GREENSBORO– A total of 10 Tar Heel football players have received all-conference recognition. All-ACC honors were doled out on Monday by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.
Eric Ebron, James Hurst, Kareem Martin and Ryan Switzer were selected to the first-team All-ACC for their fine play in 2013 while senior safety Tre Boston was the lone Tar Heel who landed on the second-team all-conference list.
Quinshad Davis, Russell Bodine, Nortkeithus Otis, Jabari Price and Tommy Hibbard received honorable mention.
Boston College senior running back Andre Williams leads the nation in rushing yards with 2,102 and was the only player unanimously selected on all 65 ballots.
2013 All-ACC Football Team
First Team
Offense
QB – Jameis Winston, Florida State, 6-4, 225, Fr.-R, Bessemer, Ala. (191)
RB – Andre Williams, Boston College, 6-0, 220, Sr., Schnecksville, Pa. (195)
RB – Devonta Freeman, Florida State, 5-9, 203, Jr., Miami, Fla. (126)
WR – Sammy Watkins, Clemson, 6-1, 205, Jr., Fort Myers, Fla. (191)
WR – Jamison Crowder, Duke, 5-9, 175, Jr., Monroe, N.C. (172)
WR – Rashad Greene, Florida State, 6-0, 180, Jr., Albany, Ga. (126)
TE – Eric Ebron, North Carolina, 6-4, 245, Jr., Greensboro, N.C. (178)
T- Cameron Erving, Florida State, 6-6, 320, Jr.-R, Moultrie, Ga. (148)
T- James Hurst, North Carolina, 6-7, 305, Sr., Plainfield, Ind. (118)
G- Tre’ Jackson, Florida State, 6-4, 330, Jr., Jesup, Ga., (160)
G-Shaq Mason, Georgia Tech. 6-1. 305, Jr., Columbia, Tenn. (96)
C- Bryan Stork, Florida State, 6-4, 298, Sr.-R, Vero Beach, Fla. (181)
Defense
DE – Vic Beasley, Clemson, 6-3, 225, Jr-R.., Adairsville, Ga. (161)
DE – Kareem Martin, North Carolina, 6-6, 265, Sr., Roanoke Rapids, N.C. (159)
DT – Aaron Donald, Pitt, 6-0, 275, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa. (171)
DT – Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest, 5-11, 250, Sr.-R, Wylie, Texas (156)
LB – Kelby Brown, Duke, 6-2, 220, Jr.-R, Matthews, N.C. (146)
LB – Denzel Perryman, Miami, 6-0, 236, Jr., Coral Gables, Fla. (124)
LB – Kevin Pierre-Louis, Boston College, 6-1, 215, Sr., Norwalk, Conn. (123)
CB – Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State, 5-8, 190, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (172)
CB – Ross Cockrell, Duke, 6-0, 180, Sr.-R, Waxhaw, N.C. (145)
S – Anthony Harris, Virginia, 6-1, 185, Jr., Chesterfield, Va. (142)
S – Jeremy Cash, Duke, 6-2, 210, So.-R, Plantation, Fla. (129)
Special Teams
PK – Nate Freese, Boston College, 6-0, 185, Sr., Strongsville, Ohio (124)
P – Pat O’Donnell, Miami, 6-5, 222, Gr., Lake Worth, Fla. (135)
SP – Ryan Switzer, North Carolina, 5-10, 175, Fr., Charleston, W.Va. (155)
Second Team
Offense
QB – Tajh Boyd, Clemson, 6-1, 225, Sr.-R, Hampton, Va. (132)
RB – Kevin Parks, Virginia, 5-8, 205, Jr.-R, Salisbury, N.C. (117)
RB – Duke Johnson, Miami, 5-9, 194, So., Miami, Fla. (104)
WR – Michael Campanaro, Wake Forest, 5-11, 190, Sr.-R, Clarksville, Md. (102)
WR – Allen Hurns, Miami, 6-3, 195, Sr., Miami, Fla. (102)
WR – Tyler Boyd, Pitt, 6-2, 185, Fr., Alexandria, Va. (100)
TE – Nick O’Leary, Florida State, 6-3, 246, Jr., Palm Beach, Fla. (126)
T- Brandon Thomas, Clemson, 6-3, 305, Gr.-R, Spartanburg, S.C. (104)
T- Matt Patchan, Boston College, 6-6, 304, Sr., Tampa, Fla. (92)
G- Laken Tomlinson, Duke, 6-3, 320, Jr.-R, Chicago, Ill. (90)
G- Brandon Linder, Miami, 6-6, 317, Sr., Southwest Ranches, Fla. (80)
C- Macky MacPherson, Syracuse, 6-2, 280, Sr., Syracuse, N.Y. (61)
Defense
DE – Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 242, Sr., Washington, D.C. (121)
DE – Kenny Anunike, Duke, 6-5, 260, Sr.-R, Galena, Ohio (98)
DT – Timmy Jernigan, Florida State, 6-2, 294, Jr., Lake City, Fla. (124)
DT – Derrick Hopkins, Virginia Tech, 6-0, 306, Sr., Highland Springs, Va. (73)
LB – Telvin Smith, Florida State, 6-3, 218, Sr., Valdosta, Ga. (105)
LB – Jack Tyler, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 236, Sr.-R, Oakton, Va. (93)
LB – Christian Jones, Florida State, 6-4, 232, Sr., Winter Park, Fla. (83)
CB – Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech, 5-11, 180, Fr., Baltimore, Md. (91)
CB – Bashaud Breeland, Clemson, 6-0, 195, Jr.-R, Allendale, S.C. (69)
S – Terrence Brooks, Florida State, 5-11, 200, Sr., Dunnellon, Fla. (97)
S – Tre Boston, North Carolina, 6-1, 205, Sr., Fort Myers, Fla. (86)
Special Teams
PK – Roberto Aguayo, Florida State, 6-1, 208, Fr.-R, Mascotte, Fla. (123)
P – A.J. Hughes, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 190, So., Terre Haute, Ind. (79)
SP – Jamison Crowder, Duke, 5-9, 175, Jr., Monroe, N.C. (80)
Third Team
Offense
QB – Stephen Morris, Miami, 6-2, 214, Sr., Miami, Fla. (24)
RB – Roderick McDowell, Clemson, 5-9, 195, Gr.-R, Sumter, S.C. (85)
RB -Jerome Smith, Syracuse, 6-0, 217, Sr., Bear, Del. (53)
WR – Devin Street, Pitt, 6-4, 190, Sr.-R, Bethlehem, Pa. (80)
WR – Alex Amidon, Boston College, 5-11, 186, Sr., Greenfield, Mass. (70)
WR – Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State, 6-5, 238. So.-R, Belle Glade, Fla. (68)
TE – Braxton Deaver, Duke, 6-5, 240, Jr.-R, Charlotte, N.C. (51)
T- Perry Simmons, Duke, 6-5, 300, Sr.-R, Raleigh, N.C. (80)
T- Morgan Moses, Virginia, 6-6, 325, Sr., Richmond, Va. (76)
G – Tyler Shatley, Clemson, 6-3, 295, Sr.-R, Icard, S.C. (65)
G- Josue Matias, Florida State, 6-6, 322, Jr. , Union City, N.J. (57)
C- Andy Gallik, Boston College, 6-3, 300, Jr.-R, Evergreen Park, Ill. (52)
Defense
DE – Kasim Edebali, Boston College, 6-2, 258, Sr.-R, Hamburg, Germany (65)
DE – Mario Edwards Jr., Florida State, 6-3, 285, So., Gautier, Miss. (56)
DT – Jay Bromley, Syracuse, 6-4, 293, Sr., Jamaica, N.Y. (68)
DT – Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 288, Jr., Delray Beach, Fla. (56)
LB – Steele Divittto, Boston College, 6-3, 238, Sr., Ridgefield, Conn. (78)
LB – Stephone Anthony, Clemson, 6-3, 235, Jr., Polkton, N.C. (73)
LB – Spencer Shuey, Clemson, 6-3, 230, Gr.-R, Charlotte, N.C. (57)
CB – Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech, 6-0, 193, Sr., Baltimore, Md. (58)
CB – Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 173, Fr., Newnan, Ga. (53)
S – Durell Eskridge, Syracuse, 6-3, 202, So., Miami, Fla. (53)
S – Nate Andrews, Florida State, 6-0, 208, Fr., Fairhope, Ala. (44)
Special Teams
PK- Chandler Cantnazaro, Clemson 6-2, 195, Gr.-R, Greenville, S.C. (69)
P – Will Monday, Duke, 6-4, 210, So.-R, Flowery Branch, Ga. (73)
SP – DeVon Edwards, Duke, 5-9, 185, Fr.-R, Covington, Ga. (57)
Honorable Mention
(20 or more points)
RB
Robert Godhigh, RB, Georgia Tech (39)
David Sims, RB, Georgia Tech (29)
James Wilder, Jr., RB, Florida State (23)
WR
Kenny Shaw, WR, Florida State (46)
Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson (34)
Quinshad Davis, WR, North Carolina (33)
Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland (21)
OT
Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami (34)
Bobby Hart, OT, Florida State (30)
Sean Hickey, OT, Syracuse (29)
Ian White, OT, Boston College (27)
OG
Andrew Miller, OG, Virginia Tech, (53)
Will Jackson, OG, Georgia Tech, (35)
Matt Rotheram, OG, Pitt (22)
Jon Feliciano, OG, Miami (20)
C
Russell Bodine, C, North Carolina (28)
David Wang, C, Virginia Tech (21)
DE
James Gayle, DE, Virginia Tech (42)
DT
Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson (39)
Brent Urban, DT, Virginia (21)
LB
Robert Caldwell, LB, NC State (51)
Marcus Whitfield, LB, Maryland (45)
Marquis Spruill, LB, Syracuse (31)
Terrance Smith, LB, Florida State (26)
Norkeithus Otis, LB, North Carolina (22)
Cole Farrand, LB, Maryland (22)
CB
Tracy Howard, CB, Miami (30)
P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State (25)
Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest (22)
Jabari Price, CB, North Carolina (20)
S
Ray Vinopal, S, Pitt (30)
Jason Hendricks, S, Pitt (29)
Ryan Janvion, S, Wake Forest (28)
Kyshoen Jarrett, S, Virginia Tech (23)
Deon Bush, S, Miami (20)
PK
Niklas Sade, PK, NC State (37)
Ross Martin, PK, Duke (26)
P
Tommy Hibbard, P, North Carolina (26)
SP
Stacy Coley, SP, Miami (22)
http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-sports/ten-tar-heels-named-acc-football/
CHAPEL HILL– The Tar Heels had their five-game winning streak snapped by No. 24 Duke 27-25 in front of a packed Kenan Stadium Saturday.
The Tar Heels had their chances, but ultimately Marquise Williams’ intercepted pass with 13 seconds left in the game sealed Carolina’s fate.
Williams says he had full confidence in Carolina’s ability to drive for the winning score at the end of the game, but things just didn’t quite work out when he was hit as he threw.
“We were just trying to find a way to win. I guess it didn’t come out that way. We were just trying to move the ball down the field hoping to get a field goal or a touchdown. We were just trying to find a way to win,” Williams says.
With the loss Carolina fell to 6-6 on the season and will wait until next weekend to find out where they will be playing in a bowl game.
With the win, Duke improved to 10-2 on the season and won the Coastal Division. The Blue Devils will face No. 2 Florida State next Saturday in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte.
Senior defensive end Kareem Martin says it was frustrating to see the team commit some dumb mistakes that led to crippling penalties.
“It’s tough, especially coming from what we’ve come to be as a team and the strides we’ve made throughout the season. To see us make simple mistakes is kind of tough,” Martin says.
Senior safety Tre Boston dropped a possible interception late in the game. It hit him right in the hands, but Boston says the reality of it being his last home game ever in a Carolina uniform has yet to sink in.
“I touched the field for the last time. I don’t think it’s sunk in as much as it should have. I think it’s going to take a little time to realize that was my last time out there, but I cherished it and played my heart out,” Boston says.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-sports/carolina-seniors-licking-wounds-losing-two-straight-duke/CHAPEL HILL– No. 24 Duke pulled out a tight 27-25 win over Carolina to claim the Coastal Division title and earn a trip to the ACC Championship Game to face No. 2 Florida State next Saturday.
The game was tense throughout, but DeVon Edwards picked off Marquise Williams with 13 seconds left in the game to seal the victory for the Blue Devils in Chapel Hill. Duke improved to 10-2 on the year while UNC fell to 6-6.
Third downs told the tale of the game. The Blue Devils converted on eight of their 15 attempts while the Tar Heels were just two for 12.
Anthony Boone opened up in the quarterback position for the Duke offense. The Blue Devils use a dual system at quarterback. The opening drive was uneventful for the Blue Devils as a spirited Tar Heel defense stopped them three and out.
The Tar Heels opened up their drive with a solid completion to Quinshad Davis. T.J. Logan dashed ahead for a good pickup into Duke territory next. But ultimately, Carolina was bottled up and a 42-yard Thomas Moore field goal was missed wide right to the dismay of the crowd.
Duke took the ensuing possession and pushed the ball across midfield with some nifty plays, but the Tar Heel defense stiffened up, and a tackle by Shawn Underwood on third down forced a punt.
Electricity ensued for the Tar Heels. Eric Ebron, playing in his final home game in a Carolina uniform after declaring for the NFL Draft, snagged a 79-yard catch – the longest of his career.
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And two plays later, Marquise Williams capped off the scoring drive with a keeper into the end zone.
Carolina posted a 7-0 lead with 8:22 to play in the first quarter to the delight of a packed out Kenan Stadium.
But Duke was ready to respond. They marched the ball right down the field with precision passing and inspired running up the middle. A 74-yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Boone to Jamison Crowder. It was Crowder’s 85th catch of the year and tied a Duke record.
And to make matters worse, UNC’s Travis Hughes was assessed a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty at the end of the scoring play.
At the close of the first quarter, the score was deadlocked at seven. Duke had managed eight first downs to Carolina’s four. Duke’s signal caller Anthony Boone had received all the snaps and went six for eight for 64 yards.
The second quarter started strong for Carolina thanks to a beautiful punt by Tommy Hibbard that pinned Duke inside their own five yard line.
But the poor field position did nothing to deter the Duke offensive attack. Tight end Braxton Deaver was tearing apart the Carolina defense with laser-like passes from Anthony Boone. The whole length of the field was traversed by the Blue Devils.
The 8:20 second drive was stalled inside the five yard line. It was a big goal line stand for the Tar Heels. In fact, it was the first time all season Duke had first and goal to go and didn’t score a touchdown.
The Blue Devils made the field goal, however, and went up 10-7 with 6:31 left in the half.
Disaster struck for the Blue Devils next. Crowder fumbled the punt, and the Tar Heels recovered at the Duke 34-yard line. Could Carolina cash in?
Well, a huge fourth down conversion was completed to Eric Ebron. And a few plays later, a fumble into the end zone was under review by the officials. It appeared on the replay that UNC was either down on the half-yard line or had scored a touchdown before the ball came loose.
The officials ruled Logan was down. It was a first and goal for the Tar Heels. And Marquise Williams ran around the end for an easy touchdown.
UNC Head Coach Larry Fedora elected to go for a two-point conversion on some trickery with a fake field goal. The kicker Hibbard threw a pass to get the two points and place the Tar Heels up 15-10 with 1:30 left in the half.
How did Duke respond? With a 99-yard kickoff return by DeVon Edwards, of course, to take the lead 17-15.
UNC couldn’t answer on the following drive as the Duke defense got some pressure on Williams in the backfield. A Hibbard punt gave the Blue Devils the ball on their own 11 with little time left on the clock.
At the half, it was Duke with a whopping 17 first downs to a mere 7 for UNC. Quarterback Marquise Williams was 8 for 15 for 156 yards. Eric Ebron set the single season record for yardage by an ACC tight end with his 103 first half yards.
Duke’s Kelby Brown picked off Williams on the opening drive of the second half for the Tar Heels. The pass was intended for Ebron.
And after the turnover, Boone hit a wide open receiver to give the Blue Devils a first and goal situation. And Jamison Crowder made an incredible grab in the back of the end zone to give Duke a 124-15 lead with 12:08 on the clock in the third quarter. What an athletic Crowder catch that was.
UNC’s play calling was a bit redundant on their next drive. They threw three straight bombs and failed to convert on fourth down to hand the ball back to Duke. The killer on that drive was a dropped ball by T.J. Logan inside the five-yard line.
The Blue Devils were back at it and could sense another score would do a lot to help their chances of reaching the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte next weekend.
But a nice third down break-up by Tre Boston and a poorly thrown ball by Boone on a fourth down try gave the ball back to Carolina.
Eric Ebron made a nice sideline grab to pick up a first down into Duke territory for Carolina. UNC really needed a score. And they got it. Davis broke free for a score to energize the crowd and get UNC within two points at 24-22 with 5:10 left in third quarter.
On the next chance for Duke, it was the UNC defense that started strong. They forced a third and long play. But the Blue Devils converted on yet another third down. That was becoming a theme of the day. Duke was now 7 for 11 on third downs.
Another third down arose for Duke at the Carolina 44. Darius Lipford stepped up to supply big pressure and force a Duke punt.
Switzer sped around the end for a nine yard pickup for UNC. Logan then took the ball for a 14-yard burst that had Carolina off and running yet again.
But a no call on a possible pass interference on Ebron left Coach Fedora fuming on the sidelines. He spent the entire rest of the series yelling at the referees.
A beautiful punt by Hibbard gave Duke the ball at their own three yard line to start their offensive series.
The Carolina defense came to play in the second half. A massive tackle by Malik Simmons on third down and six forced another Duke punt.
Switzer was taken down at the UNC 32 and the Tar Heels were set to start another important drive. And it began on a rough note. A holding penalty backed Carolina up.
But the offense clicked after that. The 12-play, 4:50 drive resulted in a 37-yard field goal for Thomas Moore. He nailed it down the middle to give the Tar Heels a 25-24 lead with 7:03 to play.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Russell Bodine, however, might have cost UNC a chance at a touchdown.
On the next possession, Tre Boston dropped an errant throw by Boone. It should have been an interception. And Boone capitalized on a nice throw over the middle that set Duke up for a good scoring chance at the UNC 33-yard line.
The Tar Heel defense stiffened yet again to hold Duke to a field goal. With 2:22 remaining in the contest, the Blue Devils were clinging to a 27-25 lead.
Thanks to a block in the back penalty, the Carolina offense would start their final drive of the game inside their own 10-yard line.
A face mask penalty helped Carolina’s cause, moving them out to the 25-yard line. A Switzer first down moved the ball to the 36-yard line with just under a minute to go.
Williams picked up a fourth down with his legs, but he threw an easy interception a couple plays later to hand the game over to Duke with 13 seconds remaining in game.
http://chapelboro.com/huddle-up/game-recap-2/CHAPEL HILL– No. 24 Duke pulled out a tight 27-25 win over Carolina to claim the Coastal Division title and earn a trip to the ACC Championship Game to face No. 2 Florida State next Saturday.
The game was tense throughout, but DeVon Edwards picked off Marquise Williams with 13 seconds left in the game to seal the victory for the Blue Devils in Chapel Hill. Duke improved to 10-2 on the year while UNC fell to 6-6.
Third downs told the tale of the game. The Blue Devils converted on eight of their 15 attempts while the Tar Heels were just two for 12.
Anthony Boone opened up in the quarterback position for the Duke offense. The Blue Devils use a dual system at quarterback. The opening drive was uneventful for the Blue Devils as a spirited Tar Heel defense stopped them three and out.
The Tar Heels opened up their drive with a solid completion to Quinshad Davis. T.J. Logan dashed ahead for a good pickup into Duke territory next. But ultimately, Carolina was bottled up and a 42-yard Thomas Moore field goal was missed wide right to the dismay of the crowd.
Duke took the ensuing possession and pushed the ball across midfield with some nifty plays, but the Tar Heel defense stiffened up, and a tackle by Shawn Underwood on third down forced a punt.
Electricity ensued for the Tar Heels. Eric Ebron, playing in his final home game in a Carolina uniform after declaring for the NFL Draft, snagged a 79-yard catch – the longest of his career.
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And two plays later, Marquise Williams capped off the scoring drive with a keeper into the end zone.
Carolina posted a 7-0 lead with 8:22 to play in the first quarter to the delight of a packed out Kenan Stadium.
But Duke was ready to respond. They marched the ball right down the field with precision passing and inspired running up the middle. A 74-yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Boone to Jamison Crowder. It was Crowder’s 85th catch of the year and tied a Duke record.
And to make matters worse, UNC’s Travis Hughes was assessed a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty at the end of the scoring play.
At the close of the first quarter, the score was deadlocked at seven. Duke had managed eight first downs to Carolina’s four. Duke’s signal caller Anthony Boone had received all the snaps and went six for eight for 64 yards.
The second quarter started strong for Carolina thanks to a beautiful punt by Tommy Hibbard that pinned Duke inside their own five yard line.
But the poor field position did nothing to deter the Duke offensive attack. Tight end Braxton Deaver was tearing apart the Carolina defense with laser-like passes from Anthony Boone. The whole length of the field was traversed by the Blue Devils.
The 8:20 second drive was stalled inside the five yard line. It was a big goal line stand for the Tar Heels. In fact, it was the first time all season Duke had first and goal to go and didn’t score a touchdown.
The Blue Devils made the field goal, however, and went up 10-7 with 6:31 left in the half.
Disaster struck for the Blue Devils next. Crowder fumbled the punt, and the Tar Heels recovered at the Duke 34-yard line. Could Carolina cash in?
Well, a huge fourth down conversion was completed to Eric Ebron. And a few plays later, a fumble into the end zone was under review by the officials. It appeared on the replay that UNC was either down on the half-yard line or had scored a touchdown before the ball came loose.
The officials ruled Logan was down. It was a first and goal for the Tar Heels. And Marquise Williams ran around the end for an easy touchdown.
UNC Head Coach Larry Fedora elected to go for a two-point conversion on some trickery with a fake field goal. The kicker Hibbard threw a pass to get the two points and place the Tar Heels up 15-10 with 1:30 left in the half.
How did Duke respond? With a 99-yard kickoff return by DeVon Edwards, of course, to take the lead 17-15.
UNC couldn’t answer on the following drive as the Duke defense got some pressure on Williams in the backfield. A Hibbard punt gave the Blue Devils the ball on their own 11 with little time left on the clock.
At the half, it was Duke with a whopping 17 first downs to a mere 7 for UNC. Quarterback Marquise Williams was 8 for 15 for 156 yards. Eric Ebron set the single season record for yardage by an ACC tight end with his 103 first half yards.
Duke’s Kelby Brown picked off Williams on the opening drive of the second half for the Tar Heels. The pass was intended for Ebron.
And after the turnover, Boone hit a wide open receiver to give the Blue Devils a first and goal situation. And Jamison Crowder made an incredible grab in the back of the end zone to give Duke a 124-15 lead with 12:08 on the clock in the third quarter. What an athletic Crowder catch that was.
UNC’s play calling was a bit redundant on their next drive. They threw three straight bombs and failed to convert on fourth down to hand the ball back to Duke. The killer on that drive was a dropped ball by T.J. Logan inside the five-yard line.
The Blue Devils were back at it and could sense another score would do a lot to help their chances of reaching the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte next weekend.
But a nice third down break-up by Tre Boston and a poorly thrown ball by Boone on a fourth down try gave the ball back to Carolina.
Eric Ebron made a nice sideline grab to pick up a first down into Duke territory for Carolina. UNC really needed a score. And they got it. Davis broke free for a score to energize the crowd and get UNC within two points at 24-22 with 5:10 left in third quarter.
On the next chance for Duke, it was the UNC defense that started strong. They forced a third and long play. But the Blue Devils converted on yet another third down. That was becoming a theme of the day. Duke was now 7 for 11 on third downs.
Another third down arose for Duke at the Carolina 44. Darius Lipford stepped up to supply big pressure and force a Duke punt.
Switzer sped around the end for a nine yard pickup for UNC. Logan then took the ball for a 14-yard burst that had Carolina off and running yet again.
But a no call on a possible pass interference on Ebron left Coach Fedora fuming on the sidelines. He spent the entire rest of the series yelling at the referees.
A beautiful punt by Hibbard gave Duke the ball at their own three yard line to start their offensive series.
The Carolina defense came to play in the second half. A massive tackle by Malik Simmons on third down and six forced another Duke punt.
Switzer was taken down at the UNC 32 and the Tar Heels were set to start another important drive. And it began on a rough note. A holding penalty backed Carolina up.
But the offense clicked after that. The 12-play, 4:50 drive resulted in a 37-yard field goal for Thomas Moore. He nailed it down the middle to give the Tar Heels a 25-24 lead with 7:03 to play.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Russell Bodine, however, might have cost UNC a chance at a touchdown.
On the next possession, Tre Boston dropped an errant throw by Boone. It should have been an interception. And Boone capitalized on a nice throw over the middle that set Duke up for a good scoring chance at the UNC 33-yard line.
The Tar Heel defense stiffened yet again to hold Duke to a field goal. With 2:22 remaining in the contest, the Blue Devils were clinging to a 27-25 lead.
Thanks to a block in the back penalty, the Carolina offense would start their final drive of the game inside their own 10-yard line.
A face mask penalty helped Carolina’s cause, moving them out to the 25-yard line. A Switzer first down moved the ball to the 36-yard line with just under a minute to go.
Williams picked up a fourth down with his legs, but he threw an easy interception a couple plays later to hand the game over to Duke with 13 seconds remaining in game.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-sports/carolina-reclaims-victory-bell-win-duke/
Offense: Simply put, the Tar Heel offensive engine is humming right now. And a lot of that has to do with a rising youth movement that only gained momentum with a pair of Ryan Switzer punt returns last Saturday in Carolina’s 80-20 victory at Chapel Hill. Switzer is joined by fellow youngsters in tailbacks T.J. Logan and Khris Francis, as well as nifty receiver Bug Howard. With their rise, Carolina has an excellent stable of viable options for sophomore quarterback Marquise Williams to pick from. Williams has made a seamless transition into the starting role. He adds a dual threat to Offensive Coordinator Blake Anderson’s attack. Not to mention, he is seemingly a perfect fit for the Fedora-style warp-speed philosophy. Through the air, UNC is averaging 292 yards per outing, 23rd best in the country. All-American candidate Eric Ebron is on everyone’s watch list. He is an extraordinary playmaker for the Tar Heels that will be coming to an NFL stadium near you in the near future. Even the offensive line is showing some timely improvement as they have handled some physical defensive fronts in recent weeks. All in all, it appears UNC’s offense is surging as the season winds to a close.
The Blue Devils are led by a dual threat combo at quarterback. Anthony Boone is a dynamic player who can move the chains for Duke. The playmaking wide receiver Jamison Crowder has 1077 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season. He’s always a factor down the field. And with a senior laden offensive line, Duke may have a chance to hold off the Tar Heel rush.
EDGE: DEAD EVEN
Defense: The Tar Heels have seemingly found the formula for success on this end of the field. And a lot of this improvement has to be credited to Coach Vic’s relentless drive in practice and ability to adapt as the season progressed. He sensed his guys were struggling with all the schemes. So what did he do? He simplified. Now senior defensive end Kareem Martin says the Tar Heels have been freed up to really let loose and focus on playing with high energy and lots of passion. It seems to be working. The defense is playing faster and avoiding the dreaded ‘paralysis by analysis.’ Last week, the Tar Heels completely overwhelmed the ODU offense throughout the contest. With Norkeithus Otis and Kareem Martin continuing to create havoc in opposing backfields, the Duke passing attack may be forced into some less than desirable throws. And the hungry members of the secondary like Tre Boston and Dominique Green will be hungry to scarf up some interceptions.
The Duke defense is a weak point no longer. Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe has a disciplined unit that keeps the ball in front of them and makes solid tackles, but it remains to be seen whether his defense can withstand the Carolina offensive weaponry. We will see soon enough. But here’s betting we could see some mismatches out there in Kenan Stadium on Saturday in this category.
EDGE: Carolina
Intangibles: This category is interesting. Duke has won seven straight and is coming off the heels of back-to-back comeback wins against Miami and Wake Forest. The team believes they will come out with more points on the scoreboard no matter what situation they find themselves in. And they seemingly have more to play for, right? A trip to the ACC Championship is on the line. So edge goes to the Blue Devils, correct?
No way. Carolina is riding a wave of momentum with five straight victories. It’s senior day. It’s Eric Ebron’s last home game as a Tar Heel after announcing he will forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. I don’t think these veteran Tar Heels will forget the upset loss they took at Duke a year ago, either. Kenan Stadium will be slammed. It’s a sell out. Senior Day + Home Game + Extra Motivation = Carolina Edge.
EDGE: Carolina
WRAP-UP:
Grab your popcorn. This one will be entertaining. It will be emotional for both sides. Big plays will be aplenty. The key will be this: Can the Duke secondary hang with the plethora of Carolina receivers for four quarters. Limiting the big plays and forcing the Tar Heels to grind out long drives will be crucial for the Blue Devils’ chances. But if you ask me, I think the Tar Heel offensive explosions continue and Carolina will hang on to reclaim the Victory Bell.
QUICK PICK: Tar Heels 38, Duke 31
http://chapelboro.com/columns/huddle-up-columns/breakin-duke/CHAPEL HILL–The 6-5 Tar Heels will be looking to spoil 9-2 Duke’s hopes of playing in the ACC Championship Game when they take to the field at Kenan Stadium Saturday for a noon kickoff.
Head Coach Larry Fedora says he’s not surprised at all the success the Blue Devils have been enjoying this season.
“From my experience from last year, yes, because they’re a good football team. The way the league has gone, it’s come done to the wire. It did last year, and it’s doing it this year. Anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday, and if your team keeps believing and keeps playing well, you can put yourself in that position, and that’s what they’ve done,” Coach Fedora says.
Coach Fedora says he is impressed with the Duke defense. He says they are very disciplined, opportunistic and good at taking care of what’s in front of them.
“They got kids that are playing hard. They’re playing some young kids, and they’re in the right position. [...] They have a philosophy. They’re very sound in what they do. Their kids are in position. They’re where they’re supposed to be, and they’re making the plays they’re supposed to make,” Coach Fedora says.
Ryan Switzer has tied the ACC regular season punt return record with four returns in the past three games. He has suddenly put it all together. Coach Fedora says he thinks Switzer’s success can be traced to not worrying about all the little things and instead, just letting things happen.
“Now the confidence is there. He’s not worried about catching the football. He’s not thinking about everything that I’ve given to him to think about. He thought when you come out of high school you go back there, and you just catch the ball and run. That’s not the way we do things. He is so comfortable now that he is at that point where he doesn’t have to think now,” Coach Fedora says.
Sophomore signal caller Marquise Williams says he is looking forward to the tough test Duke will provide to Carolina. He says the team will do whatever it takes to walk off with the ‘W’,
“That’s the main focus. It’s a big game for us. It’s going to be a hard thing. That’s a good football team over there, not taking anything from them. [...] We just got to do it all to win this football game. I don’t care if it’s 3-0 or 6-3, as long as we win this football game. That’s all that matters to me,” Williams says.
The 100th meeting between the two institutions is sure to be one not to miss.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-sports/100th-duke-unc-meeting-memorable/Eighty, as in the number of points the Tar Heels scored in Saturday’s 80-20 win over Old Dominion, is remarkable to be sure.
Another number associated with the Tar Heels, 90, might be even more impressive, however. It’s the total points the team has allowed in its last five games, all wins, as UNC climbed back into the bowl game picture.
If the Tar Heels can top a revived Duke squad Saturday, no mean feat, the Tar Heels can also boast a winning record at 7-5. That’s almost unfathomable for a team that started the season 1-5, though as UNC’s defense has stiffened the wins have suddenly piled up.
The Tar Heels success has been much to the pleasure, if not the surprise of, head coach Larry Fedora. He didn’t bother trying to low-key his team’s terrific performance, which lifted UNC to 6-5 overall.
“Going into that game, I believe [Old Dominion] had punted 24 total times in 11 football games – we forced 10 punts in that game the other day. There were just a lot of great things, too many to really single out,” Fedora says.
Many aspects of the Tar Heel “D” deserve credit, including cornerback Brian Walker. The freshman led a unit that limited ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke to a 14 of 31 passing effort, good for just 130 yards and a touchdown.
“Brian is another one of those true freshmen who has just gotten better every week. Now [Coach Dan] Disch is very comfortable throwing him out there in any situation. That is always a little bit of a scary situation when you put a guy out there at corner, because everybody sees if he makes a mistake. I think Dan has complete confidence in what Brian can do. Brian has no fear; he doesn’t mind getting up in your face and playing you.
“He’s one of those guys who has got the right mentality as a corner. He’s got that short-term memory – he doesn’t worry about one play to the next. He’s playing the play that he’s got, and if something bad happens he understands that it’s just part of the business and he moves on to the next play. He really played well. He had some really bright spots in the game – he was all over the receivers,” Fedora said.
Walker’s play, along with the stellar coverage by his teammates, made life miserable for Heinicke, whom his coach compared to the Saints great signal-caller Drew Brees. That may be a bit lofty, but Heinicke was FCS offensive player of the year in 2012 with 25 touchdown passes to just one interception.
Things don’t get much easier for the Tar Heels this week, with Duke’s Anthony Boone behind center. After struggling with four picks in a 13-10 win over Virginia Tech, Boone has completed 48 of 65 passes for 499 yards and had three scoring strikes in Saturday’s conquest of Wake Forest.
Boone also has an 8-0 mark to be proud of, his record as the Blue Devils’ starting signal-caller, including seven wins on this campaign. Strong fourth quarters, with a 110-34 advantage for the Blue Devils in the stanza, has been a key to their success.
“We are a 3 ½ hour team,” Boone says of Duke, a top-25 team that has won nine games for the first time since 1941. “We put more steam into the second half. No matter what happens in the first half, we come out ready to play in the second half.”
Fedora, meanwhile, says staying positive and not looking too far ahead has been the focus of his team, and the approach has obviously worked for the Tar Heels.
“If we continue to get a little bit better, if we continue to believe and hold this team together, if they keep working hard and have good attitudes, there is no doubt in my mind. That’s what they’ve done. We’ve focused on being 1-0 each week, giving one more inch. They’ve found a way, whatever it takes. That will be our entire focus again this week,” Fedora says.
http://chapelboro.com/huddle-up/defense-helps-build-tar-heels-winner/CHAPEL HILL– The Tar Heels can finish the regular season with a 7-5 record with a win against Duke this Saturday. That would make six straight wins. Few would have thought Carolina would be playing such a meaningful game the final weekend of the regular season.
Head Coach Larry Fedora says he’s not surprised at all. He never had any doubts of an eventual Tar Heel turnaround.
“I never doubted it actually. I knew if we continued to get a little bit better, if we continued to believe, hold this team together, they keep working hard and have great attitudes, there was no doubt in my mind,” Coach Fedora says.
And like a broken record, Coach Fedora continues to hammer home the patented mantra of the 2013 Carolina football season.
“That’s what they’ve done. They focused on being 1-0 each week. They’ve given one more inch. They’ve found a way, and they’ve done whatever it takes. Again, that will be our entire focus this week,” Coach Fedora says.
Freshman sensation Ryan Switzer says he’s getting tired of Coach Fedora’s motivational tactics. He says those videos, of the Duke team spray painting the Victory Bell after last season’s defeat, are getting old.
“Here we go again. They did the same thing with N.C. State. It gets tiring looking at it on the TV’s all day-in the weight room, training room, and locker room. It gets old. I just can’t wait for Saturday to get here, where we can finally just go out and play and not worry about all that,” Switzer says.
Revenge is no doubt on the minds of Carolina. In fact, Switzer says the Tar Heels couldn’t imagine a better way to end the season.
“It’s a big game for us. It’s a big game for them. They’re on the run of their lives right now and have been playing great ball as of late. To finish up at home against a rival like that and one who has so much on the line, as do we. It makes for a big game, an ESPN game. We wouldn’t want to finish the season any other way, to be honest,” Switzer says.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-sports/duke-victory-bell-videos-getting-old-ryan-switzer/
Focus on being 1-0 each week. Give one more inch. Find a way. Do whatever it takes.
The Head Coach of the Tar Heel football team Larry Fedora is known for a lot of things. His fiery persona. His Red Bull addiction. His warp-speed offensive philosophy. His recruiting ability. His usual preoccupation with the officials on Saturday. The list goes on and on.
But maybe, just maybe he is creating a new persona for himself that will trump all of those things we listed above.
Picture this: Larry Fedora, the Master Motivator.
Yes, the guy can work the inner psychology of a team like few coaches can. He channels the focus of a group of teenagers and early twenty-something’s admirably.
Let’s shuffle through some of the highlights of Larry Fedora the Master Motivator’s reign at Carolina:
-He ushered in his tenure posting the Countdown to State. From day one, Coach Fedora knew exactly how many days remained for the rivalry game against N.C. State. He understood the importance of winning this match-up and how long it had been since Carolina had asserted their dominance in the series. He made the game an absolute priority for the school, the University, and most importantly, the players. When the week of the game rolled around? He did a little interior decorating in the UNC locker room. Let’s just say there was a lot of red involved. This year? He plastered ‘This is Our State’ posters all over player’s lockers.
And the proof is in the pudding: Tar Heels 2, NCSU 0
-1-0 Each Week: This year, most outside observers left the team for dead. Who can blame them? These 1-5 Tar Heels couldn’t even make a proper tackle, let alone find away to win a game. But Master Motivator Larry Fedora never had any doubts of an eventual Tar Heel turnaround.
“I never doubted it actually. I knew if we continued to get a little bit better, if we continued to believe, hold this team together, they keep working hard and have great attitudes, there was no doubt in my mind,” Coach Fedora says.
And like a broken record, Coach Fedora continues to hammer home the patented mantra of the 2013 Carolina football season until the cows come home. He probably murmurs it in his sleep.
“That’s what they’ve done. They focused on being 1-0 each week. They’ve given one more inch. They’ve found a way, and they’ve done whatever it takes. Again, that will be our entire focus this week,” Coach Fedora says.
But it’s not just Coach Fedora. The players have truly bought in. You can see it in their eyes. They prescribe to the procurement. The belief is there. You can even say they were brainwashed, willingly.
The turnaround is astonishing. Carolina is just the sixth team since the regular season expanded to 12 games in 2006 to start the season 1-5 and make a bowl game. And what’s more, only one – Rutgers in 2008 – came from a BCS conference. Sweet Caroline!
-Duke Victory Bell Video Assault: Coach Fedora the Master Motivator doesn’t want his kids to forget the sour memory in Durham a year ago. He’s making sure of that this week. Just ask freshman sensation Ryan Switzer.
“Here we go again. They did the same thing with N.C. State. It gets tiring looking at it on the TV’s all day-in the weight room, training room, and locker room. It gets old. I just can’t wait for Saturday to get here, where we can finally just go out and play and not worry about all that,” Switzer says.
What’s on the TV? Footage of the Duke players spray painting the Victory Bell that ugly shade of blue following their upset of the Tar Heels a year ago. You think that will motivate the players at all? I’d say they’ll be fired up to play on Saturday.
But despite all the other mind games and motivational techniques, Larry Fedora, the Master Motivator is wedded to his tried and true banner.
Focus on being 1-0 each week. Give one more inch. Find a way. Do whatever it takes.
http://chapelboro.com/columns/huddle-up-columns/oakes-presser-points-master-motivator/CHAPEL HILL– Saturday’s game against No. 24 Duke will be junior tight end Eric Ebron’s final home game as a Tar Heel.
Ebron made the announcement Monday that he will be forgoing his senior year of eligibility to enter the 2014 NFL Draft following UNC’s bowl game.
Ebron says he’s excited to put the decision behind him. Now he says he can really enjoy the rest of his days as a Carolina student-athlete.
“I just want to get it all over with it, so I can live out the rest of my days as a Carolina athlete without so much stress from everyone wanting to know what I’m going to do or what I’m not going to do. I can just enjoy it and be a regular student-athlete once again,” Ebron says.
Currently, Ebron sits No. 12 on ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper’s Big Board. He is rated the nation’s top tight end. But ultimately, Ebron says it was his mother that weighed heavily on his decision and 95 percent of his life choices.
“My mom played a role in every role that I make in life. She’s the reason why I’m here. She’s the reason why I’ve decided to declare for the draft. She’s the reason why I play football. And she’s the reason why I’m born. My mom plays a role in everything. She has the final say-so in 95 percent of my life. The other five percent is when I’m on Playstation,” Ebron says.
The Greensboro native leads Carolina with 50 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns this season. He holds the single-season and career records for catches and receiving yards by a tight end. So far, he has 100 career catches for 1,606 yards.
Fittingly, Ebron was named a finalist for the 2013 John Mackey Award on Monday as well. He is one of three finalists for the award given to the nation’s premier college tight end.
Teammate and close friend Marquise Williams says he has known about Ebron’s decision for a while now. He says Ebron is the most athletic player on the Tar Heels roster.
“I don’t even know if he’s a tight end. He’s a tight end, running back and receiver. The guy can do it all. He’s the most athletic player we got on our team, and he does it all,” Williams says.
Head Coach Larry Fedora says he’s a bit torn with Ebron’s decision. He says he thinks it is a good choice for his future, but he is sad to see such a talented player leave.
“I’m proud of what Eric has accomplished and how he has represented the University of North Carolina. I’m excited for him and his future. I think this was a good decision by him and his family. I fully support it. We’ll be sad to see him go but excited also, for his future,” Coach Fedora says.
And for those that believe Ebron may have been taking it easy in recent weeks in order to avoid possible injuries, Ebron offers another reason for his sideline stints.
“I just wanted to make sure I was 110 percent for this Duke game,” Ebron says.
That’s good news for Tar Heel fans. But will 110 percent be enough this weekend? Ebron will make his last hurrah in front of a packed Kenan Memorial Stadium this Saturday in the nationally televised rivalry showdown.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/unc-sports/ebrons-big-move-star-tight-end-makes-final-home-stand-saturday/
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