Chapel Thrill, Baby!
Not Live from The Aluminum Jungle
BLUE HEAVEN, NC - After an inauspicious start, the UNC Tar Heels shook off the bad play that began in the last two minutes of last week’s game against Virginia and layed a big smack-down on 23rd-ranked Boston College.
I was in Kenan Stadium the last time these two foes met there. Matt Ryan, now the starting QB for the Atlanta Falcons, had a wonderful day. Sadly, the Heels, did not. Things would be different this time.
In BC’s opening drive, they methodically moved down the field and kicked a short field goal. The drive took almost half of the first quarter, and you could sort of get the sense that this was going to be a long day. Two offensive plays later, BC’s prolific pass rush stampeded over the Carolina offensive line, whacked the ball out of Cameron Sexton’s hand, and then returned the fumblerooski 13 yards for a TD. Oh no, here we go again.
But this time, Carolina would not be deterred. This time, things would be different, this time, they would not crumble in the face of adversity. And this time, they meant it!
The Heels rebounded nicely, rolling off 17 straight points to take the lead. Then, with :54 left in the first half, BC knotted up the score. Carolina got the ball back, and BC seemed to have forgotten that Carolina had 9 touchdown drives of two minutes or less to its credit this season. Make it 10. Carolina needed only 31 seconds to punch the ball in this time. The score would be Hakeem Nicks’ third touchdown of the half. It would not be his final score of the game, however.
After halftime, Carolina got the ball first and picked up right where they left off. Carolina scored on offense and defense in the second half, just for good measure. It was 45-17 before the Heels called off the dogs and let BC have one more score.
The D came up big in this game, picking off Chris Crane three times, returning one for a score. Kendric Burney lodged two picks, bringing his season total to 4. Trimane Goddard got the score, however. Entering the game, Carolina was tied for the nation’s lead in picks with 14; I can’t imagine that they are not in the lead all by their lonesome now.
But the big story of the game was Hakeem Nicks. I heard that he was seen smiling around the Tar Heels’ palatial field house this week because, as he put it, he was “in the game plan this week.” Yes he was, ladies and gentlemen. Yes he was.
Nicks finished the game with 8 receptions for 139 yards and three TDs. But those were just his receiving stats. In the true spirit of Brandon Tate, whom Carolina lost last week for the season with an ACL tear, Nicks also got it done on the ground - gaining 31 yards and a score on three end-arounds. Way to go, Hakeem!
Cameron Sexton was back to his effective if not flashy form, hitting on 19 of 30 attempts for 238 yards and three TDs. But what the stats don’t tell you is that if there is a finer QB at throwing on the run in this country, I certainly don’t know who it is. He throws such a beautiful, tight spiral while rolling to his right. He actually leaves the ground and throws it across his body, with the final mark of the ball, which is on target mind you, back to his left a few yards. And it is a bullet, too. I am really impressed with how he is playing.
I know I wrote last week that there was no QB controversy brewing in Chapel Hill. I now reserve the option to play wait and see on that one. Carolina is blessed with two fine QBs, IMO.
If you want the complete, professional, and somewhat less dramatic story of this game, go here. They also have video, which our low-budget approach can’t quite get to, yet!
Next up, Georgia Tech. Yeah, baby!
The non-technical, somewhat silly and perhaps slightly off-beat blog of Chris Beck. Those of you who know me will know this is not a stretch. 
