University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC-Rutgers Postgame Notes
September 10, 2011 | Football
Sept. 10, 2011
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• Carolina's defense held Rutgers to just one yard rushing. The Scarlet Knights had five different players rush a combined 21 times for 18 net yards, but quarterback Chas Dodd was sacked four times for 17 yards. The one yard rushing is the fewest by an opponent since Wake Forest rushed for minus two yards in 2000.
• The Tar Heels outgained Rutgers 286-91 in total yards in the first half and 405-244 for the game.
• Senior tailback Ryan Houstonconverted a key third down on the final offensive series of the game. Facing a third-and-13 from the Rutgers 45, Carolina handed the ball to Houston who gained 33 yards for a first down. On the next play, as Carolina went to take a knee to run out the clock, Houston recovered a fumbled snap from center to secure the win.
Prior to Houston's 33-yard gain, he had carried the ball five times for zero yards in the game.
• Carolina's defense held on a goal line stand in the first quarter. Following an interception that was returned to the 2-yard line, the Tar Heels stopped the Scarlet Knights from scoring on four consecutive plays. An incomplete pass on first down was followed by stops at the one on the next three plays. Jonathan Smith and Kevin Reddick combined on the stop on second down, Kareem Martin tripped quarterback Chas Dodd at the one-foot line on third down and Reddick and Tydreke Powellcombined to stop De'Antwan Williams at the one on fourth-and-goal.
• Defensive end Kareem Martin had a career-high eight tackles, two of which were for a loss, including a sack, and had two other pressures and a breakup. The Tar Heels had four sacks, two other tackles for losses, 10 quarterback pressures and seven pass breakups.
• Carolina had a 66-yard touchdown pass from Bryn Renner to Dwight Jones and a 60-yard scoring run by Giovani Bernard. This was the first game UNC had two 60-yard scoring plays in a game since the West Virginia game in 2008 (Hakeem Nickshad touchdown catches of 66 and 73 yards.)
• Carolina won despite turning the ball over five times, its highest single-game total since 2008 when UNC committed six against Virginia Tech.
• This was the first time UNC won a game in which it committed five turnovers since winning at Louisville, 17-10, on a Thursday night in 1995.
• Quarterback Bryn Renner completed his first five pass attempts Saturday, establishing a new school record for consecutive completions with 19 (14 vs. JMU, five vs. Rutgers). Renner matched the record of 15 set by Darian Durant in 2001 with a 7-yard completion to Christian Wilson on the first play of the game. He broke the record later on the first drive with a 5-yard completion to Erik Highsmith.
• Renner completed 20 of 26 passes for 273 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. In the first two games this season, Renner is 42 for 49 for 550 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Renner has completed 85.7 percent of his passes in the two wins.
• Senior wide receiver Dwight Jonesfinished with six catches for 135 yards and a 66-yard touchdown. It was his second 100-yard game in as many weeks and the sixth of his career.
• Redshirt freshman tailback Giovani Bernardrushed for 81 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, his third and fourth of the season. He also caught four passes for 22 yards.
• Bernard's 60-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the longest by a Tar Heel since Johnny White's67-yard score against William & Mary in 2010. Bernard added a 6-yard TD run in the third quarter.
• Freshman tight end Eric Ebronmade his first career reception for 27 yards in the third quarter.
• Casey Barthmade all three of his point after attempts, extending his school record to 80 consecutive conversions. He also made a 46-yard field goal, his 51st career field goal.
• UNC's win was its sixth consecutive non-conference win, the longest streak against non-ACC opponents since 1995-97.
• Rutgers' wide receiver Mohamed Sanu had 13 receptions for 119 yards. The 13 catches are the second-most ever in a game against the Tar Heels (Duke's Jon Jensen had a record 14 catches vas. UNC in 1994).
• Carolina has defeated Rutgers three consecutive times to even the series at three wins apiece.
Players Mentioned
