University of North Carolina Athletics
Postgame Notes
September 20, 2008 | Football
Sept. 20, 2008
Recap |
Final Stats |
Quotes |
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• This was the second time in the last five years the Tar Heels lost to Virginia Tech at home by a field goal. In 2004, the Hokies edged UNC, 27-24, at Kenan. It was the first time UNC led after three quarters and lost since the Wake Forest game in 2006.
• Sophomore quarterback T.J. Yates was 11 for 18 for 181 yards and the 32-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Tate. He now has 20 TD passes in 15 career games to move into a tie for 10th in school history. Yates left in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle and did not return. Yates was taken to UNC Student Health where x-rays were taken, which were negative. When Yates left the game, Carolina was leading 10-3 with nine minutes to play in the third quarter.
• Red-shirt freshman quarterback Mike Paulus had his first college pass completion, an eight-yarder to Zach Pianalto good for a first down at midfield. Paulus finished 3 for 8 for 23 yards and two interceptions.
• Carolina's defense held the Hokies to 268 yards of total offense on the day, including just 80 first half yards.
• Against the UNC defense, Virginia Tech was just 3 for 16 on third downs. After holding Rutgers to an 0-for-9 showing on third down last time out, the Tar Heels have allowed the opposition to convert just 3 for 25 of their third down chances over the last two weeks.
• Carolina lost four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions) and forced two turnovers (two interceptions). UNC's turnovers led to 10 Virginia Tech points. Three of UNC's turnovers came inside Carolina's 35-yard line (fumble at the 8, fumble at 32, interception at the 30). It was the first time UNC lost four turnovers in a game since it had four at South Florida last season.
• Senior wide receiver Brandon Tate, who had three catches for 66 yards, scored his fifth touchdown of the season (third receiving) late in the second quarter on a 32-yard reception from Yates. The score was Tate's 16th career touchdown (eight receiving, two rushing, three kickoff return, three punt return). Tate helped set up his TD grab with a 30-yard reception on the drive. He now has five catches for more than 30 yards this season.
• Sophomore tailback Greg Little scored on a 50-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for the longest run of his career and his fourth career rushing TD. Little carried 18 times for 71 yards on the afternoon. Prior to Little's 50-yard run, UNC had rushed 22 times for just 38 yards.
• Junior wide receiver Hakeem Nicks had four catches for 51 yards. He now has at least one reception in 16 straight games and 25 of his 26 career outings.
• Nicks now has 129 career receptions, tying Octavus Barnes for seventh place in UNC history. He passes Jesse Holley, who had 126.
• Senior wideout Brooks Foster rushed three times for 45 yards to establish a career high. His 24-yard run in the first quarter also marked a career long, surpassing a 14-yard run against South Florida in 2006. Foster added three catches for 52 yards for 97 yards of offense from scrimmage.
• Senior linebacker Mark Paschal's first quarter interception was the second of his career, and safety Deunta Williams pulled down his fourth career interception in the third period to give the Tar Heels six picks in the last two games and seven on the season. Paschal also added a team-high 12 tackles.
• Freshman defensive end Robert Quinn recorded his first career sack with a stop of Tyrod Taylor for a loss of three yards.
• Senior punter Terrence Brown punted five times for an average of 44.2 yards. He pinned the Hokies inside their own 15-yard line on three occasions.
• With 14 penalties for 121 yards, the Tar Heels were penalized for more than 100 yards for the first time since a 2005 loss to Wisconsin. It was the most penalties by UNC since the Tar Heels committed 14 against Texas in 2001.
