University of North Carolina Athletics
Turner's Take: Top Ten in 2013
December 8, 2013 | Football, Featured Writers, Turner Walston
With Carolina now bowl bound for the fifth time in six seasons, we at GoHeels.com thought it was time to take a look back at the ten plays that paved the way for bowl eligibility for the Tar Heels.
This was hard. The Tar Heels scored 386 points and 50 touchdowns in 2013, and in the latter half of the season, the defense found a comfort level and made its mark. Picking ten plays from a season's worth of highlights was not easy. So to help make the final selections, we considered a) the spectacularity of the play, how improbable or surprising it was to pull off; and b) the impact on the game, or what happened as a result of the play that changed the game. You'll notice that two of these plays occurred in the game against Miami. Though Carolina lost that contest, many players and coaches pointed to that effort as a turning point on the season.
Here now are the top ten plays on the road to bowl eligibility:
10. Tim Scott's interception at N.C. State
On the road, in a rivalry, Scott got his second interception of the season with the Tar Heels clinging to a two-point lead late in the third quarter. N.C. State's Brandon Mitchell was in the grasp of linebacker Jeff Schoettmer when he made a throw that he'd regret.
9. Bug Howard's catch at N.C. State
In his freshman season, the big Bug emerged as a receiver who can move the chains and just go up and get the ball. This improbable catch from Marquise Williams set up a T.J. Logan touchdown moments later.
8. Dominique Green's pick-six vs. Virginia
A walk-on and early enrollee, Green made an immediate impact in the defensive backfield for the Tar Heels. This interception and touchdown return (look for the broken tackles from Cavalier linemen) seemed inevitable. Great pressure (again) from Schoettmer
7. Quinshad Davis reverse throw-back to Marquise Williams against Virginia
We love it when non-quarterbacks throw touchdowns. Here, it was Quinshad Davis serving one up to a wide-open Marquise Williams (wearing no. 2) against Virginia. Williams would later say that he believed it was his first-ever scoring grab.
6. Eric Ebron's one-handed touchdown grab at Georgia Tech
Ebron's size and speed make him a dangerous weapon in the passing game, and he made a tremendous play to reach up and haul this one in.
5. Switzer's touchdown pass to Davis vs. N.C. State
See #7. We love non-quarterbacks throwing touchdowns. Switzer takes a great throw in the backfield from Bryn Renner, then sets his feet and lets it fly. Touchdown Tar Heels.
4. Tre Boston's pick in the end zone vs. Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders were driving on their first possession, and a score looked inevitable. Nope! The senior takes it away in front of the Tar Pit.
3. Ebron's catch-and-run against the Miami Hurricanes
Eric Ebron said his performance against Miami cemented his decision to enter the NFL Draft. This catch and run was the highlight of a great night for the tight end.
2. Darius Lipford's sack and forced fumble at Pitt
The first half against Pitt was a defensive clinic for the Tar Heels. Darius Lipford continued that in the third quarter, when he sacked and stripped Tom Savage on the Panthers' first second-half possession. Kareem Martin, who had a tremendous day himself, pounced on the ball.
1. Switzer's second punt return against Pittsburgh
This one was easy. Switzer had the first punt return touchdown of his career a week prior against Virginia. Then, he did it again late in the second quarter in Pittsburgh. But with fewer than five minutes remaining in the game, all the momentum was on the home sideline. Pitt had erased a 24-point Tar Heel lead and a comeback win seemed inevitable. The freshman wouldn't let it happen. Watch for his stop-and-go cut at the Pitt 42 and enjoy Jones Angell's terrific call. The score took the wind out of Pitt's sails and gave the Tar Heels their fifth win of the season. They'd need to win one of the season's final two games to secure a bowl bid. Carolina had come all the way from 1-5 to 5-5 and was on the verge of breaking through.
