UNC Football: Tar Heels Overcome Sluggish Start to Run Past The Citadel

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

North Carolina didn't score in the first quarter of its home opener against The Citadel.

The No. 21 Tar Heels then piled on 23 points in a 12:30 span of the second frame en route to a 40-6 victory against the Bulldogs.

The game was largely decided on the ground, where North Carolina outrushed The Citadel by a 261-30 margin. Shaun Draughn paced the Tar Heels with 118 rush yards, while Ryan Houston added touchdown runs of five and three yards in the decisive victory.

The Tar Heels scored on four straight possessions in the second quarter, sparked by a Casey Barth field goal at the 14:15 mark. Johnny White caught an 18-yard touchdown pass six minutes later before Houston bullied in his first score of the night.

Greg Little capped the rally with a nifty 21-yard reception for North Carolina’s final score of the half at 1:55.

The halftime stat sheet told the whole story: the Tar Heels outgained the Bulldogs 204-73, held a 108-16 advantage in rushing yards, and forced four turnovers.

The only thing in question after the break was whether the Tar Heels could hold off the Bulldogs long enough to preserve their first shutout since a 38-0 throttling of Duke in their 1999 finale.

However, Sam Keeler spoiled that with two field goals in the final eight minutes of the contest.

The Tar Heels left no doubt in their first opener as a ranked team since they were No. 12 in 1998—a game in which they were upset 13-10 by Miami (Ohio). The team racked up 375 total yards of offense, and its 261 yards on the ground marked a new high under head coach Butch Davis.

Despite the final score, North Carolina’s offense looked sluggish in the opening quarter of the game. T.J. Yates missed the mark on most of his passes, finishing 9-of-20 for 114 yards and two scores in three quarters of work.

To his credit, Yates was throwing to a completely overhauled wide receiver corps.

The Tar Heels lost their top three receivers from last season—Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster—to the 2009 NFL Draft.

North Carolina’s defense, which returned nine starters, allowed only 153 yards.

Deunta Williams had two interceptions, including one in the end zone to thwart the Bulldogs’ best touchdown chance. Junior Quan Sturdivant, who was moved to inside linebacker during the offseason, paced the unit with seven tackles.

Bart Blanchard was 21-of-37 for 117 yards for the Citadel, who hasn’t beaten an FBS opponent since 1992.

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