels take over at their own 23.
Heels aren't helping themselves
Posted at 1:10 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, 6:40 second quarter
Penalties are pushing the Tar Heels back. Wake Forest isn't a team you can afford to do that against. After a sack and Garrett Reynolds false start (the fourth of the game by the Heels), Carolina is unable to convert a 3rd and 23. The Kenny Moore punt return brings the Deacons out to their own 34.
A nice 3 and out for the D
Posted at 1:05 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, 9:05 second quarter
Durell Mapp and E.J. Wilson pummel a scrambling Skinner, capping a Wake Forest 3 and out.
Brandon Tate called for a fair catch at the Wake Forest 43, where the Heels will start.
Brown pins the Deacons inside the 1
Posted at 1:00 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, 11:03 second quarter
Ryan Taylor kept the ball out of the end zone to put Riley Skinner and the Deacons inside their own 1-yard line.
The Tar Heel offense's drive stalled after a Yates draw got 9, but not 10 yards they needed.
Coverage comes undone
Posted at 12:54 p.m., Wake 17, UNC 3, 13:34 second quarter
Butch Davis talked all week about kickoff and punt return coverage, and the special teams let him down. Kevin Marion took Connor Barth's kickoff back 98 yards for the score. It doesn't help to get 3 when you're going to give up 6 (plus 1) on the kickoff.
Heels moving at end of 1
Posted at 12:51 p.m., Wake 10, UNC 3, 13:46 second quarter
Ryan Houston was unable to convert on 3rd and 1, so Connor Barth capped the drive with a 38-yard field goal, his tenth of the season. That was a pretty good drive, although you'd like to see the Heels get into the end zone, obviously.
Heels moving at end of 1
Posted at 12:46 p.m., Wake 10, UNC 0, end of first quarter
Third-down conversions on a pass to Zack Pianalto and a run by T.J. Yates have the Tar Heels threatening, now with 2nd and 7 on the Wake Forest 27. Also helping on this drive were runs by Tate and White.
Heels give up a TD on the ground
Posted at 12:37 p.m., Wake 10, UNC 0, 5:00 first quarter
Cary product Josh Adams has run the ball well early, and he found the end zone from the UNC 6. The Deacons went 73 yards in 12 plays to make the Tar Heel deficit 10 points.
Heels take timeout
Posted at 12:33 p.m., Wake 3, UNC 0, 6:00 first quarter
The Demon Deacons' offensive line is protecting Riley Skinner very well, and Wake Forest has moved the ball down to the Carolina 14 after starting on their own 27. Deunta Williams signaled for timeout, worried that Richie Rich wouldn't make it off the field during a substitution.
A depth chart move
Posted at 12:30 p.m., Wake 3, UNC 0, 6:55 first quarter
Update: Converted tailback Richie Rich started the game at cornerback.
A good drive spoiled
Posted at 12:22 p.m., Wake 3, UNC 0, 10:14 first quarter
The Tar Heels had something good going, as 13 yard reception by Bobby Rome and an 8-yard end-around to Greg Little set them up near the 50. An Aaron Stahl false start and a sack knocked the Heels back 18 yards. Terrence Brown handled a high snap and got off a punt of 43 yards, and the Deacons will start at their own 27.
Defense makes a stand
Posted at 12:15 p.m., Wake 3, UNC 0, 13:12 first quarter
The Tar Heel defense kept the Deacons out of the end zone, and allowed only a field goal, in many ways a victory of sorts for the Tar Heels, as the defense was put back on its heels early by the turnover.
Kicker Sam Swank is now the Deacons' all-time leading scorer with 241 points.
Heels turn it over
Posted at 12:12 p.m., 14:42 first quarter
T.J. Yates' first pass attempt was intercepted by the Deacs' Aaron Curry, and they take over with great field position.
Deacs take the field
Posted at 12:08 p.m., two minutes to kickoff
The Demon Deacon (on a motorcycle) led his team onto the field to the tune of Metallica's 'Enter Sandman,' followed soon after by the visiting Tar Heels. A small version of the Marching Tar Heels is in the southeast corner. The Tar Heels will receive the opening kickoff.
A good Carolina contingent
Posted at 11:56 a.m., 13 minutes to kickoff
Looks like a pretty good Carolina crowd on the visitor's side, particularly in sections 10, 11, and 12.
Rita has checked in from Chester, where she's home sick. Get well, Rita!
Today's depth chart, and the last time . . .
Posted at 11:30 a.m., 30 minutes to kickoff
John from Newton writes in: "Hey guys - who's playing cornerback today?"
Great question, John. Today's depth chart lists Charles Brown or Tavorris Jolly playing opposite Kendric Burney, with Jordan Hemby backing up Burney.
The last time we were here, the Tar Heels escaped with a 31-24 victory in 2004. Darian Durant threw a 45-yard TD pass to Jesse Holley, and Gerald Sensabaugh's late interception sealed the win.
Uniform update
Posted at 11:15 am, 45 minutes to kickoff
Time for your uniform update: The Tar Heels are outfitted in their visitors' white jerseys and white trousers - with this year's new addition, the blue 'swoop' along the hip.
Butch Davis is conferencing with Durell Mapp. Keep those emails coming!
One hour to kickoff
Posted at 11:05 am
We are live from BB&T Field in Winston-Salem. Both teams are going through their pregame warmups. Connor Barth, Jay Wooten and Terrence Brown are going through their kick routines. After a much-needed rainstorm, the weather is pleasant today. BB&T Field boasts artificial turf, so it will be interesting to see how the running game starts today. The Tar Heel backs and receivers are taking a light jog around the field.
Three hours to kickoff
Posted at 9:00 am
We're about to hit the road to Winston-Salem. In the meantime, so email us at uncblog@gmail.com with your questions, comments or observations, and we'll address them when we arrive at BB&T Field.
