Fondy my line just jumped to 7 for Rutgers, I would like to know how strongly do you feel about them covering 7
I'm not that familiar with UNC this year besides knowing they return 17 starters. Take what you want from this article and the final score...
Tate leads way for Tar Heels against McNeese State
By AARON BEARD, AP Sports Writer
Aug 30, 11:11 pm EDT
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP)—Brandon Tate put on a dazzling one-man show, scoring on an 82-yard punt return and putting North Carolina ahead for good with a 57-yard catch to help the Tar Heels hold off McNeese State 35-27 on Saturday.
Tate finished with a school-record 397 all-purpose yards for the Tar Heels, who showed little else in an unimpressive start to their second season under Butch Davis. In a game suspended nearly two hours due to weather, they blew a 14-0 first-half lead and had to rally from a third-quarter deficit against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent that outplayed them much of the way.
For all the preseason optimism that has abounded here, North Carolina had to rely almost solely on Tate’s ability to weave through oncoming defenders or break free from the clutches of would-be tacklers on this night.
The senior started with a 56-yard return on the opening kickoff and had a 54-yard run that helped set up the Tar Heels’ second touchdown. He also had a 38-yard punt return in the first quarter, finishing with 106 yards rushing and 93 yards receiving to break the school record of 339 all-purpose yards set by Derrick Fenner in 1986.
The 397 yards were second-most in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
Brooks Foster also had a touchdown catch for North Carolina, which compiled most of its 384 yards in the final 20 minutes. Shaun Draughn and Greg Little ran for fourth-quarter touchdowns that helped the Tar Heels stay in front.
Derrick Fourroux and Mark Fontenot ran for scores to lead the Cowboys, who scored 20 unanswered points after the game resumed. But after Fourroux’s 2-yard score for the 20-14 third-quarter lead, the Tar Heels answered by going to—who else?—Tate.
Facing a third-and-6 near midfield, T.J. Yates heaved the ball deep to Tate, who caught it in stride and raced into the end zone for a 21-20 lead with 4:35 left in the third quarter.
Tate later broke the school record in fitting fashion, taking a handoff to the right side, then breaking free from Joshua Ellison—who had a hold of Tate’s collar—and reversing field for a 20-yard gain early in the fourth.
The Tar Heels came into the season as the popular choice to challenge Virginia Tech for the ACC’s Coastal Division crown. But North Carolina went three-and-out on its first drive, lost a fumble on its second and went three-and-out on its third before Tate scored on his 82-yard return.
Ultimately, the only thing that slowed Tate was the weather.
Officials suspended the game due to lightning with North Carolina leading 14-0 on Foster’s short TD catch with 12:03 left in the first half. Both teams headed to the locker room before heavy rain arrived in a delay that lasted 1 hour, 48 minutes. A large chunk of the home crowd didn’t return, and halftime was reduced to 5 minutes.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
<!-- INLINE TABLE (BEGIN) --> <table id="inlinetable" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="180"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><center>Grading the Tar Heels</center></th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" width="110">Unit</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" width="50"><center>Grade</center></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="110"> Offense </td> <td width="50"> <center>C</center> </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="110"> Special teams </td> <td width="50"> <center>C</center> </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="110"> Defense </td> <td width="50"> <center>B+</center> </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="110"> Intangibles </td> <td width="50"> <center>B</center> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- INLINE TABLE (END) --> Butch Davis overcame adversity from all sides last season, but he, and his team, will be the better for it. After winning four games a year ago, the Tar Heels will be looking to take another step in 2008, and if quarterback T.J. Yates is recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, the potential is there to do just that.
There are plenty of question marks -- those don't go away overnight -- but Davis and his staff have recruited well and have begun to bring in quality athletes who will provide depth. A year ago, starters had to log so much time on special teams that they wore out at the end.
In 2008, talented redshirt freshmen, and a few freshmen, will give provide help on special teams, and some will be inserted into the action elsewhere.
This program is making a steady climb upward. But the Tar Heels are still fragile in spots, a problem that can only be overcome by a few years of consistent recruiting, not only for need but for depth.
illow:... added 1H over instead of game and then more on rutgers 1H/game.
