CHAPEL HILL -- Running back Ryan Houston rumbled for three touchdowns. The defense snagged six turnovers. And North Carolina easily dispatched FCS foe Georgia Southern 42-12 at Kenan Stadium on Saturday.
But the question now is: can the Tar Heels (4-2) build off that momentum – in the upcoming games that actually matter?
Remember: While UNC’s romp halted a two-game winning streak and served as a confidence boost – something that was sorely needed after scoring only 10 points its previous two games – the victory doesn’t count toward bowl eligibility.
The NCAA allows Bowl Subdivision teams to use only one win over an FCS opponent each season, and Carolina got that via its season-opening throttle of The Citadel.
But with a week and a half to prepare for their Oct. 22, Thursday night home showdown against Florida State, and the bulk of their ACC schedule, the Tar Heels are hoping their Saturday performance puts them back on the right track to garner the three more victories (at least) that it needs.
Carolina’s offense, which had managed only 56 rushing yards, total, its previous two games, solved that problem early, as the Tar Heels rushed for 51 yards on its first possession, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Houston with 5:59 left in the first quarter.
Less than three minutes later, UNC’s defense got into the mix when defensive end Robert Quinn sacked quarterback Lee Chapple. E.J. Wilson picked up the forced fumble and returned it 12 yards.
Once the offense came back on the field, UNC tailback Shaun Draughn took in the rest of the way, 16 yards, for his first touchdown of the season.
That made it 14-0, and it was a sign of things to come.
The Tar Heels began the game ranked 11th in the ACC in turnover margin, at minus-6, having only recovered three fumbles and snagging four interceptions in their first five games.
But leading 14-7 entering the second quarter, UNC linebacker Quan Sturdivant stripped the ball from Georgia Southern tailback Adam Urbano, and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown; linebacker Zach Brown snagged an interception, setting up a 7-yard touchdown run by Houston; and not to be out-done, linebacker Bruce Carter snagged an interception and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown.
Houston’s third touchdown of the game, on a 1-yard run, secured the first four-touchdown quarter for Carolina since 2000 and gave UNC a 42-7 cushion at halftime.
Georgia Southern, which got its only touchdown on a 45-yard run by Urbano in the first quarter, managed a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter that cut it to 42-10, then a safety with 9:49 left in the fourth quarter when Markeith Wylie tackled Tar Heel A.J. Blue in the end zone.
But with the game so well in hand, UNC starting quarterback T.J. Yates (14-for-20, 118 yards) was replaced by back-up Braden Hanson for the final 17 minutes of the game.
Tar Heels cornerback Kendric Burney snagged the team’s fifth interception in the third quarter, and freshman corner Gene Robinson snagged its sixth in the fourth; UNC turned it over three times.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Get real...
Mon, 10/12/2009 - 09:28 — heelsno1the opponent was Ga Southern...and with no disrespect intended to their program...UNC should beat them handily...and, so should any other ACC school.
while it is great to finally get another "W", the Heels have yet to reveal anything that would cause a rational person to become excited about prospects for the rest of this season.
2nd OT signed
Sun, 10/11/2009 - 23:12 — gvillegatrjust signed another top 20 OT. He's from Hoggard HS down in Wilmington. That would be North Carolina, not where most of you all send a monthly check to and will do so the rest of your life, Delaware.
Yea, UNC appears to be slipping in this state ...
Offense
Sat, 10/10/2009 - 21:35 — Heels20I was not happy with some of the things I saw. We made very few adjustments and were successful only because we were playing Georgia Southern. Yes, I'm happy we won big, but some of those runs Draughn broke would have been stopped in the backfield by a VT defense.
On a more positive note, I was glad to see Houston get his carries. Also, we used the deep ball. TJ wasn't great at throwing it, but at least we're going in the right direction. I still think TJ needs to be the starter and we need to keep working that deep ball to stretch the field and open up a running game.
The offense was a little better..
Sat, 10/10/2009 - 20:28 — UNC1998in the first half. The first drive was good by any standard. UNC will have to develop a better deep ball game. For everybody wishing Yates to be sat...stop.
The defense was it's typical fantastic self.
Of course, this was all against a FCS team in a game that "didn't count". I think it was just what the players needed after the previous two games. Hopefully the simplification of the offense will continue to lead to better results.