HokieHaven.com - UNC slips away, late field goal upsets Hokies

October 29, 2009

Hokiehaven.com Staff
HokieHaven.com Staff

Difficulties executing on both sides of the ball along with a late fumble by running back Ryan Williams proved to be the difference against North Carolina. The Tar Heels upset the Hokies with a Casey Barth field goal to put North Carolina on top 20-17 as time expired.

Just like two weeks ago against Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech got good field position in the first half but failed to capitalize on it. It started with the first possession on first down Ryan Williams ran for 25-yards to the left side followed by a 20-yard pass to Jarrett Boykin that would have set the Hokies up at approximately the 25. However, Charles Brown popped it out from Boykin and Kendric Burney recovered for the stop.

Tech quickly got the ball back off a punt, but D.J. Coles was called for a holding penalty. The return by Jayron Hosley was taken nearly 30-yards into Tar Heels territory at the 40. Instead, Tech started at the Tech 38. The Hokies moved it to the North Carolina 38 before stalling out.

Tech received outstanding field position on the third possession after another three and out at the North Carolina 41, but failed to convert four plays later on fourth and three on a pass in traffic to Boykin.

Neither team took advantage punting the ball back and forth for the next two possessions until the Tar Heels got it with 2:48 left in the first. With a steady dose of Ryan Houston, North Carolina moved down the field starting with a 17-yard run as Tech's defense played out of position. Tech stalled the drive at the Hokies 29 as pressured forced T.J. Yates to get rid of the pass and Kam Chancellor sniffed out the reception to Anthony Elzy for a one-yard loss.

Following a 17-yard return by Hosley that started the drive at the Tar Heels 37, Taylor attempted three plays, which included an incompletion, a five-yard run for a loss and a coverage sack by Donte Moss. Once again the Hokies failed to convert good field position when they had the opportunity.

With the Hokies struggling to execute, North Carolina took advantage getting on the board first on the next possession. The Tar Heels started at their own 16. On second down, Shaun Draughn picked up nine. After getting the first down, Tech pressured Yates on a blitz, but he found Greg Little on the outside for 17. Two plays later Jheranie Boyd took the receiver sweep for seven. On a key third and three at the Hokies 39, Greg Little took the handoff and burst 23-yards through the Hokie defense. Three plays later on a huge third and seven from the Hokie 13, Yates threw a fade to the right corner of the endzone where Jheranie Boyd pulled it in over Rashad Carmichael for a touchdown. The score gave the Tar Heels a 7-0 lead with 2:44 left in the half.

Tech had one more opportunity to score in the first half starting with the ball at the Hokie 28. Tech quickly moved the ball down the field starting on third down when Taylor hit Jarrett Boykin for 13-yards. On the next play, Taylor found Dyrell Roberts for 11 more. Two plays after that he found Roberts once again for 14-yards down the middle. However, Tech failed to complete a pass at the North Carolina 35 on third and fourth down and turned it over on downs with 33-seconds left before the break. Virginia Tech was held scoreless in the first half going into the locker room down 7-0.

The Hokies picked up just 108-yards of offense and four first downs in the half to North Carolina's 126, while converting just 2-of-8 third downs and 0-for-2 on fourth downs.

Virginia Tech's defense made a stand on a quick three and out and the Hokie offense got it back at the Tech 18. It took over a half, but the Hokies got on the board with a six-minute drive. Three plays in facing a third and 17, Taylor hit Dyrell Roberts for 22-yards. On the next two plays, Taylor found Danny Coale and Xavier Boyce for 16 and 15 respectively. Then, Ryan Williams took off with a 22-yards run in which he shed a tackle from Bruce Carter to get ot the North Carolina 14. Following a tough pickup on a toss sweep to Ryan Williams on third down, the Hokies struggled to power it in at the goal line. Getting stopped on the right side on second and third from the one. On fourth and goal from the one, Taylor took the snap, rolled to the right side and dove for the endzone just breaking the line for the score. The Hokies touchdown tied the game at 7-7 with 6:44 left in the third quarter.

North Carolina quickly answered Virginia Tech's score on their next possession. After picking up a couple first downs, the Tar Heels ran a misdirection bunch formation with Shaun Draughn who ripped off 44-yards as a huge hole was created by some solid blocking from the Tar Heels line and receivers. Three plays later facing third and eight from the Hokie 15, Yates threw an out to Greg Little who beat Cody Grimm to the corner of the endzone for the touchdown. The score put North Carolina up 14-7 with 1:51 left in the third.

The Hokies responded with a score of their own. Facing a quick third and nine, Taylor hit Roberts for 13-yards. On the next play he found Boykin for 16 more. Two plays later Ryan Williams found a huge hole for a touchdown, but Blake DeChristopher was called for a holding penalty that brought it back. The drive stalled from there and Matt Waldron put in a 36-yard field goal with 13:27 left in fourth to cut the Tar Heels lead to four.

North Carolina started their next drive at the 20. On the first play from scrimmage, Yates dropped back to pass and was pressured by Cordarrow Thompson and John Graves. He quickly tried to dump the ball on a screen to Greg Little who was covered by Rashad Carmichael. The pass fell into Carmichael's hands for the interception and he was immediately tackled at the five-yard line.

Tech capitalized on the game's first turnover three plays later on third and one, Taylor ran to the right side directly into a linebacker, but just got across the goal line for the score. The touchdown gave Virginia Tech a 17-14 lead with 11:51 to go in the game.

North Carolina methodically drove down the field while rolling off the clock. It started with a 15-yard pass interference call on Rashad Carmichael on a key third and four at the North Carolina 26. Three plays later, Yates found Zach Pianalto for 17-yards down the middle to get to the Tech 39. Facing a fourth and 7 at the Tech 36, Yates dropped back and found Greg Little between defenders for 19-yards. Shaun Draughn powered it for seven more on the next play. The Hokies stopped the drive from there including a pass that went just wide of Greg Little on third and two from the Tech two. The Tar Heels settled for a 19-yarder from Casey Barth who punched it through with 2:52 remaining.

The Hokies got the ball back and quickly faced a third and seven at the Tech 28. Ryan Williams took the run up the gut, but North Carolina's Tydreke Powell got his hand in and forced the fumble. Deunta Williams recovered and gave North Carolina possession at the Tech 24.

The Tar Heels forced the Hokies to use their two remaining timeouts by picking up one first down. North Carolina ran behind Ryan Houston for six consecutive plays to make it fourth and one from the Virginia Tech four.

Butch Davis called timeout with two seconds to go. Casey Barth set up for the field goal from 21-yards out. Barth had no trouble putting it through for the 20-17 victory as time expired.

Virginia Tech accounted for 256-yards of offense while North Carolina posted 312 in the contest.

Tyrod Taylor completed 11-of-23 for 161-yards. T.J. Yates went 18-of-28 for 131-yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Shaun Draughn posted 78-yards on 12 carries, while Ryan Houston added 66-yards on 18 runs. Ryan Williams posted 23 carries for 96-yards and one fumble.

Dyrell Roberts led all receivers with 60-yards on four receptions. Greg Little led the Tar Heels with 58-yards on four receptions including one touchdown. He added six carries for 38-yards on the ground.

Virginia Tech falls to 5-3 on the season, 3-2 in the ACC.

The Hokies will return to action next Thursday, a week from tonight at East Carolina in Greenville. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.

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