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Virginia vs. North Carolina Postgame Notes
Oct. 18, 2008
Former Washington Redskin Hall of Famer Darrell Green raised the Power of Orange flag during today’s pregame festivities. His son, Jared, is a redshirt freshman wide receiver for the Cavaliers.
Today’s game was the 113th meeting between Virginia and North Carolina, the oldest rivalry in the South.
After losing their first four overtime games, the Cavaliers have now won two in a row and are 2-4 all-time in OT contests.
Today’s win is the Cavaliers’ first against a ranked team since a 17-16 win over No. 21 Wake Forest last season in Charlottesville; North Carolina came in ranked 18th in The Associated Press poll. Virginia snapped a 4-game losting streak to ranked UNC teams and is now 5-11 against ranked Tar Heel teams all-time.
The win by Virginia bucked a tremendous historical trend in the series. The Tar Heels outrushed Virginia 166-58 but their effort marked only the 14th time since 1940 the winning team had fewer rushing yards than the loser (vs. 53 wins). The Tar Heels also had more yards of total offense (332-275), but lost marking only the 13th time since 1940 the loser outgained the winner in the series.
Virginia did not commit any turnovers today in its second errorless game of the season (Maryland). This is the third year in a row Virginia has not had a turnover vs. the Tar Heels. It is also UVa’s seventh win in a row when not turning the ball over dating back to a loss to East Carolina in 2006. Virginia is 19-5 overall under Al Groh when not committing a turnover.
The win is Virginia’s 14th consecutive victory over North Carolina in Charlottesville. The Tar Heels have not won in Charlottesville since a 17-14 win in 1981.
S Byron Glaspy recorded the second interception of his career. His 35-yard return is the longest of his career. His only previous interception was a 29-yard return at Miami last season.
LB Jon Copper made a career-high 16 tackles today, including 10 solo stops. His previous career high was 12 tackles against Maryland last season and Duke earlier this season.
Virginia intercepted two passes today, only the second time UNC has thrown two INTs in a game this season.
WR Kevin Ogletree surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his career during today’s game. Ogletree finished with six receptions for 72 yards to raise his career total to 1064. He becomes the 28th receiver in UVa history to total at least 1,000 receiving yards in a career and currently ranks 24th in school history.
QB Marc Verica passed for 217 yards, the second-highest total of his career (trailing only a 226-yard effort vs. Maryland two weeks ago). This is his third 200-yard game in a row. He has passed for 1011 yards in his five starts so far this season.
TE John Phillips had his first career rush today. He gained zero yards. He also finished with five receptions for 38 yards.
LB Darren Childs had five tackles during the first half of today’s game. He entered the contest with one tackle this season and three during his career. Childs, playing in replace of an injured Antonio Appleby, finished with 10 tackles in the most extended action of his career. He was second on the team in tackling today.
NT Nick Jenkins had the first interception of his career. It marks the fourth season in a row a defensive lineman has intercepted a pass for Virginia.
True freshman Robert Randolph attempted and made his first career field goal attempt today (37 yards).
CB Chase Minnifield’s fumble recovery in the third quarter is the first of his career.
WR Jared Green’s 26-yard reception in the third quarter is the longest of his career.
WR Maurice Covington, a Durham, N.C., native, caught three passes for 44 yards to mark the third game in a row he has caught at least three passes.
LB Clint Sintim recorded another sack today, the fourth game in a row he’s had at least one sack. He leads the nation in most sacks by a linebacker and is averaging 1.14 sacks per game. He now has 25 career sacks and ranks fourth in school history. Among linebackers he trails only Darryl Blackstock who had 27 sacks in his career 2002-04.
NORTH CAROLINA POSTGAME NOTES
Carolina falls to 5-2 overall and 1-2 in the ACC Coastal Division. The Tar Heels have lost two games this season by a total of six points (20-17 to Virginia Tech and 16-13 to Virginia). Dating back to last season, UNC’s last four losses have been by a total of 12 points.
UNC is now minus 5 in the turnover margin in its two losses (-2 vs. Virginia Tech and -3 today at Virginia). The Tar Heels came into today’s game #1 in the nation in turnover margin (plus 1.83 per game), but had two interceptions and a lost fumble against the Cavaliers.
Today marked the first time in seven games this season the Tar Heel defense did not force a turnover and the first time the opponents did not throw at least one interception.
Carolina had more yards (332-275), more first downs (19-15), more time of possession (34:13 to 25:47).
Carolina held the Cavaliers to 58 rushing yards (on 27 attempts). The Tar Heels have allowed only 147 rushing yards in the last two games (89 vs. Notre Dame).
Carolina is now 2-4 in overtime games. This was the first overtime game of the season and the first since the 2007 season-ending win over Duke.
Overtime
1998 UNC 37, NC State 34
1999 Georgia Tech 31, UNC 24
2003 Syracuse 49, UNC 47 (3OT)
2005 Maryland 33, UNC 30
2007 UNC 20, Duke 14
2008 Virginia 16, UNC 13
Sophomore tailback Shaun Draughn made his first career start and rushed for a career-high 138 yards on 30 carries. He becomes the first Tar Heel to post two 100-yard rushing games in a season since Ronnie McGill had three in 2006.
Draughn is the first Tar Heel to rush at least 30 times in a game since Jonathan Linton had 36 vs. Duke in 1997.
Draughn’s 138 yards are the most by a Tar Heel since Greg Little had 154 vs. Duke last year.
Hakeem Nicks had six receptions for 90 yards. He moved past Leon Johnson (151) and Sam Aiken (146) into fourth place in school history with 152 career receptions. Nicks also passed Aiken for third place in career receiving yards with 2,261.
Sophomore linebacker Bruce Carter blocked his fifth kick of the year by blocking a third quarter UVA field goal attempt. Earlier this year, Carter blocked one punt at Miami and three punts vs. Connecticut.
In the first quarter, North Carolina rushed for 133 yards as Draughn had 80 yards on 13 attempts. Carolina outgained the Cavaliers on the ground, 133-18 in the opening quarter.
Carolina marched 83 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by Ryan Houston on its first possession of the game. It was the first time the Tar Heels scored a touchdown on their opening drive this season. Draughn
rushed for 48 yards on the drive.
Sophomore Kendric Burney made his debut today as a punt returner in place of Brandon Tate, who was injured last week vs. Notre Dame. Burney had two returns for five yards.
True freshman TE Christian Wilson made his first career start today as the Tar Heels opened the game in a two tight end set.
Sophomore linebacker Quan Sturdivant registered double-digit tackles for the third game in a row as he made a career-high 13 hits (previous high was 11 twice).