University of North Carolina Athletics
Postgame Notes
October 25, 2008 | Football
Oct. 25, 2008
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UNC Football Game Notes vs. Boston College October 25, 2008
- North Carolina's 45 points Saturday are the most by the Tar Heels in an ACC game since a 45-44 win over Duke in 2006. The 45 points are the most by Carolina against Boston College since UNC won 56-14 in 1981. It is the most points scored by UNC against an ACC team other than Duke since the Tar Heels beat Virginia, 48-20, on Sept. 27, 1997. Since that 1997 game against Virginia, the Tar Heels had scored 45 or more points in an ACC game on four occasions, all against Duke.
- The 45 points are the most scored by a Butch Davis-coached Tar Heel team.
- With the win, UNC improved to 6-2 on the year, marking the first time since 2004 that the Tar Heels have reached six wins. Carolina is also bowl eligible for the first time since 2004.
- The Tar Heels improved to 3-2 all-time against Boston College, including a 2-0 mark in ACC games against the Eagles.
- Saturday's win over No. 23 Boston College was Carolina's second over a ranked opponent in 2008. UNC last defeated two ranked opponents in the same season in 2005, when the Tar Heels beat No. 23 Virginia and No. 19 Boston College.
- The win was the third this season in which the Tar Heels trailed by 10 or more points (Miami, Notre Dame and Boston College). Boston College led 10-0 with 6:18 to play in the first quarter. Carolina outscored the Eagles 45-7 over the next 44:16.
- Boston College rushed for 40 yards. That is the fewest rushing yards allowed by UNC this year and the fewest allowed since NC State ran for 13 yards in 2005.
- The Eagles gained 244 total yards, fewest by an opponent this year (previous low was 268 by Virginia Tech).
- North Carolina now has 17 interceptions on the season, the most since the 1996 squad had 20. UNC entered the game tied with Iowa and Tennessee for the national lead with 14 picks.
- The Tar Heels had 88 interception return yards on the day and now have a school-record 430 interception return yards on 17 interceptions in 2008. The previous record, which was broken in the Notre Dame win, was 341 yards on 21 interceptions in 1972.
- UNC forced three turnovers on Saturday, giving the Tar Heels 21 takeaways on the season. Carolina is now +10 in turnover margin on the season (21 takeaways, 11 giveaways), including a +15 margin in its six wins.
- WR Hakeem Nicks had three touchdown receptions (26, 40 and 43 yards, respectively) in the second quarter Saturday, giving him seven for the season and 16 for his career. Nicks is now second in UNC history in receiving yardage with 2,400 (Corey Holliday holds the record with 2,447) and is third in touchdown receptions (16) and receptions (160).
- The three touchdown catches are the most in a game by a Tar Heel since Chesley Borders set the school record with four at Arizona State in 2002.
- Nicks had eight catches for 139 yards and three touchdowns. Nicks reached at least 100 receiving yards for the ninth time in his career and fourth time in 2008. It was also his fourth career game with at least two touchdowns (2006 at Notre Dame, 2007 vs. Virginia, 2008 at Rutgers) and the first three-touchdown game of his career.
- Nicks added a fourth touchdown in the fourth quarter, a 12-yard run. It was his first career rushing touchdown. Nicks became the first Tar Heel to score four touchdowns in a game since Ronnie McGill scored four times against Furman in 2006.
- QB Cameron Sexton was 19 for 30 for 238 yards and three touchdowns, marking the first three TD game of his career. Sexton had two touchdown passes against Furman in 2006 and at Miami in 2008. The 238 yards are the third most in his career.
- SS Trimane Goddard's interception in the fourth quarter was his fifth of the season and the 10th of his career. Goddard returned the interception 51 yards for a touchdown, his first career score.
- Goddard's interception return for a touchdown was UNC's fourth of the season, a new school record. The previous high was three in 1994.
- CB Kendric Burney had a pair of interceptions on the day, giving the sophomore three for the season and four for his career.
- RB Ryan Houston scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season in the third quarter, a 1-yard carry following a Kendric Burney interception. On the season, all of Houston's touchdowns have come from either one or two yards out.
- WR Brooks Foster finished with seven catches for 64 yards, matching his career high for receptions in a game (Virginia in 2007).
- PK Casey Barth's 32-yard field goal in the second quarter was his seventh of the season in 10 attempts. Barth has made six of his last seven attempts, with his only miss coming from 52 yards against Notre Dame. The Wilmington, N.C., freshman also made six extra points to improve to a perfect 20 for 20 on PATs this season.
- North Carolina's 24 points in the second quarter Saturday were the most by the Tar Heels in a single quarter since UNC scored 35 in the second quarter at Duke in 2000.
- TE Christian Wilson got his first career start on Saturday when the Tar Heels opened their first drive in a two-TE set. Later in the game, Wilson collected his first career reception, an eight-yard strike from Sexton.
- OG Calvin Darity did not start Saturday, ending a streak of 30 consecutive starts, the longest on the team.
