Film Room: Inside the Tar Heels’ Goal Line Stand vs. GT

Keeping It Heel takes a closer look at the Tar Heels’ goal line stand late in the third quarter that changed the momentum and the outcome of the game. 

North Carolina’s backs were up against a wall. Georgia Tech had just moved the chains on a questionable spot from the refs, and now the Yellow Jackets were driving. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Georgia Tech had first and goal from the seven yard line. The next four plays would change the course of the game and perhaps the Tar Heels’ season.

First and goal, seven yard line, 1:14 left in 3rd quarter

Georgia Tech opts to run the dive play.

The B-back, Patrick Skov, gets the ball on the dive and plunges ahead for a yard or two. Credit Junior Gnonkonde for making the first hit. Mikey Bart and Shak Rashad were there as well.

Carolina dodges a bullet here, as it looks like there is a lot of space on the exterior of the defense for Tech. Instead, Carolina holds on first down and digs in with the end zone line just five yards away.

Second and goal, six yard line, 36 second left in the 3rd quarter

Tech opts this time to pitch the ball to the short side of the field. Here is a screenshot from right when the back gets the ball off the pitch.

Carolina got great penetration here from Sam Smiley. Smiley instantly made a good read that the ball was pitched and drew two blockers. While he didn’t end up making the tackle, that pentitation probably saved a touchdown, as it allowed the other players in blue to go get him.

Here is the screenshot of when Jeff Schoettmer, Donnie Miles and Shak Rashad combine to tackle the ballcarrier, Isaiah Willis, down just short of the goal line. Credit to Shak Rashad for getting to the perimeter and to Schoettmer for beating his block and making a play.

Georgia Tech still gained a handful of yards, but Carolina didn’t let the ballcarrier in the endzone, and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.

That brings up third down.

Third and goal, two yard line, 15:00 left in 4th quarter

After the end of the quarter, Georgia Tech tries to catch UNC off guard and just lets Thomas take the snap and try to plunge into the endzone himself.

This play had worked before in this game — Georgia Tech’s Justin Thomas had already run for two one yard touchdowns in the first half. This time though, the interior of Carolina’s defensive line wouldn’t let it happen.

That brings up fourth and goal for Georgia Tech.

Fourth and goal, ball on the half yard line, 14:19 left in the 4th quarter

A YouTube clip for this one…

There’s nothing special about any of those four plays schematically. UNC just wanted it more than Georgia Tech did. The front four, which many including myself have criticized in the past for not getting pressure on the quarterback, held up strong on this set of downs. The linebackers attacked and shot gaps and made plays, and the Tar Heel defense held up again at the goal line.

More from North Carolina Tar Heels

• North Carolina Tar Heels Week Preview: Sept 18 – Sept 24
• UNC Football: How can fans support Devontez ’Tez’ Walker?
• UNC Women’s Soccer: Avery Patterson wins ACC Offensive POTW
• UNC Softball: Transfer Class Among Best In The Country
• DI Board Takes Shot at North Carolina Tar Heels in Statement

Last year, the Heels did not generate a single turnover on downs in the redzone. Already this season, Carolina has three of these stands against South Carolina, Illinois and now Georgia Tech.

I don’t care what the statistics say about the differences from last season’s defense to this one. At the end of the day, what this defense has going for itself is that it is tough, much tougher than last year’s group. When the game is on the line and the defense needs to make a play, someone on this year’s defense will make that play.

The Heels made four plays in a row on this goal line stand. The result was a change in momentum, not just in the game but in the Tar Heels’ season.