University of North Carolina Athletics
Postgame Notes - Virginia
October 24, 2015 | Football
North Carolina 26, Virginia 13
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C.
• CAROLINA won its sixth-consecutive game and is now 6-1 overall and 3-0 in ACC play. The Tar Heels are 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 1997 and 6-1 for the first time since 1997.
• CAROLINA has won six consecutive games for the first time since it won 10 straight over two seasons in 1996 and 1997. UNC won its last two games in 1996 and its first eight games in 1997.
• LARRY FEDORA is now 61-37 as a head coach, including 27-18 in four seasons at UNC.
• CAROLINA shut out the Cavaliers in the second half, the second straight game in which the defense has pitched a shutout over the final two quarters.
• CAROLINA has now allowed just 45 points in the second half in seven games – 6.4 points per game. (South Carolina – 7 points; North Carolina A&T – 14; Illinois – 7; Delaware – 7; Georgia Tech – 10; Wake Forest – 0; Virginia – 0)
• CAROLINA has allowed 17 points or less in six of the first seven games this season and 14 or less in five of the first seven.
• CAROLINA forced a season-high five turnovers (most since Liberty had six in 2014). All five turnovers came on Virginia's last six possessions. The Cavaliers had a touchdown, two field goals and two punts on the first five possessions (game was tied at 13-13 at that point). Virginia's next six possessions ended: interception by Sam Smiley, punt, interception by Malik Simmons, interception in the end zone by Shakeel Rashad, fumble lost (recovered by Robert Dinkins) and interception by Simmons.
• CAROLINA picked off four passes for the first time since the Miami game in 2013. Three of the four interceptions came in the fourth quarter. UNC did not have three INTs in a game since the San Diego State game early in 2014.
• Sophomore RB ELIJAH HOOD rushed for 101 yards on a career-high 21 carries and had a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs. Hood leads the Tar Heels this season with eight touchdowns – all rushing.
• ELIJAH HOOD rushed for 100 or more yards for the fourth time this season and the fourth time in his UNC career. He had 138 vs. South Carolina, 129 vs. Illinois, 101 vs. Wake Forest and 101 vs. Virginia.
• Senior WR QUINSHAD DAVIS had six receptions for 40 yards. He has 180 career catches. He moved past Jarwarski Pollock (177) for second place in UNC history and is one shy of tying Hakeem Nicks (181) for the most catches in school history.
• CAROLINA allowed six points off two turnovers – a fumble and an interception. For the season the Tar Heels have allowed just 13 points off turnovers – seven last week vs. Wake Forest and six against Virginia.
• Senior FS SAM SMILEY picked off his first pass of the season and second of his career in the third quarter and returned it 41 yards. It was UNC's longest interception return since a 100-yarder last year by Brian Walker against San Diego State. Carolina converted the turnover into a 29-yard field goal.
• Senior QB MARQUISE WILLIAMS moved past QB Bryn Renner into third place in school history with 8,232 career total yards of offense. Renner is now fourth with 8,128. Darian Durant and TJ Yates are first and second, respectively.
• MARQUISE WILLIAMS completed 21 of 26 passes for 226 yards and was Carolina's second-leading rusher with 71 yards on 12 carries.
• CAROLINA had 24 first downs vs. the Cavaliers. It is the seventh consecutive game in which the Tar Heels have posted 20-or-more first downs. The season-high was 29 against Delaware.
• CAROLINA'S 13-play, 93-yard drive that took 5:38 off the clock and resulted in a 3-yard run TD run by Elijah Hood was the Tar Heels' longest of the season in terms of plays, yards and time of possession.
• Senior CB MALIK SIMMONS had two interceptions today, the first two of his career. Both interceptions came in the fourth quarter.
• Senior LB SHAKEEL RASHAD made his second interception of the season and his third career. It came in the end zone to thwart a fourth-quarter drive. Rashad also tied his career high with 10 tackles (had 10 vs. Delaware).
• Junior CB BRIAN WALKER broke up three passes. He had two breakups in the first six games this season.
• Junior DE MIKEY BART had two quarterback sacks for 14 yards, forced a fumble that UNC recovered in the fourth quarter and added two quarterback pressures.
• Junior PK NICK WEILER was 2 for 2 on field goals (29 and 37 yards). He has made 10 of 12 field goal attempts for the season. He kicked off six times today and had five touchbacks (25 touchbacks on 50 kickoffs for the season).
• CAROLINA leads the series against Virginia, 63-53-4, and has won six consecutive games against the Cavaliers for the first time since winning nine in a row from 1974-82.
• CAROLINA came into the game 14th in the nation in penalty yards per game (39.5) and 28th in penalties (5.0 per game), but committed a season high 13 penalties for a season-high 135 yards. Previous highs were six penalties (three different times) and 51 yards (vs. Illinois). UNC had committed just 12 penalties for 103 yards in its previous three games.
Players Mentioned
