A Wonderful Carolina Victory: UNC 38, GT 31

Oct 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams (12) celebrates with fans after their win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. North Carolina won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

I thought the game was over.

If it wasn't over before it is now
— Keeping It Heel (@KeepingItHeel) October 3, 2015

Carolina was down 21-0, the offense was punchless, the defense was lifeless, and it looked like Carolina was going to lose by 30.

Conventional wisdom tells you that you can’t go down big to a triple option team that runs the clock, especially against Paul Johnson’s potent triple-option.

Conventional wisdom also would have told you to not trust the Tar Heels in Atlanta. UNC has always struggled on the road at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and had an eight game losing streak in ATL coming into the game.

Conventional wisdom would have told you to not trust the Tar Heels in the ACC opener. The Tar Heels haven’t started 1-0 in the ACC since 2011.

Conventional wisdom also would have told you not to trust Larry Fedora in big games, not to trust this Tar Heel defense, and not to trust Marquise Williams after he had been benched a week before.

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Well, the Tar Heels sent conventional wisdom and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets packing on Saturday afternoon, winning a wild one by a final score of 38-31. North Carolina won perhaps what could be a season defining win after going down 17-0 early in the second quarter.

GT started fast, which you never want to let happen to a triple-option team. On the Yellow Jackets’ first drive, Carolina’s defense was helpless in trying to stop Justin Thomas and crew. Thomas marched his team down to go up 7-0, 14-0 and then 21-0, eating up lots of clock in the process.

But rather than folding, as the team easily could have, the Tar Heels fought back. UNC’s offense started moving the football and the result was a 9 play, 75 yard drive that took just 3:05 and put the Tar Heels on the board. After the first of many of the defenses’ timely stops, the Heels were able to get the ball back before halftime and tack on one more score with seven seconds left, cutting GT’s lead to just seven points.

The second half was all Carolina. UNC struck first on a field goal, and after a 19 yard Thomas TD pass, Carolina would score three straight touchdowns. The highlight was a tricky touchdown pass from wideout Quinshad Davis to quarterback Marquise Williams.

Big plays like that one from the offense and the defense helped the Tar Heels hold the momentum of the game on their sideline for the entire second half.

The final score of the game was 38-31, meaning that from the third minute of the second quarter on, UNC scored 38 points to the Yellow Jackets’ 10.

What changed after GT went up 21-0? First, it was Marquise Williams, who put the team on his back a week after being benched for backup Mitch Trubisky. Williams was magnificent tonight, completing 13 of 24 passes for 134 yards but making an even bigger impact with his legs — Quise had 15 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He reestablished himself as the team’s best quarterback, maybe even best player, while leading his team to a victory.

The defense also stiffened after looking very flimsy on Georgia Tech’s first three drives. Give Gene Chizik credit for orchestrating adjustments and figuring out the Jackets, even if it took some time. Guys like Cayson Collins, Shak Rashad and MJ Stewart stepped up and made plays when the team needed them. Also, a key stand on 4th and goal and the games’ only turnover, a Tech fumble, also helped the defense slow down the Tech triple-option machine.

The final result is perhaps the second best win of Larry Fedora’s tenure in Chapel Hill, second only to the win over NC State in 2012. This result also sets the Tar Heels help very well for a run at the ACC Coastal division title. That’s bigger picture stuff, though. Fedora, his staff, his players and this fan base can also just enjoy this great win.

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