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Davis says Sexton will remain the starting QB
North Carolina's offense struggled in 17-15 loss to Maryland
AP Photo
Cam Sexton (11) had two turnovers against Maryland, including this fumble recovered by Adrian Moten.
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Published: November 17, 2008
Coach Butch Davis of North Carolina is not considering a quarterback change for this week's home finale against N.C. State after Cameron Sexton's struggling performance in a loss at Maryland on Saturday.
T.J. Yates, the starter in the first three games, is available after recovering from a broken left ankle but Davis will stick with Sexton, a junior who has directed UNC to a 5-2 record since Yates was injured on Sept. 20.
Davis said last night that he will not give any thought to promoting Yates and that Sexton will make his seventh consecutive start against the Wolfpack.
"Our plan is right now to start Cam," Davis said. "I think that certainly T.J. is improving every week. He's getting back into the routine. He missed a significant amount of practice time where he wasn't able to practice."
Yates returned on Nov. 8 to play UNC's last offensive series in a win against Georgia Tech. He did not play at Maryland.
Sexton called his performance in the 17-15 loss his worst of the season. He completed 10 of 24 passes for 166 yards. He threw a touchdown pass but had two turnovers. He was sacked three times.
The loss damaged UNC's chances of winning the ACC's Coastal Division title and playing in the conference-championship game. Davis said that Sexton did not play well but added that few UNC players did.
Davis did not consider Sexton responsible for all of UNC's offensive shortcomings.
"There's no one single individual that ever either wins you a ballgame or loses a ballgame," Davis said. "The games that we've won this season we've won because we've won as a team. Yesterday we didn't follow that blueprint."
Sexton took the loss hard. He was angry at himself for the way he played.
The field was wet from occasional rain showers in the first half but he said that the weather did not affect his play.
He was at a loss to explain why he could not get the ball to his receivers at critical times and could not sustain drives. UNC drove inside the Maryland 20-yard line three times but came away with six points on two field goals. The running game offered 75 yards of support.
A possession in the second half that started at the Maryland 33 after recovering a fumble ended there with a punt after Sexton threw incomplete passes on the first three downs. The second pass was dropped by Greg Little at the 23.
"I didn't have a good day; I didn't play very well," Sexton said. "I couldn't get in rhythm. I had a bad day. We win and lose as a team but as the quarterback I have a little bit greater responsibility. I've got to play better than that for us to win."
Davis said that he talked to Sexton after the game in College Park and again yesterday to lift his spirits. Davis told Sexton that he made many correct decisions in the game but had others that were not the proper calls.
Davis doesn't want Sexton dwelling on a bad performance with a chance for the team to win its last two games and finish 9-3. UNC will close its regular season at Duke on Nov. 29. It has qualified to play in a bowl game.
Sexton said earlier last week that he is not concerned about Yates replacing him at some point for the rest of the season.
"As far as I know it's my team," Sexton said. "I'm not looking over my shoulder. I can't control that. I'm not going to worry about it. I never will from here until I've taken my last snap as a football player.
"That stuff just gets in your head and gets you in a place you don't want to be. And I'm not going to go there."
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
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