CHAPEL HILL – The Georgia Tech triple option offense has proven to be Carolina’s undoing in years past, but senior quarterback Bryn Renner says he is encouraged by his team’s progress over the last couple weeks as the Tar Heels get set for the Saturday showdown.

Renner says despite the Yellow Jacket offense receiving all the hype, their defense still presents some big challenges for the UNC offense.

“I watched the old games, and they are very sound technically. They’re not going to do much to confuse you, but they are going to be very sound fundamentally. You have to execute. You are going to have to make plays to beat them,” Renner says.

Keeping the Carolina defense off the field in Atlanta on Saturday will be key, especially since Renner says the ball controlling Georgia Tech offense has a way of wearing down opposing defenses if given the opportunity.

“Punting the football means you’re probably not going to get it for at least five minutes. You’re going to be off the field. So we are going to have to convert and keep our defense off the field,” Renner says.

Renner says one of his offensive goals is to distribute the ball more frequently to talented receiver Quinshad Davis.

“Him getting involved more is definitely a key. They know who he is now. You know, he’s not a freshman anymore. But we’re going to try and get him the ball as much as possible,” Renner says.

Senior defensive tackle Tim Jackson says the number sixty-eight has been on the minds of the defense for a while now, sixty-eight being the Yellow Jackets’ tally a year ago against the Tar heels. He says he and his teammates are eager to make amends on Saturday.

“It’s definitely something the defense talks about. We’ve talked about it since the day it happened and making sure it doesn’t happen again. […] We all took it personal, and we want to make sure it doesn’t happen this week,” Jackson says.

Personally, Jackson says Georgia Tech is one of only two teams in the ACC he has yet to beat. He says as a senior, he understands this is his final crack at the win.

And that “crack” will come this Saturday at noon.