Houston, `D’ lead UNC past Ga Southern, 42-12

By JOEDY McCREARY, AP Sports Writer Oct 10, 7:53 pm EDT

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP)—Ryan Houston rushed for three touchdowns and Quan Sturdivant returned a fumble 49 yards for a score, one of six turnovers forced by North Carolina during a 42-12 rout of Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Bruce Carter brought back an interception 41 yards for a TD and the defense set up two quick scoring drives with takeaways for North Carolina (4-2).

Houston scored on rushes of 1, 1 and 7 yards. Shaun Draughn added a 16-yard touchdown run for the Tar Heels, who held the Eagles to 170 total yards and 75 through the air.

Adam Urbano had a 45-yard TD rush—the longest allowed this season by North Carolina’s stingy defense—for the Eagles (3-3).

The Tar Heels managed only a combined 10 points in consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and Virginia that dropped them out of the national rankings and into last place in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

Turned out, a timely visit from another outmanned Football Championship Subdivision opponent was just what they needed, building a 42-7 halftime lead— their highest-scoring first half in nine years.

The game had no impact on North Carolina’s postseason eligibility because teams may count only one victory per season over an FCS team toward the six necessary to qualify for a bowl, and the Tar Heels routed Citadel 40-6 in the opener.

The Tar Heels’ defense, which entered with national rankings of No. 8 overall and No. 4 against the pass, spoke openly during game week about feeling the need to give their struggling offense a jolt. Defensive end Robert Quinn promising to “put it on our shoulders.”

Did they ever.

Quinn jarred the ball loose from Lee Chapple as he passed late in the first quarter. E.J. Wilson returned it to the 16 and Draughn scored on the next play to make it 14-0.

Sturdivant pushed the lead to 21-7 midway through the second when he ripped the ball out of Urbano’s hands and returned it down the right sideline for his second career score. Zach Brown’s interception moments later gave the Tar Heels the ball at the 22 and three plays later, Houston barreled in from 7 yards out.

Carter then snuffed out the Eagles’ next possession with his second career interception return for a TD.

North Carolina, held to nine first downs in last week’s loss to the previously winless Cavaliers, nearly matched that on an opening drive that ended with Houston’s first 1-yard plunge. He powered in with 6 seconds before the break to give the Tar Heels their most points in a first half since they scored 52 against Duke in 2000.

Urbano finished with a career-high 93 yards rushing for Georgia Southern, which fell to 1-17 against Bowl Subdivision teams.

Updated Oct 10, 7:53 pm EDT
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Head to Head - Week 6

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Georgia Southern 170 75 95 11 18.8% 3/25 6 29:16
North Carolina 289 125 164 22 38.5% 11/73 3 30:44
NCAAF

8 Comments

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  1. alecp
    8. Posted by alecp Sun Oct 11 11:13pm EDT

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    As fan you will take the win, but I am very hard pressed to see what other four games the Heels can win to make into a bowl. I know the Heels were hard pressed to fill the void since the Colorado Buffs had backed out, but they at least should had played a team that would had helped them get a bid to a bowl. The Heels defense might help them beat the dookies, BC and State, but where will the fourth win come from against the Noles, VT and Canes? I only hope the Noles have fallen further than the UNC offensive line. And we are about to find out this coming Saturday. I will alway pull for UNC, Hookum Heels.
  2. <i>chappelljrbruce</i>
    7. Posted by chappelljrbruce Sun Oct 11 10:33am EDT

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    Forgot to mention our defense front four back ups are all great as well. We could have ten or more pro players come from that unit (some DB's as well) Defensive backfield is not bad--I just hear the coaches from other teams mention our front seven so much, they must know. Did not want to dis our DB's. Enough about the offense, other than were is Highsmith lately? The kid is good and wears Nicks old number, who by the way looks great in the pros (lead NFL in preseason with 30 yd per catch off 9 catches. Regular season played two games because of injury and still averages 24 yds per catch. He is a keeper.
  3. <i>chappelljrbruce</i>
    6. Posted by chappelljrbruce Sun Oct 11 10:27am EDT

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    Heels have the best front seven defensive team in college ball --just ask coaches that have played us. Also, coaches on other teams single out Quinn and his constant motor, plus speed of linebackers and large atheltic front four. We just need an offense and that basically starts with an offensive line (know their are injuries). Yates is having a bad year as well partially because of the O line. Same with the running backs. I love our defense and especially Quinn, plus the rest of the front seven. The linebackers have 4.4, 4.4 and 4.26 speed in the forty, better than most teams DB's and that includes many pro teams. The front line is large and agile (Quinn smallest starter on line at 6'5 270) Until we get a offensive line and a more imaginative offense we are going no where. With this defense on the field the whole game we can win, no matter how good they are. Next year could be our year--I have given up on this year, do to the O line.
  4. anthony m
    5. Posted by anthony m Sun Oct 11 9:56am EDT

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    I'll take this win and enjoy it all week. I remember how it was a few years ago. To say UNC is not improved since Davis's arrival displays an inability to compare past and present in a logical manner. I think I'll go watch my paint dry then watch the tape of UNC national championship in hoops, but which one?
  5. Wylie E
    4. Posted by Wylie E Sun Oct 11 7:08am EDT

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    In this case a W is not a W. Since they had alnready beaten the Citadel earlier in the year, while they get the win added to their wins, it doesn't count for any bowl game consideration. So in this it is really nothing.

    42 points - no offense (two defensive touchdowns). 0 Points in the second half...Yates throws for 117 (and that is bad).

    It is not that someone isn't a true tarheel fan - it is that blindness to the problems of the team - which it appears that Davis has, just makes it a worse situation.
  6. Stefan
    3. Posted by Stefan Sat Oct 10 10:20pm EDT

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    A W is still always a W
  7. tom j
    2. Posted by tom j Sat Oct 10 8:37pm EDT

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    Hey, 42 poihnts agains any college football team is a boost in the arm for any team. You can tell who is a true Tarheel fan. Win or loose guys, I am with you all the way.
  8. Systematically Chaotic
    1. Posted by Systematically Chaotic Sat Oct 10 7:26pm EDT

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    Even as a UNC fan, what good does this game do or prove. So what - they won... big whup! They only got 289 yards against a bad FCS team, and yes - they scored 42 points, but once again - it don't mean nothing.

    The offense is horrible. Davis is an awful coach, the team can't throw downfield at all, and he hasn't a clue on how to build a winning program. I gave up on UNC football years ago, and after seeing what Johnson has done at Ga. Tech and what Wake can do - where do they come up with offensive players and offenses that are exciting.

    Watching the UNC offense is like watching paint dry.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Georgia Southern
A. Urbano A. Urbano, RB
17 Rush, 93 yds
1 TD
 North Carolina
R. Houston R. Houston, RB
15 Rush, 56 yds
3 TDs

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