University of North Carolina Athletics
Jace Ruder
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Rapid Reactions: Georgia Tech
November 3, 2018 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
1. North Carolina made a valiant comeback Saturday, scoring 18 unanswered points in the second half and tying the game with 12:35 left. But it all ended with another disappointing ACC loss, this one a 38-28 defeat against Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels have now lost five straight games, with their last four being decided by 26 total points.
2. Nathan Elliott entered Saturday having tossed 212 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, the longest such streak during a single season in program history. But the Yellow Jackets picked off three of his passes Saturday, leading to 17 points. None proved more costly than his interception with 8:07 left. That led to Georgia Tech's go-ahead touchdown moments later.
3. The Yellow Jackets weren't much better at hanging on to the ball. They fumbled the ball four times, losing three of them. The first came on Georgia Tech's second play of the game, when Jason Strowbridge and Malik Carney combined on a tackle, Carney knocked the ball loose and then returned it for a touchdown. Carney became the first Carolina defensive lineman to score a touchdown since Cam Thomas, who returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown at Boston College on Nov. 21, 2009.
4. That defensive touchdown kept the Tar Heels alive in the first half, when they struggled developing much of an offensive rhythm. Much of that was due to being inefficient on first down. UNC averaged just 2 yards on first down in the first half. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech averaged 12.7 yards.
5. Jace Ruder showed flashes of his potential in his first career game. After entering the contest midway through the second quarter, he completed 4-of-5 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 21 yards on three carries. On his touchdown throw, Ruder did a great job of staying composed in the pocket and going through his progressions before delivering a 9-yard strike to Carl Tucker in the third quarter. That was Ruder's last play, though, as he exited the game with an apparent injury.
6. Cole Holcomb played one of the best games by a Carolina defensive player in recent memory, tallying a career-high 22 tackles. He was the first Tar Heel to record 20 or more tackles in a regular-season game since Durell Mapp had 23 at N.C. State on Nov. 10, 2007. Holcomb also forced three fumbles Saturday, two of which UNC recovered.
7. Chunk plays ultimately did Carolina in. The Yellow Jackets totaled 14 rushing plays that went for 10 or more yards. They also had two passes of 15 yards or more, including an 86-yard touchdown pass by Tobias Oliver to Qua Searcy during the second quarter.
1. North Carolina made a valiant comeback Saturday, scoring 18 unanswered points in the second half and tying the game with 12:35 left. But it all ended with another disappointing ACC loss, this one a 38-28 defeat against Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels have now lost five straight games, with their last four being decided by 26 total points.
2. Nathan Elliott entered Saturday having tossed 212 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, the longest such streak during a single season in program history. But the Yellow Jackets picked off three of his passes Saturday, leading to 17 points. None proved more costly than his interception with 8:07 left. That led to Georgia Tech's go-ahead touchdown moments later.
3. The Yellow Jackets weren't much better at hanging on to the ball. They fumbled the ball four times, losing three of them. The first came on Georgia Tech's second play of the game, when Jason Strowbridge and Malik Carney combined on a tackle, Carney knocked the ball loose and then returned it for a touchdown. Carney became the first Carolina defensive lineman to score a touchdown since Cam Thomas, who returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown at Boston College on Nov. 21, 2009.
4. That defensive touchdown kept the Tar Heels alive in the first half, when they struggled developing much of an offensive rhythm. Much of that was due to being inefficient on first down. UNC averaged just 2 yards on first down in the first half. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech averaged 12.7 yards.
5. Jace Ruder showed flashes of his potential in his first career game. After entering the contest midway through the second quarter, he completed 4-of-5 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 21 yards on three carries. On his touchdown throw, Ruder did a great job of staying composed in the pocket and going through his progressions before delivering a 9-yard strike to Carl Tucker in the third quarter. That was Ruder's last play, though, as he exited the game with an apparent injury.
6. Cole Holcomb played one of the best games by a Carolina defensive player in recent memory, tallying a career-high 22 tackles. He was the first Tar Heel to record 20 or more tackles in a regular-season game since Durell Mapp had 23 at N.C. State on Nov. 10, 2007. Holcomb also forced three fumbles Saturday, two of which UNC recovered.
7. Chunk plays ultimately did Carolina in. The Yellow Jackets totaled 14 rushing plays that went for 10 or more yards. They also had two passes of 15 yards or more, including an 86-yard touchdown pass by Tobias Oliver to Qua Searcy during the second quarter.
Players Mentioned
Defensive End
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Quarterback
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Linebacker
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Quarterback
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Defensive Line
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Tight End
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