University of North Carolina Athletics
Anthony Ratliff-Williams
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
September 8, 2018 | Football
Quick takeaways from the visit to East Carolina.
By Adam Lucas
1. The Tar Heels knew coming into the season that the first two games of the season would be important in determining the path of the season. But after Saturday's 41-19 loss at East Carolina, Carolina is now 0-2 in those games, and now faces a tough home opener against what is likely to be the best team they've seen so far this year, Central Florida.
2. The turning point of Saturday's game may have come in the second quarter, when a late hit personal foul on Tyler Powell gave East Carolina a gift first down after the Tar Heel defense appeared to have held on third and 22. Given new life, the Pirates promptly punched the ball into the end zone to take a 14-13 lead. Powell, a senior, simply can't make that kind of play on the sideline against a quarterback with his back turned. From the moment of that play, ECU outscored Carolina, 34-6.
3. A few minutes later, another Carolina standout landed in trouble with the officials when Antonio Williams was ejected for targeting after a stellar Anthony Ratliff-Williams catch and run. There wasn't much doubt about the Williams play--although it didn't appear to be malicious, as soon as it went to review, it was fairly obvious what the outcome would be based on the letter of the rule. The play resulted in ECU defensive back Colby Gore being carted off the field, where he was undergoing further evaluation.Â
4. East Carolina avoided turnovers, which continually put a struggling UNC offense on a long field. The Tar Heel defense has now been unable to force a turnover in either of the season's first two games. The one time it looked like the Tar Heels had the home team pinned deep after a Hunter Lent punt was downed inside the five in the third quarter with a chance to change field position, ECU promptly lofted a long pass down the sideline to get them out of trouble. That drive eventually turned into a field goal.
5. Injuries and other absences conspired to have an impact on the game. Jay-Jay McCargo was not available. That moved Jonathan Trull to center, and he performed solidly--except for a couple of errant snaps, including one second-down play in the third quarter that was low and to Nathan Elliott's left, putting Carolina in third and 20 and taking the offense out of field goal range. Rather than try to pick up a handful of yards to give Freeman Jones an opportunity, Elliott's third down pass was incomplete down the field, and Carolina had to punt. In other injury news, Myles Dorn didn't play, which left the Carolina secondary shorthanded. Keep in mind that several other players were also unavailable for a variety of reasons. Of course, even with the injuries and other absences, you'd like to think the Tar Heels still had enough left to beat a reeling Pirate team on the road.
6. An offensive standout so far this year: kicker Freeman Jones, who nailed four field goals in the first half, including a 49-yarder. Jones has made ten of his last eleven field goals dating back to last season.
7. East Carolina made good use of the two-quarterback system. Sophomore Reid Herring was effective through the air, throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Holton Ahlers was a steady change of pace. The rookie threw just one pass, but he rushed for 36 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a back-breaking fourth down touchdown run that put the Pirates up 35-19 with 14:23 remaining. The Tar Heels did not appear prepared for Ahlers' skill and toughness running the football.Â
8. The UNC running game essentially went into mothballs after Williams was ejected. On the second play after the ejection, Jordon Brown ran it 20 yards. Following that play, the next ten Carolina rushes went for a total of one yard. That sequence of plays included East Carolina twice stuffing the Tar Heels on fourth and short. Other than Antonio Williams, Carolina ran it 19 times for 65 yards, a 3.4 yards per carry average. The Tar Heels had 14 rushing yards in the second half.Â
9. The home opener against Central Florida that looms on Saturday now becomes a backs against the wall situation. The Tar Heels have traditionally been better than expected in that scenario in recent years, and will need to summon another good effort next week in order to get the season back on track. Things can change quickly in the world of college football, as ECU coach Scottie Montgomery is well aware--last week he was receiving significant criticism, and tonight he's the toast of Greenville.
1. The Tar Heels knew coming into the season that the first two games of the season would be important in determining the path of the season. But after Saturday's 41-19 loss at East Carolina, Carolina is now 0-2 in those games, and now faces a tough home opener against what is likely to be the best team they've seen so far this year, Central Florida.
2. The turning point of Saturday's game may have come in the second quarter, when a late hit personal foul on Tyler Powell gave East Carolina a gift first down after the Tar Heel defense appeared to have held on third and 22. Given new life, the Pirates promptly punched the ball into the end zone to take a 14-13 lead. Powell, a senior, simply can't make that kind of play on the sideline against a quarterback with his back turned. From the moment of that play, ECU outscored Carolina, 34-6.
3. A few minutes later, another Carolina standout landed in trouble with the officials when Antonio Williams was ejected for targeting after a stellar Anthony Ratliff-Williams catch and run. There wasn't much doubt about the Williams play--although it didn't appear to be malicious, as soon as it went to review, it was fairly obvious what the outcome would be based on the letter of the rule. The play resulted in ECU defensive back Colby Gore being carted off the field, where he was undergoing further evaluation.Â
4. East Carolina avoided turnovers, which continually put a struggling UNC offense on a long field. The Tar Heel defense has now been unable to force a turnover in either of the season's first two games. The one time it looked like the Tar Heels had the home team pinned deep after a Hunter Lent punt was downed inside the five in the third quarter with a chance to change field position, ECU promptly lofted a long pass down the sideline to get them out of trouble. That drive eventually turned into a field goal.
5. Injuries and other absences conspired to have an impact on the game. Jay-Jay McCargo was not available. That moved Jonathan Trull to center, and he performed solidly--except for a couple of errant snaps, including one second-down play in the third quarter that was low and to Nathan Elliott's left, putting Carolina in third and 20 and taking the offense out of field goal range. Rather than try to pick up a handful of yards to give Freeman Jones an opportunity, Elliott's third down pass was incomplete down the field, and Carolina had to punt. In other injury news, Myles Dorn didn't play, which left the Carolina secondary shorthanded. Keep in mind that several other players were also unavailable for a variety of reasons. Of course, even with the injuries and other absences, you'd like to think the Tar Heels still had enough left to beat a reeling Pirate team on the road.
6. An offensive standout so far this year: kicker Freeman Jones, who nailed four field goals in the first half, including a 49-yarder. Jones has made ten of his last eleven field goals dating back to last season.
7. East Carolina made good use of the two-quarterback system. Sophomore Reid Herring was effective through the air, throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Holton Ahlers was a steady change of pace. The rookie threw just one pass, but he rushed for 36 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a back-breaking fourth down touchdown run that put the Pirates up 35-19 with 14:23 remaining. The Tar Heels did not appear prepared for Ahlers' skill and toughness running the football.Â
8. The UNC running game essentially went into mothballs after Williams was ejected. On the second play after the ejection, Jordon Brown ran it 20 yards. Following that play, the next ten Carolina rushes went for a total of one yard. That sequence of plays included East Carolina twice stuffing the Tar Heels on fourth and short. Other than Antonio Williams, Carolina ran it 19 times for 65 yards, a 3.4 yards per carry average. The Tar Heels had 14 rushing yards in the second half.Â
9. The home opener against Central Florida that looms on Saturday now becomes a backs against the wall situation. The Tar Heels have traditionally been better than expected in that scenario in recent years, and will need to summon another good effort next week in order to get the season back on track. Things can change quickly in the world of college football, as ECU coach Scottie Montgomery is well aware--last week he was receiving significant criticism, and tonight he's the toast of Greenville.
Players Mentioned
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Defensive Line
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Wide Receiver
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Tailback
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