University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Andy Mead
GoHeels Exclusive: Missed Opportunities
October 20, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
BLACKSBURG, Va. — In his 30 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Mack Brown has been involved in many memorable games, none more notable than Texas' win over Southern California in the 2005 BCS National Championship.
North Carolina's 43-41 six-overtime defeat against Virginia Tech on Saturday won't bear nearly as much significance. Yet, it likely won't be forgotten by Brown.
"I've only been in one overtime (game) in my coaching career, and that was against West Virginia and it was one overtime and we won," said Brown when asked during his postgame press conference if he'd ever been a part of such a bizarre game. "So, no, I haven't been in anything this crazy."
The contest proved to be the longest in ACC history; that distinction was previously held by a four-overtime affair between Duke and Virginia Tech in 2015. It also marked the debut of college football's new overtime rules, which now call for teams to run alternating two-point conversion plays after the fourth overtime.
But it'll be remembered by Brown and his team for missed opportunities.
Long before the game even went into overtime, it appeared as if the Tar Heels (3-4, 2-2 ACC) wouldn't have any problems handling the Hokies (5-2, 2-2 ACC). UNC needed only 48 seconds to score a touchdown on the opening drive. It then seemed poised to seize a two-touchdown lead after recovering a fumble in Virginia Tech territory. Ultimately, Carolina settled for a field goal and 10-0 lead, but still felt firmly in control.
As quickly as the Tar Heels seized the lead, though, they lost it. After punting in plus-territory on their third drive, they surrendered a 55-yard touchdown, the longest play they've allowed this season. They pushed their lead to 17-7 midway through the second quarter, but Virginia Tech scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the half to go ahead 21-17.
"I was really disappointed before the half. …" Brown said. "Virginia Tech scores twice and we have a three-and-out, and I thought that changed the momentum of the game. It went back and forth from that point."
UNC scored the lone points of the third quarter on a 6-yard touchdown reception by Rontavius Groves. It had a chance to put up more after recovering a fumble near midfield just before the period ended, but the offense went three-and-out and the Hokies stuffed a fake punt.
That play alone, however, didn't determine the outcome. Many did.
There was third-string quarterback Quincy Patterson's 53-yard touchdown run that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. There were also the three three-and-outs by Carolina's offense in the period. Fans were quick to blame Noah Ruggles for the loss after he missed a potential game-winning field goal in the third overtime and had a 44-yarder blocked in the fourth overtime. But both of those kicks came after key penalties.
Knowing the position they'd put themselves in over the course of the game, none of Ruggles' teammates accused him of losing it.
"Noah do what he do all the time in practice," said Dazz Newsome, who caught a career-high two touchdowns. "We know what Noah can do. He missed one; everybody makes a mistake on their assignment sometimes. It happens."
Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, it happened too many times Saturday.
"We definitely had chances where we could have put them away," Beau Corrales said. "We had too many three-and-outs and just small stuff like that. Whenever a game is that close, you have to go back and look at the details and figure out what you're doing wrong."
UNC has six days to do that before Duke (also 2-2 in the ACC) comes to Chapel Hill for what seems to be a Coastal elimination game. Even if it beats the Blue Devils, Carolina will likely have to win its next two games against Virginia and Pittsburgh – which are 3-1 and 2-1 in the league, respectively – to stay in contention for the Coastal crown.
Even more importantly, the Tar Heels now have to win two of their final four ACC games – and their matchup against FCS opponent Mercer – to qualify for a bowl game. So, it's imperative that they grow from Saturday's loss.
"We have to," Myles Dorn said. "If we don't, it's going to keep going downhill. We just have to pull together and get ready for next week."
BLACKSBURG, Va. — In his 30 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Mack Brown has been involved in many memorable games, none more notable than Texas' win over Southern California in the 2005 BCS National Championship.
North Carolina's 43-41 six-overtime defeat against Virginia Tech on Saturday won't bear nearly as much significance. Yet, it likely won't be forgotten by Brown.
"I've only been in one overtime (game) in my coaching career, and that was against West Virginia and it was one overtime and we won," said Brown when asked during his postgame press conference if he'd ever been a part of such a bizarre game. "So, no, I haven't been in anything this crazy."
The contest proved to be the longest in ACC history; that distinction was previously held by a four-overtime affair between Duke and Virginia Tech in 2015. It also marked the debut of college football's new overtime rules, which now call for teams to run alternating two-point conversion plays after the fourth overtime.
But it'll be remembered by Brown and his team for missed opportunities.
Long before the game even went into overtime, it appeared as if the Tar Heels (3-4, 2-2 ACC) wouldn't have any problems handling the Hokies (5-2, 2-2 ACC). UNC needed only 48 seconds to score a touchdown on the opening drive. It then seemed poised to seize a two-touchdown lead after recovering a fumble in Virginia Tech territory. Ultimately, Carolina settled for a field goal and 10-0 lead, but still felt firmly in control.
As quickly as the Tar Heels seized the lead, though, they lost it. After punting in plus-territory on their third drive, they surrendered a 55-yard touchdown, the longest play they've allowed this season. They pushed their lead to 17-7 midway through the second quarter, but Virginia Tech scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the half to go ahead 21-17.
"I was really disappointed before the half. …" Brown said. "Virginia Tech scores twice and we have a three-and-out, and I thought that changed the momentum of the game. It went back and forth from that point."
UNC scored the lone points of the third quarter on a 6-yard touchdown reception by Rontavius Groves. It had a chance to put up more after recovering a fumble near midfield just before the period ended, but the offense went three-and-out and the Hokies stuffed a fake punt.
That play alone, however, didn't determine the outcome. Many did.
There was third-string quarterback Quincy Patterson's 53-yard touchdown run that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. There were also the three three-and-outs by Carolina's offense in the period. Fans were quick to blame Noah Ruggles for the loss after he missed a potential game-winning field goal in the third overtime and had a 44-yarder blocked in the fourth overtime. But both of those kicks came after key penalties.
Knowing the position they'd put themselves in over the course of the game, none of Ruggles' teammates accused him of losing it.
"Noah do what he do all the time in practice," said Dazz Newsome, who caught a career-high two touchdowns. "We know what Noah can do. He missed one; everybody makes a mistake on their assignment sometimes. It happens."
Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, it happened too many times Saturday.
"We definitely had chances where we could have put them away," Beau Corrales said. "We had too many three-and-outs and just small stuff like that. Whenever a game is that close, you have to go back and look at the details and figure out what you're doing wrong."
UNC has six days to do that before Duke (also 2-2 in the ACC) comes to Chapel Hill for what seems to be a Coastal elimination game. Even if it beats the Blue Devils, Carolina will likely have to win its next two games against Virginia and Pittsburgh – which are 3-1 and 2-1 in the league, respectively – to stay in contention for the Coastal crown.
Even more importantly, the Tar Heels now have to win two of their final four ACC games – and their matchup against FCS opponent Mercer – to qualify for a bowl game. So, it's imperative that they grow from Saturday's loss.
"We have to," Myles Dorn said. "If we don't, it's going to keep going downhill. We just have to pull together and get ready for next week."
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