University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Hosts Wake Forest In ACC Home Opener
October 17, 2015 | Football
Carolina had a bye last week after posting a 38-31 come-from-behind victory over Georgia Tech on Oct. 3. The Tar Heels trailed 21-0 late into the second quarter before mounting the largest comeback in school history. It was also Carolina's first win in Atlanta since 1997 and snapped an eight-game road losing streak to the Yellow Jackets. Quarterback Marquise Williams led the team in rushing (148 yards), passing (134) and receiving (37) to earn ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors. He is believed to be the first player in UNC history to lead the team in all three categories since the ACC began in 1953.
Wake enters Saturday's game 3-3 overall after a hard fought 3-0 win last week at Boston College. The Deacons are among the nation's leaders in total defense, allowing just 296.0 yards per game.
This is the first of two consecutive home games for the Tar Heels, who play Virginia next week.
AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 4-1 (0-0 ACC), Wake Forest 3-3 (1-2 ACC)
Rankings: Neither team is ranked.
TV: RSN. Wes Durham (play-by-play), James Bates (analyst) and Jenn Hildreth (sideline) have the call.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (click to listen), a division of Learfield Communications. Jones Angell (play-by-play), Ethan Albright (analyst) and Lee Pace (sideline) have the call.
On The Web: GoHeels.com | UNC Notes | WakeForestSports.com | Wake Forest Notes
Twitter: @TarHeelFootball, @CoachFedora | @WakeFB
Fan Information: Tickets | Parking Information
QUICK HITS
• Wide receiver Quinshad Davis has completed all four pass attempts of his career for touchdowns. He is 4 of 4 for 121 yards and four touchdowns for a passer rating of 684.1. Davis will make his team-high 39th career start Saturday.
• Carolina ranks fourth in the country in passing yards allowed, eighth in pass efficiency defense and 25th in scoring defense. UNC is allowing just 123.2 passing yards per game.
• Carolina is 17th in the nation in scoring offense and is the only team in the ACC averaging more than 200 yards per game rushing (219.8) and 250 passing (251.2).
• Carolina has converted 51 percent of its third down opportunities this season, which ranks seventh nationally. In a win over Delaware, UNC was 10 of 13 on third down.
• After struggling in this category the last few seasons, Carolina is 14th in the country in penalty yards per game (38.6) and 25th in penalties per game (5.0).
• Carolina has punted just 12 times this year. Only Baylor (10) has fewer punts.
• Marquise Williams has been responsible for 72 career touchdowns, which is seven shy of the school record of 79 held by Darian Durant (2001-04) and ranks 13th in ACC history. Williams has rushed for 26 scores (UNC record for QB), passed for 43 and has three receiving TDs.
• Preseason first-team All-America guard Landon Turner will make his 34th career start Saturday against Wake Forest. Turner has graded out at 90 percent or higher in every game this season and has already been named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week on two occasions.
• Senior wide receiver Quinshad Davis is 11 receptions shy of becoming the school's all-time leader in catches. He is already UNC's all-time leader in touchdown receptions with 22.
• Last season, North Carolina made just six field goals and none longer than 30 yards. This season, kicker Nick Weiler has made eight of 10 attempts, including four from 46 yards-or-longer.
• Carolina is averaging 219.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the ACC. In the season opener, Carolina rushed for 208 yards against South Carolina, had 211 against North Carolina A&T, a season-high 254 vs. Illinois and 231 at Georgia Tech.
• Carolina has averaged more than 425 offensive yards per game in three straight seasons. This season, UNC is averaging 471.0 yards of offense per game.
• Through five games, no opponent has managed a punt return against the Tar Heels. The Tar Heels are the only team in the country that has not allowed a punt return.
ACC STARTS
• North Carolina is looking to start 2-0 in ACC play for the first time since 1997 and just the third time since 1984. Carolina was also 2-0 in league play in 1996. The 1996 and 1997 teams finished in the top 10 of the final AP and Coaches Top 25 Polls. The 1997 team started 5-0 in the ACC.
SERIES NOTES VS. WAKE FOREST
• Although the two schools no longer meet on an annual basis, the Carolina-Wake Forest rivalry is one of the oldest in the nation. This is the 106th meeting and Carolina leads the series 68-35-2, including a 41-18-2 mark in home games.
• Carolina enjoyed a nine-game win streak over the Deacons from 1990-98, but is just 4-6 vs. Wake in the last 10 games. Wake has won three of the last four, including a 28-27 win in Winston-Salem in 2012.
• Carolina and Wake Forest met every year from 1944-2004, but have met just four times since.
• In the last meeting in Chapel Hill in 2011, Carolina won 49-24.
Players Mentioned
