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Yates sparks Heels by Pirates
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Published: September 20, 2009
CHAPEL HILL
T.J. Yates found his passing touch quickly yesterday afternoon, never let it escape and led North Carolina to a 31-17 win over East Carolina at Kenan Stadium.
Yates, the Tar Heels' veteran quarterback, teamed with young receivers to stage four touchdown drives and throw two touchdown passes. He completed 19 of 24 passes -- two passes were intentionally thrown away -- for 227 yards, the most accurate passing day of his college career.
"We heard that they said our offense was weak," Yates said. "We took that to heart. We came out to make a point."
The Tar Heels' last scoring drive sealed the win, coming in the final 6:21 after the Pirates had sliced the lead to 24-17. Yates drove the Tar Heels 81 yards for the decisive touchdown, starting with a 43-yard catch-and-run play down the right side on first down to freshman Erik Highsmith that carried to the Pirates' 38.
An official's call six plays later helped North Carolina move closer to the end zone. Yates, with no receivers open, threw the ball away on second down and 12 at the East Carolina 14, but end C.J. Wilson of East Carolina was called for a personal foul for a late hit on Yates.
Wilson slammed into Yates after being blocked in the back by North Carolina fullback Anthony Elzy.
The penalty gave North Carolina a first down on the 7, and tailback Ryan Houston bulled into the end zone from 5 yards out two plays later.
The touchdown was Houston's second of two. Casey Barth's point-after kick gave North Carolina an insurmountable lead with 1:58 left.
"I had my war paint on today because we were some warriors," said defensive tackle Marvin Austin of the Tar Heels. "We got it done today. It feels so good to beat those people, man. When adversity came, we went out there and put the fire out."
The Tar Heels improved to 3-0 for the first time since the 1997 season. The Pirates fell to 1-2.
"They talked a lot of junk, but talk is cheap," Austin said. "Somebody please tell ECU not to talk. Please tell them to stop."
The Tar Heels overcame the Pirates' early 7-0 lead and then broke out of a 14-14 tie for a 21-14 halftime lead. Yates, given solid protection by a patchwork offensive line that allowed no sacks, attacked the Pirates' secondary with a mixture of short, medium and long passes.
Yates gave North Carolina its first lead at 14-7 when he connected with freshman receiver Jheranie Boyd on a 59-yard touchdown pass, the second of his scoring passes.
Boyd sped down the right side of the field and got behind an ECU cornerback. Yates lofted the pass and the ball sailed into Boyd's hands at the 14. Boyd juggled the ball twice before gaining control at the 5-yard line on his way into the end zone, his first college reception.
"We ran that play a lot during the week (in practice)," Yates said.
ECU managed only a field goal in a frustrating second half, losing to North Carolina for the ninth time in 12 games.
East Carolina, down 24-14 in the third quarter, drove to the North Carolina 30 but stalled there after 14 plays. Ben Hartman attempted a 47-yard field goal that was blocked by defensive lineman Cam Thomas of North Carolina.
ECU, still down by 10 points, drove from its 21 to the North Carolina 5 after 14 plays. North Carolina held again and Hartman was forced to kick a 22-yard field goal that provided the 24-17 difference.
Coach Skip Holtz of ECU said that the offensive futility after halftime, deep in UNC territory, was costly.
"We put a couple of drives together, but what we lacked as an offensive football team was some of the big plays," Holtz said. "I think in the second half we had a 12- and 15-play drive that resulted in three points. That's a lot of offensive plays to get only three points on the board."
East Carolina 7 7 0 3 -- 17
North Carolina 7 14 3 7 -- 31
First Quarter
ECU--Bryant 7 pass from Pinkney (Hartman kick), 7:07.
UNC--Highsmith 16 pass from Yates (Barth kick), 4:44.
Second Quarter
UNC--Boyd 59 pass from Yates (Barth kick), 8:09.
ECU--Harris 6 run (Hartman kick), 6:22.
UNC--Houston 1 run (Barth kick), 2:57.
Third Quarter
UNC--FG Barth 28, 9:21.
Fourth Quarter
ECU--FG Hartman 22, 6:21.
UNC--Houston 5 run (Barth kick), 1:58.
A--58,000.
TEAM STATISTICS
ECU UNC
First downs 13 22
Rushes-yards 30-55 37-148
Passing 192 285
Comp-Att-Int 20-31-0 21-26-0
Return Yards 4 44
Punts-Avg. 6-48.8 4-31.3
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards 7-42 6-56
Time of Possession 30:46 29:14
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--East Carolina, Jackson 12-35, Harris 4-15, J.Williams 4-7, G.Ruffin 4-6, Pinkney 5-(minus 1), Freeney 1-(minus 7). North Carolina, Draughn 19-84, Houston 12-41, Boyd 2-16, Yates 2-5, Blue 2-2.
PASSING--East Carolina, Pinkney 19-30-0-157, Harris 1-1-0-35. North Carolina, Yates 19-24-0-227, Blue 1-1-0-24, Draughn 1-1-0-34.
RECEIVING--East Carolina, Taylor 5-46, Womack 4-66, Harris 4-45, Bryant 4-27, J.Williams 2-3, Jackson 1-5. North Carolina, Highsmith 6-113, Little 5-59, Draughn 4-16, Elzy 3-11, Boyd 1-59, Adams 1-23, J.White 1-4.
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