University of North Carolina Athletics
Turner's Take: Complete Game
September 19, 2015 | Football, Featured Writers, Turner Walston
By Turner Walston
“The game doesn't change,” Larry Fedora said on Wednesday. “You take care of the ball, you create takeaways, you create some game-changing plays on special teams, and if we do those three things, we have a chance to win.” By putting together a complete performance on Saturday, Fedora's Tar Heels walked away with a dominant win over Illinois.
It was the Tar Heel defense that set the tone. On the first drive of the game, the Illini drove off their own 35 deep into Carolina territory. But two pass attempts in the end zone fell incomplete, defended well by the Tar Heel secondary. The Illini, the team that had outscored opponents 96-3, the team that was perfect on fourth down conversions through two games, fell short.
“They got down there inside the five-yard line, and we stepped it up and didn't give them any points,” Fedora said after the game Saturday. “So that kind of set the tone for the day, and everybody responded to that.”
“Coach Chizik and the coaches always preach that it doesn't matter what they do in the first 80 yards, but when we get in our red zone, we've got to amp it up,” said safety Donnie Miles. “We've got to try to get a stop so I think we did good there.”
“That was electric,” senior defensive tackle Justin Thomason said. “Coach Fedora says all the time, don't blink in the face of adversity, and we had our backs against the wall. We had to make a play and we did, and that definitely helped our confidence throughout the game.”
Illinois went three-and-out on their next series, and Carolina kicker Nick Weiler put the Heels up three. The Tar Heels' M.J. Stewart picked off a Wes Lunt pass to set up a Tar Heel touchdown drive.
The Illini eventually pulled within 13-7, but after that, the rout was on. Carolina scored five straight touchdowns, combining stout defense, efficient offense and game-changing plays on special teams to put together a resounding win.
“We knew we had the ability to have a complete game, because we've got the talent at all positions. We just had to put it together,” said Quinshad Davis, now the career leader at Carolina in receiving touchdowns after hauling in his 22nd on Saturday. “And this week, we played hard in practice. We got it done in practice and the guys it showed on the field today.”
The first defensive series set the tone for the game, but the tone for the week was set early. The most important day of the practice week is Tuesday. After film sessions on Sunday and Monday, the Tar Heels' 'work day' is Tuesday, their first chance on the field after implementing a game plan. “The goal (on Tuesday) is to go out there and get tired and have a heavy workload,” senior linebacker Shakeel Rashad said. “Obviously you want to get as much as you can right, but if you're going to mess up, you mess up fast. So, you're just trying to give huge work on Tuesday and get tired. It's our work day.”
With four days before game day, the team can afford to exert energy on Tuesday. “Wednesday, we refine the work a little bit,” Rashad said. “The practice is a little bit shorter, then Thursday it's a really shortened practice but the goal is to go in Tuesday and have a great Tuesday practice and that really sets the tone for the rest of the week. And that's what we've got to keep going.”
Starting the week fast lends itself to starting fast on Saturday. The result against Illinois was a validation of the process that goes on during the week. After a 34-point victory, you can bet that the Tar Heels will attack the practice field with the same vigor next week. “The hardest thing is Tuesday and Wednesday practice,” Thomason said. “And if you come there aggressive, ready to attack the day, then the game will be easy.”
The Tar Heels certainly made it look easy at times on Saturday. Marquise Williams and Elijah Hood both rushed for more than 100 yards. Ryan Switzer found the end zone on a punt return for the first time since the 2013 Belk Bowl. Nick Weiler nailed two field goal attempts, including a career-long 48 yarder. And the Tar Heel secondary locked down things in the defensive backfield.
There's room to improve, certainly. If we're nit-picking, we'll say that the defensive line needs to get more pressure on the quarterback, opening the game up even more for the safeties and cornerbacks. But as Miles said, “Some stuff has still got to get corrected, but I think we're growing each week.”
And that's all you can ask for: a win, and a step forward. Carolina is now 2-1 and hosts Delaware next week before beginning ACC play at Georgia Tech. On Saturday, a confident group played to their potential. And they want to do it again.
“This was a great feeling,” Davis said. “People on the sideline were excited. We were excited about the defense. The defense was excited about us. Special teams was excited, and it's a good feeling. I feel like the guys are going to want to do it again next week.”
Players Mentioned
