Lucas: Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

That was a huge win both for the 2019 Tar Heels and for the program. With every opportunity to give the game away, Carolina was able to make enough plays to get a 20-17 win over Duke, a victory that's important because it ends a three-game losing streak to the Blue Devils, recovers the Victory Bell, makes a bowl bid more feasible, and keeps the Heels in contention in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division.
Chazz Surratt with a very interesting comment to Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game, as the linebacker—who made the game-clinching interception on a jump pass with Duke at the goal line in the game's closing seconds—said defensive coordinator Jay Bateman had told the Tar Heel defense to look for exactly that play. "He told us during the timeout to expect the pop pass," Surratt said. "I was able to jump and make the play." Surratt also had 12 tackles and a sack in the game.
"That was probably the best way we could've won," Mack Brown (now the program's all-time winningest coach) said on the THSN. It was certainly the most heart-stressing way. "This will be one we remember," the head coach said. This is a step forward. This should help us moving forward beliving in ourselves more."
Huge credit to Noah Ruggles, who had a rough week after being demoted following the loss to Virginia Tech. But he reclaimed the place-kicking job from Jonathan Kim during the course of the game and knocked home a pair of field goals in the second half, tying it up on a 34-yard kick and earning the go-ahead points on a 40-yard kick with seven minutes left.
Carolina's ground game was impressive. All three running backs had a solid day, with Javonte Williams the headliner with 111 yards, Michael Carter added 64 yards, and Antonio Williams contributed 50. Carolina's four rushers averaged 4.6 yards per carry, but that's including Sam Howell's -18 yards on five rushes.
And yes, Javonte Williams had the uncharacteristic fumble as it looked like Carolina was about to put the game away. That was Carolina's first red zone turnover of the season, and it set the stage for a memorable finish.
Sam Howell did not have his best game, but still threw a couple beautiful touchdown passes and finished 10-for-26 for 227 yards. That's how spoiled Howell has the fan base, that a 227-yard passing game from a true freshman mostly just merits a shrug. Duke turned the Howell interceptions into ten points.
Beau Corrales had a couple drops early in the year, but he's quietly caught a touchdown pass in each of the last four games. Corrales had two catches for 70 yards, and Dazz Newsome led the receivers with four catches for 103 yards and a score.
Carolina was hurt by a mobile quarterback last weekend at Virginia Tech, but the Tar Heel defense had a much more solid performance Saturday against Duke's Quentin Harris. The Blue Devil QB ran 13 times for -9 yards.
The Tar Heels got exactly what they needed in the Coastal Division on Saturday. Both Virginia and Pitt lost, leaving Carolina in a group of four division teams with two losses. They'll face two of those teams in the next two games, including a sold-out night game against the Cavaliers next weekend at Kenan Stadium.
The Tar Heel defense had a season-high five sacks. Jason Strowbridge and Jeremiah Gemmel had 1.5 sacks apiece.
The attrition in the secondary continued on the very first drive of the game, as Storm Duck had to leave with an injury and did not return. That left DeAndre Hollins having to play major snaps, and he made five tackles and broke up a pass as Duke consistently attacked the Carolina cornerbacks but really didn't do the damage they probably expected.
If you bought season tickets this year, you got an incredible deal. The first four home games of the season have been electric, and next weekend's should be even better. The only remaining challenge for the Carolina fan base: sell out the home finale against Mercer. That will be your last chance to see what could be a transformative team for this program play in Kenan Stadium.

Players Mentioned

Michael Carter

Beau Corrales

Jeremiah Gemmel

Ladaeson DeAndre Hollins

Sam Howell

Jonathan Kim

Dazz Newsome

Noah Ruggles

Jason Strowbridge

Chazz Surratt

Antonio Williams

Javonte Williams

Lucas: Rapid Reactions

Players Mentioned

Michael Carter

Beau Corrales

Jeremiah Gemmel

Ladaeson DeAndre Hollins

Sam Howell

Jonathan Kim

Dazz Newsome

Noah Ruggles

Jason Strowbridge

Chazz Surratt

Antonio Williams

Javonte Williams

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