University of North Carolina Athletics
Walston: A Moment Fulfilled
October 30, 2009 | Football
Oct. 30, 2009
T.J. Yates knew he'd had a mini-brain cramp, tossing a "threw-it-away-to-Worthy" Fred Brown-like interception that set up a five-yard Hokie scoring drive. Tyrod Taylor and Virginia Tech took their first lead with less than 12 minutes to go. Here we go again.
Or do we? "Sometimes, you get tests, and we got a test last week," Butch Davis said. "Didn't do as well with last week's test as you'd like to do, but life's funny. It gives you the same test again somewhere down the line."
After a touchback, Carolina took over at its own 20. What followed was one of those drives you dream about. Yates said afterward that he couldn't wait to get the ball in his hands again, to put the interception away and move forward. It was a microcosm of what the entire team went through over the last seven days: put the slip-up behind you and try to redeem yourself.
A penalty (pass interference) and a Pianalto (a 17-yard reception by tight end Zack) set Carolina up with 1st and 10 from the Virginia Tech 39. But a Shaun Draughn rush for negative yardage and a false start made it 3rd and 16 from the 45. Yates found Erik Highsmith for nine, and then it was decision time. A week ago, trailing by three in the fourth quarter Carolina punted on 4th and 5 from Florida State's 44. This time, the Tar Heels faced 4th and 7 at the 36.
When the offense took the field, every writer in the press box must have circled the play in their notepads. This was it. This was the game. This was the moment, seized by Greg Little, a player who has spent three years searching for a place to contribute to this football team. Yates connected with him 19 yards downfield. The drive - and Carolina - was alive.
"For Coach Davis to have that confidence in our offense, and our offense to step up to the plate, was tremendous on us," Little said afterward. "It's just a reassuring feeling to accomplish what we know we can do. It's a great feeling."
Ryan Houston and Shaun Draughn set Casey Barth up to tie the game at 17 with 2:52 to play. Then, it was the defense's turn.
Ryan Williams eclipsed the 100-yard mark on 3rd and 6, but as Tydreke Powell wrapped him up, the ball came loose, seeming to hang for a frozen moment. Deunta Williiams pounced. ""I thought the guy was down, but you know, you can't take any chances," Williams said. "I picked it up; everything parted like the Red Sea. I thought I was going to score, but it closed pretty quickly."
They were on the same page, this highly-ranked defense and a much-maligned offense. Ryan Houston burned the clock, and Barth booted a 21-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired. The kick was good, the Tar Heels rushed the field, and the maroon and orange were, well, crushed.
"I've never really had this feeling before, kicking at the last second," Yates said afterward. "It just sends chills down your spine when your whole team's rushing the field after a big win."
The Tar Heel locker room was the polar opposite of the one just 168 hours prior. High-fives and hugs were exchanged. A mosh pit ensued. John Shoop ran off the elevator from the press box and jumped into Mike Ingersoll.
"The moment was out there for us, we just had to make the most of the opportunity," Little said after the game. Finally, this Tar Heel team played the game that they knew - that you knew - they were capable of. The moment that passed them by just one week ago came again. This time, it was fulfilled.
Turner Walston is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Turner's weekly Tar Heel football podcast, The Walkthrough, is available on iTunes.
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