TV/RAYCOM — One half, zero points, 52 total yards. Sound familiar? UNC’s offense looked worse than it did against UConn two weeks ago if that’s even possible.
The Carolina defense woke up in the second quarter and slowed down the Yellow Jackets, keeping what should have been a blowout a manageable game.
Erik Highsmith caught a 30-yard pass that set up the Heels in scoring position, but Casey Barth missed a 32-yard field goal that would’ve broken the shutout and given the Heels some momentum heading into the half.
Key series of the half: Roddy Jones 13-yard touchdown rumble set the tone for the first half after the Yellow Jackets smashed the Heels nearly the entire length of the field, facing only one third down.
Georgia Tech’s first offensive series resulted in more rushing yards (88) than Carolina has allowed in any of its first three games.
And it didn’t stop after the first possession. The Yellow Jackets held the ball for over 18 of 30 minutes played and can put the Heels away with a score on their first possession of the second half.
Key Player(s) of the half: Jonathan Dwyer climbed out of his slump, rushing for 80 yards on 10 carries and routinely shred the Tar Heel defense.
But it wasn’t just Dwyer. Anthony Allen, Josh Nesbitt and Jones contributed to exposing the UNC front with 171 rushing yards.
What to watch in the second half: Any life from the offense could get UNC back in this game, especially if the defense continues to figure out the Georgia Tech offense. Otherwise, this game will send an embarrassed Tar Heel squad back to Chapel Hill out of the rankings and probably out of the Coastal race if Miami beats the Hokies.