University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
November 21, 2014 | Football
By Adam Lucas
1. That wasn't just a win over a formerly 8-2 Duke team. That was a dominant road win over a formerly 8-2 Duke team. Carolina controlled the game in virtually every way possible, getting key turnovers and turning them into points, then grinding out one of the best running game performances of the Larry Fedora era to melt the rest of the game away.
The Tar Heels had three runners with at least 95 yards, led by T.J. Logan with 116 yards on 18 carries. Logan now has 208 combined yards in the last two games after rushing for just 252 in the first nine games of the year.
"The offensive line got after it up front," Larry Fedora told Jones Angell after the game on the Tar Heel Sports Network. "With Marquise being able to run the ball it helps those running backs, and them running it helps him. Those guys have more confidence now."
"That front is ridiculous," Williams said. "Tonight they came together as one. They did a phenomenal job."
2. When Carolina was busy winning 21 out of 22 games against Duke just a few years ago, the Victory Bell became one of those locker room trinkets that just seemed like it belonged in Chapel Hill and was somewhat taken for granted. But after it has resided in Durham for two years, it was obvious how delighted the UNC sideline was to get it back, as nearly half the roster gathered around the trophy before the final seconds even elapsed. Carolina had arrived at Wallace Wade Stadium with a healthy supply of the correct shade of blue spray paint, and it's a safe bet that by the time you read this, the Bell will look how it's looked for the better part of the past quarter-century.
"I was here when we lost it," Landon Turner said. "So we came out with the mindset to get it back." In fact...
The Bell is already blue. pic.twitter.com/85TybPXMSH
— Lee Pace (@LeePaceTweet) November 21, 2014
3. Whatever you might say about Larry Fedora, he certainly has a way of guiding his team out of adversity. The Tar Heel bandwagon was feather-light after a 2-4 start that included three opponents cracking 50 points. But UNC has now won four of five, is bowl eligible, and stands in an improbable second place in the Coastal Division. The Tar Heels also looked like the much better prepared team on short rest, a tribute to the coaching staff and their players.
And that defense that took so many shots earlier in the year played very well against Duke. The Blue Devils had scored in 35 out of 40 quarters coming into Thursday's game, but were held scoreless in the second quarter. The homestanding Devils averaged just 3.1 yards per carry on 37 rushes.
"They did it the entire game," Fedora said. "They started from the very beginning and played a complete game...We played our first complete game as a team."
4. At what point do you officially become a convert to the power of magical helmets? Carolina broke out silver chrome against NC State in 2012 and promptly bolted to a 25-7 first quarter lead.
Then, on Thursday, the Tar Heels switched to blue chrome, and quickly took a 21-7 first quarter lead that eventually stretched to 38-7 before Duke managed another score. Incidentally, the lids from Thursday night are being sold to the public and are available right now.
5. It's been enough of a story when Carolina didn't make field goals, so it's worth mentioning when they do. Thomas Moore hit a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. It didn't really make a difference in the outcome of the game, but who knows...if the Tar Heels need a field goal against NC State next week in a closer game, it might matter that Moore got a little confidence on Thursday night.
