Article Defense Disappears Against Tar Heels

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[figcap]UNC quarterback Marquise Williams #12 hands the ball off to running back T.J. Logan #8.[/figcap][/float_left]CHAPEL HILL, NC - The North Carolina Tar Heels (3-4, 1-2, scored touchdowns on seven of their final nine drives to defeat the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-2, 2-2) by a final score of 48-43 Saturday night at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

After a slow start offensively by both teams highlighted by two turnovers in the game's first nine plays, North Carolina ultimately gained just enough of an edge in what turned out to be an offensive shootout. North Carolina and its high-tempo offense generated 88 plays for 579 total yards while Georgia Tech's slow-it-down pace ran 69 plays for 611 total yards for the game.

Neither team was effective stopping the other even when the chances presented themselves. North Carolina converted 10 of 15 on 3rd downs and 2 of 2 on 4th downs. Georgia Tech converted 5 of 8 on 3rd downs. Both teams converted all nine combined red zone visits into points.

North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams finished with a school-record 38 pass completions and at one time completed 14 straight. He finished with 390 yards passing, 4 touchdowns through the air, 75 yards rushing, and 1 touchdown on the ground.

Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas took what the Carolina defense gave him. He finished with his second lowest rushing total of the year of 36 yards and instead distributed the ball to his teammates. Georgia Tech finished with 376 yards rushing and 235 yards through the air, their second highest passing total since passing for 282 yards against Wofford in the opener.

In the end it was a game of whoever had the ball last would likely win, and the Tar Heels were the benefactor trailing by 1 and starting at their own 25-yard line with 3:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Tar Heels offense pumped the breaks ever so slightly and went 12 plays, 75 yards over the course of 2 minutes 56 seconds to punch in their final touchdown and final score of the game.

The Tar Heels escaped with the victory and in doing so dealt a stinging blow to the Yellow Jackets' remaining chances in the ACC Coastal division race.

Other news and notes:
  • Running back Zach Laskey left the game in the fourth quarter Saturday night with what appeared to be a shoulder injury
  • Georgia Tech did not allow dangerous UNC return man Ryan Switzer to return a punt. Georgia Tech punted twice and UNC punted three times for the game.
  • Switzer instead made hay in the passing game by pulling down 9 receptions for 136 yards
  • Despite having 2 ACC losses, the Yellow Jackets are by no means eliminated. Every team in the Coastal division now has 1 or 2 losses. Georgia Tech is the only Coastal team to have played four league games while the rest have only played three.
  • Tech's game at Pittsburgh next Saturday kicks off at 3:30pm ET and will be broadcast on ESPNU
 
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