- 11.22.2009
- |
50°F
- Blogs > ACC Now
You may also like Canes Now | Balls and Strikes | Preps Now | Campus Notes
UNC win not without pain
CHAPEL HILL — How many players does it take to replace North Carolina playmaker Brandon Tate?
Saturday it took at least four.
And if the senior wide receiver is out any length of time with an injured right knee, it could take more.
Tate, who began the weekend ranked third in the nation in all-purpose yardage, was helped to the locker room with 5:40 left in the first quarter after returning a punt 9 yards. He did not return to the sideline, and coach Butch Davis said after No. 22 UNC’s 29-24 victory over Notre Dame that Tate would have further tests on his sprained knee — including an MRI — today.
Without him, defensive back Johnny White joined Hakeem Nicks to return kickoffs, and cornerback Kendric Burney was on the field to return punts.
Meanwhile, Brooks Foster slid into the No. 2 receiver position, while receivers Cooter Arnold (two catches, 3 yards) and Kenton Thornton (one catch, 5 yards) tried to take up some of the slack. Nicks led all receivers with a career-high-tying nine grabs for 141 yards.
BRIEFLY: Zack Pianalto was taken off the field in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle. Quarterback Cameron Sexton ran into the locker room with two seconds left in the first half after being hit on his throwing (right) shoulder, but returned in the second half and said after the game that he was fine.
Robbi Pickeral
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at robbi.pickeral@newsobserver.com.
Comments
Lucky Breaks and Injuries
Sun, 10/12/2008 - 10:24 — Anonymous (not verified)Go Wahoos. UNC's luck on defense will not last through the remainder of the year.
I'm afraid all those INT's
Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:08 — UNCAlumnusain't luck. UNC has good linebackers. The CB's and safeties play the ball well. I know UVa is better since they switched to that pro set on offense. It just so happens a pro set is what UNC's defense seems to play best against. It should be a fantastic game. For UNC, it is an important stop on a very big journey.
I saw the Tate injury on the video post here.
Sun, 10/12/2008 - 08:24 — UNCAlumnusI looked like he was hurt, but I didn't see his knee flex the wrong way at all. Hopefully, it's just a bruise, but we'll all have to wait. After the game I heard Davis say Pianalto's ankle was not serious. Let's hope that turns out to be true, too. The Heels will need all hands on deck against a revitalized UVa team next week.