UNC Football Game Review: Wake Forest Gives Carolina First Loss of Fedora Era

The first road game for the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Larry Fedora era, was also the first ACC conference game in the Fedora era.  Kickoff was delayed over an hour after severe thunderstorms and gusting winds forced evacuation of the stands.  Running back Giovanni Bernard dressed but did not go through warmups nor start the game for Carolina. Weather could be a reason he was held out, it was still raining when the game finally kicked off and if Bernard is less than 100% you don’t want to risk your best players health.

Photo Credit: US Presswire

AJ Blue started the game over Romar Morris which surprised me a bit in Bernards absence.  UNC looked a little flat on both sides of the ball to start the game.  The defense failed early to take advantage of a very inexperienced Wake Forest offensive line.  The offense failed to gain much momentum as they adjusted to life without Gio Bernard.

On each defensive possession, UNC was able to force Wake to punt the ball after picking up a couple first downs forcing bad field position for the offense. Roy Smith took over as the punt returner and almost pulled a Kyle Williams (you remember, little #10 of the 49ers who fumbled the ball twice on punts against the Giants in the title game) as the ball nearly hit his leg and rolled into the end zone.  The play was reviewed and it was determined that the ball never hit Smith.

The Heels first big play came as Blue took the ball 28 yards right up the gut on UNCs third possession putting the ball inside Wake territory.  QB Bryn Renner threw a perfect strike to TE Eric Ebron to put the ball inside the 10 yard line. Two plays later Renner and Ebron hooked up again for the first score of the game to put UNC up 7-0.

Quinshad Davis is a huge part of this teams offense, the true freshman WR was targeted early and often.  If Davis can display better hands he could end up being a big time threat.  The 6-4 weapon so far has run good routes and showed great football instincts.

Wake Forest QB Tanner Price is excellent at standing in the pocket and making the tough throw despite pressure in his face.  Several times in the game, UNC had multiple defenders closing in on Price who despite being set up to take a big hit, stood strong and hit his man.

Wake threatened late in the first quarter after a personal foul on Carolina put Wake in UNC territory.  A holding penalty after yet another injury on the OL for Wake forced a third and long before Price threw a perfect strike for a 20 yard gain and a very improbable first down.  Three plays later Wake punched it in from three yards out to tie the game at seven as the first quarter wound down.  Price picked up a botched snap which opened up a perfect seam for him to waltz into the end zone.  The defensive backfield was shredded on that possession.

UNC responded well by marching the ball down the field quickly into Wake Forest territory.  The Heels utilized Morris at the RB position inside the goal line and Wake did a nice job of stuffing Carolina.  Renner took a bootleg on third down and was injured on a viscous hit and it looked like a head or neck related injury.

Backup QB Marquis Williams came out as UNC went for it on 4th down from inches out.  AJ Blue took the hand off and punched it in for a 14-7 UNC lead.  Wake once again marched it down the field on Carolina highlighted by a 35 yard half back pass that took Wake inside the UNC 20 yard line.  Price continued to stand strong in the pocket and make strong throws with the pocket collapsing.  Martin took a first down hand off six yards to the end zone to once again tie the game 14 all with six minutes remaining in the first half.

UNC got some good news when QB Bryn Renner returned to the lineup the next possession.  Renners return produced easily the worst possession for Carolina of the season.  A broken play, a batted down pass at the line of scrimmage and a sack that caused a fumble by Renner that gave Wake the ball inside the Heels 20 yard line.

Wake immediately completed a nice crossing pattern taking the ball to the 6 yard line setting up first and goal with 5:19 remaining in the first half.  On second down Josh Harris bounced outside and outran the entire Carolina defense to the end zone.  The drive took just three plays and suddenly Wake leads UNC 21-14.

Renner looked really out of sorts on that last drive but came back out after the Wake Forest TD.  A quick strike and a beautiful run after the catch from Tapley put the Heels inside Wake territory.  A big sack pushed Carolina into a fourth and long situation and they were forced to punt.

Score at the half: UNC 14 Wake Forest 21

The pressure will be on the defense to get more pressure on the QB and put a lid on the big play if the Heels want to pull off the comeback in the second half.  Wake Forest racked up 271 yards in the first half against UNC, after putting up just 293 total against Liberty last week.

Head coach Larry Fedora expressed frustration with the teams pace as Wake ran five more plays than UNC in the first half.

Renner started the second half and nearly threw a pick on the first play that resulted in a loss of two yards.  After a big play to Erik Highsmith, Wake stopped three consecutive short completions and forced UNC to punt.  After a couple of first downs, UNC forced Wake to punt at their own 41 yard line after coming up with a big stop on 3rd and 7.

A disturbing pattern continued, after every nice gain by Carolina it was almost automatic that the next play would be a big loss of yards.  The pattern continued after a nice run from Blue followed by a botched snap pushing the Heels to another third and long situation.  Ebron took a Renner pass across the 50 for a big first down on the ensuing play.

UNC got into a rhythm putting together a few consecutive first downs in the running game with Blue and Morris sharing the load on this drive.  Davis made a terrific grab extending over his head and leaping to put the ball inside the Wake Forest five yard line.  Morris made a terrific cutback inside for a five yard TD run to tie the game at 21 all with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter.

Tim Scott picked off a pass on the ensuing Wake Forest possession and took the ball to the nine yard line setting up first and goal for Carolina.  Highsmith was called for a 10 yard holding penalty on the first snap, a couple small gains put the ball at the 11 yard line on 3rd and goal.  Pressure forced Renner to roll out of the pocket and eventually out of bounds.  Wake Forest escaped and forced the Heels to take a Casey Barth field goal to regain the lead 24-21.  Barth tied his brothers school record with his 54th career FG.

UNC recorded their first sack of the game as the 3rd quarter came to a close, forcing Wake to punt.  After a nine yard outside run by Morris, Wake was called for a 15 yard face mask penalty putting the ball at the 40 yard line.  Morris took the ball past midfield on the following play as the momentum continued to swing towards UNC.

On 3rd and 7, Renner made a nice pass to Tabb across the middle to pick up another first down and put themselves in scoring position.  The red zone efficiency again looked off for Carolina after three sloppy plays forced the Heels to 4th and 5 and another FG attempt for Barth.  Barth set the Heels all time record by hitting his 55th career FG extending the lead to 27-21.

Michael Campanaro continued to have a huge game dicing up the Carolina secondary and with 11 minutes left he had already racked up 12 catches for 149 yards.   After Campanaro’s latest big gain, UNC slammed the door shut and didn’t allow anymore offensive yards from Wake on the possession forcing another punt.

Wake Forest brought the pressure on the ensuing possession forcing a three and out and Carolina was forced to punt the ball deep in their own territory.  Wake took over across the 40 yard line down just six.  UNC did a great job of putting pressure on Price forcing another punt.

The Heels took a hit at WR as Boyd went down with what looked like a right knee injury trying to block as Blue took a sweep outside on the first play of the drive.  On the biggest play so far in the game, UNC facing 3rd and 7 with 7 minutes to go, Tapley was wide open about 15 yards down field but was badly overthrown by Renner.

UNCs punt was blocked by Wake but that was negated due to an off sides penalty on Wake.  The penalty really helped UNC after a 55 yard punt and a great open field hit by Kevin Reddick pinned Wake at their own 7 yard line.  A 3rd down penalty on Carolina kept Wake in the game with just over five minutes remaining.

A huge 30 yard connection took the ball inside the 30 yard line of UNC with just over four minutes remaining.  Down six, Wake threatened to take over the lead with a TD.  Campanaro made yet another play on a quick screen for a first down, putting the ball at the 12 yard line.  Wake picked up another first down with a 10 yard completion putting the ball at the 2 yard line, 1st and goal.  Price carried the ball on two consecutive plays, punching it in on 2nd and goal to tie the game, with the point after to take the lead.  Wake went 93 yards on 11 plays for the score on an impressive drive.  The PAT gave Wake Forest the lead 28-27 with 2:09 remaining in the game.

UNC took over at their own 12 yard line with 2:09 left to get the ball in FG position for Casey Barth.  A three yard run by Blue and a throw away took the Heels to 3rd and 7 on the 15 yard line.  Renner was hit as he tried to throw and the ball hit the ground forcing 4th down at their own 15 yard line.  Forced to go for it, Renner threw an interception to end their chances of coming back.  UNC suffered their first loss of the Larry Fedora era.

Final Score: UNC 27 Wake Forest 28

Check back with us as Keeping It Heel will have more coverage and analysis of the Wake Forest game and previews of next Saturday’s game against Louisville.