University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina Postgame Notes Vs. Georgia Southern, Oct. 10, 2009
October 10, 2009 | Football
Oct. 10, 2009
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• The Tar Heels' 42 points, which all came in the first half, marked the third-most scored by Carolina under Butch Davis, trailing only the 45 and 44 points scored against Boston College and Rutgers last season. UNC scored only 10 points combined in its previous two games and needed just 10:23 to surpass that total today.
• The 42 points in the first half were the most Georgia Southern has ever allowed in any half. Previous high was 40 by Texas State in the second half of an NCAA playoff game in 2005.
• The Tar Heels' 42 first-half points marked their most in a half since they put up 52 in the opening half against Duke in 2000. UNC scored four touchdowns in the second quarter for its first four-TD quarter since that same win over the Blue Devils. Carolina also scored 14 points in the first quarter after totaling just seven first-quarter points over its first five games.
• The Tar Heels got on the board with an 89-yard scoring drive on their first drive of the game, marking the first time they scored on their initial possession this season. Ryan Houston's 1-yard run was Carolina's first first-half score since the East Carolina victory.
• The Tar Heels forced six turnovers - four interceptions and two fumbles (Carolina had forced seven total in its first five games this season). UNC last created six turnovers against Duke in 1999. Carolina scored touchdowns off all four first-half Georgia Southern turnovers for a total of 28 points.
• UNC limited Georgia Southern to just 170 yards and has held five of its six opponents under 260 yards of total offense, including three to fewer than 200 yards. The Tar Heels limited the Eagles to 12 points and have held five of six opponents to 17 points or less on the season.
• Junior tailback Ryan Houston, who ran for a season-best 56 yards, recorded his first career three-touchdown game with runs of 1, 7 and 1 yards in the first half. He is the first Tar Heel with three scores on the ground since Ronnie McGill against Furman in 2006. Seven of Houston's 16 career TDs have been from one yard, including two today, and the 7-yarder marked his longest career scoring run. Houston also added his first career catch, a 13-yarder in the first quarter.
• Junior tailback Shaun Draughn, who finished with 81 yards on 14 carries for his best rushing day since the East Carolina win, scored his first touchdown of the season and the fourth of his career with a 16-yard run in the first quarter. Draughn added five catches for a career-best 43 yards receiving.
• Junior linebacker Quan Sturdivant scored his second career touchdown when he stripped Georgia Southern's Adam Urbano and returned the ball 49 yards for a score, marking the fifth-longest fumble return in school history. The last Tar Heel to return a fumble for a touchdown was Brian Rackley against NC State in 2006.
• Junior linebacker Bruce Carter returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter for his second career score. Carter, who also picked off a pass for a TD at Rutgers last season, is the first Tar Heel to return an interception for a score since Trimane Goddard against Boston College last season.
• Junior cornerback Kendric Burney made his first interception of the season and the fifth of his career in the fourth quarter, and freshman corner Gene Robinson picked off his first career pass in the final period.
• Sophomore defensive end Robert Quinn recorded his seventh sack and third forced fumble of the season in the first quarter. He entered the game in the nation's top 10 in sack and tackles for loss.
• Sophomore linebacker Zach Brown recorded his first career interception in the second quarter to set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Ryan Houston.
• Freshman defensive end Donte Paige-Moss picked up his first career sack in the fourth quarter.
• Junior tight end Ed Barham surpassed his career reception total on the Tar Heels' opening drive with two catches for 28 yards.
• Sophomore wide receiver Dwight Jones made his first career reception - a 4-yard grab - in the first quarter and finished with two catches for seven yards.
• Redshirt freshman left guard Jonathan Cooper returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the season-opener against The Citadel.
