North Carolina vs Campbell football first look: key matchup, player to watch, TV
The shine is quickly coming off North Carolina’s football season.
The major reason: a defense that suddenly can’t stop anybody,
Just a few weeks ago, the Tar Heels were undefeated and a top 10 team after an emotional win over Miami in Chapel Hill. But cracks in the defense already were being seen.
UNC allowed two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of that 41-31 win. Virginia, which had won just one game and was a 24-point underdog, then came into Kenan Stadium and took a 31-27 upset victory.
Goodbye, undefeated season. Goodbye, top 10.
Then, Georgia Tech.
The Heels sought to put an end to their decades-long misery against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta and again was made a solid favorite by the oddsmakers for Saturday’s game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Jackets only added to that misery, beating UNC 46-42 for their 11th win in the past 13 games in Atlanta.
Just like that, UNC (6-2, 3-2 ACC) has gone from being a major contender for the ACC championship game in Charlotte to a team that might have to make other plans. The Heels now have tumbled out of the national rankings.
“We’ve got to go home and grow up, handle it, take responsibility for it and move on,” UNC coach Mack Brown said after the game.
UNC has one, last nonconference home game against Campbell this Saturday before a three-game gauntlet -- Duke, Clemson and N.C. State -- to close out the regular season.
The Camels are 4-4, taking a 44-13 loss at Richmond on Saturday that ended a two-game winning streak. Campbell allowed 34 points in the second half, 28 in the fourth quarter.
After UNC’s back-to-back ACC losses, both stingers, one has to wonder what the football atmosphere will be like Saturday for a noon start at Kenan Stadium. The energy level could be low -- other than on the Campbell sideline.
“We’ve got to man up and get ready to play.” Brown said.
UNC player to watch: Tez Walker
Walker was shaken up late in the fourth quarter after grabbing a 36-yard pass from Drake Maye, taking a blindside hit by Ahmari Harvey and fumbling. Brown said after the game Walker was “aware and talking” after the hit -- a good thing -- but had no additional updates on Walker’s condition.
Will Walker play Saturday against Campbell? Or will there be more adversity for someone who had to fight the NCAA to be eligible this season?
Key matchup: UNC defense against Campbell
The fourth-quarter statistics were a bit staggering Saturday: UNC gave up 22 points and 265 yards in total offense to the Yellow Jackets. That’ll usually get you beat and did.
Brown called it “awful” after the game but likely had sterner words to say Sunday during the meetings at the Kenan Center.
Brown said the Jackets picked on the UNC cornerbacks in the first half. Once some adjustments were made to try and alleviate that problem, Georgia Tech ran the ball – 246 yards rushing in the fourth.
“Really bad,” Brown said. “I thought we were beyond that on defense.”
North Carolina (6-2, 3-2 ACC) vs Campbell (4-4)
When : Saturday, noon
Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill.
TV: ACC Network.
Series history: The game will be the first against an ACC team for the Camels, a member of the Colonial Athletic Conference.
