ATLANTA — North Carolina's final two chances to beat LSU and complete an epic comeback ended with quarterback T.J. Yates trying to find tight end Zack Pianalto in the end zone.
Each pass from the 6-yard line hit Pianalto but he couldn't come down with either. The second pass, on the final play, was close and could have been considered pass interference under different circumstances.
Pianalto, who finished with a team-best eight catches for 74 yards, was not interested in excuses or the blame game for UNC's 30-24 loss.
"I dropped both of them," Pianalto said.
The first pass hit Pianalto off his pads in the back of the end zone. The second pass bounced off his hands near the goal line. Yates, who finished with a career-best 413 yards, said he was looking for Pianalto all the way and will continue to lean on the senior tight end.
"That's the guy I'm going to in that situation," Yates said. "No doubt about it, next week if we're in the same situation, I'm going back to him."
A dejected Pianalto could have easily hid from the media or blamed the ref or the missing UNC players for the loss but chose to accept responsibility.
"I don't want tell you how I feel right now," Pianalto said. "At least we know we have a team full of fighters. We came back at halftime down 30-10 and how chance to win on the last two plays. I think that says a lot about our team."
Comments
Great game
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 17:41 — Heels20Congratulations to Yates and the others who stepped up in a horrible situation. It's disappointing because we really should have won the game. We slipped up a couple times (punt return and safety) leading to opportunities for LSU to capitalize on. Either way, I'm proud of the way these guys went out there and represented the ACC really well.
All I can say now is that I am extremely optimistic about what our football team will be able to do once we get some of our defense back. This is a very, very good football team.
Taking blame
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 15:55 — JPDOhioNice to see someone take responsibility instead of pointing fingers.
Of course, Zach didn't lose this game for UNC. He just happened to be involved in the last two plays and couldn't get it done. Besides, the first pass was behind him and not an easy catch. I thought he should have caught the second one, but he was covered well and it was bang/bang.
Overall, the kid can hold his head up high, because UNC wouldn't have even had the chance to win if it weren't for his contributions throughout the game.
the 1st pass
Tue, 09/07/2010 - 08:48 — gvillegatrIMO, it should have been caught. It was a touch behind him, but it hit him in his shoulder blade which he could have corraled in as lots of WR's/TE's make all the time.
Zack does not drop passes and he dropped two ...
Sorry, can't resist.
Tue, 09/07/2010 - 22:07 — JPDOhioThe first pass was catchable, but a little behind him.
My question is why wasn't that pass right where Zack makes the easy catch. It was a short pass that a seasoned QB makes in his sleep. Instead, it was in a tough spot. Why?
I have a theory. You know what it is.
Big what if
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:56 — SurferBoth passes were catchable. But, no more so than the one Ryan Taylor (#49) dropped earlier. That difference of 4 points would have resulted in a simple FG for the win. Plus Zach caught more than one pass on that drive to put them in position on the 6 yd line.
Bottom line, UNC played well enough to win, but also had enough miscues (fumbles, safety, dropped passes) to lose.
lol
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:29 — gvillegatrIf all QB's made that throw, they'd all be hovering around 100% completion.
also, i'm gonna see if TJ can't send you a Christmas card this holiday season!
Its that second pass that
Tue, 09/07/2010 - 21:29 — unc098Its that second pass that really should have been caught. Despite all the pass interference hype I thought the LSU DB made a good play. Still Zack should have caught it and usually does.
What other Circumstances?
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 09:41 — Heelsforever"could have been considered pass interference under different circumstances."
Isn't holding -- holding? And, isn't interferece -- interference? Either they happened or they didn't. Circumstances has NOTHING to do with it.
I think those SEC refs did an incredible job, or maybe I'm just so used to the crappy refs we have in the ACC. I'll finish by saying what I always say, make sure you are not in a position where one blown call can make a difference and these things don't matter.
Only missed call I saw all night. Again, wish we had crews like that in the ACC.
viewing the replay of the very last one...
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 09:03 — UNC1998He may have been held. That doesn't matter, though. Pianalto played a crucial part of getting the team in that position. I trust he'll put this behind himself and move forward to a great season.
I think Pianalto dropped
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 01:46 — chrismg1I think Pianalto dropped those on purpose because he didn't want another season ending injury. (just kidding) In all seriousness even though they lost UNC put on a gutty performance in the middle of this crap-storm they find themselves in. They could have easily packed it in after the half but they showed heart and continued to fight.
btw, I think you mean Yates here, unless Pianalto thinks this highly of himself:
Zack You had a great game
Sun, 09/05/2010 - 00:56 — unc098Zack
You had a great game and if wasn't for some of the catches that you made down the stretch the team wouldn't even have been in position to win at the end.
Great job. Its only going to get better