Duke, Featured stories, UNC

What they’re saying about Duke’s 33-30 win over Carolina

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“A touchdown pass from Sean Renfree to Jamison Crowder for five yards with less than 13 seconds remaining in the game gave the Duke Blue Devils a 33-30 victory over the arch-rival North Carolina Tar Heels, in a game that Duke dominated for the first three quarters before being forced to make a comeback of their own.”

– Pardeep Toor, Asheville Citizen-Times

“The main thing that was going through my head was, ‘Just hold on to the ball, and when I realized I still had it, I just wanted to get to the sideline and celebrate with my team.”

– Jamison Crowder, Duke receiver

“They outplayed us and they out-executed us in every phase of the game.”

– UNC coach Larry Fedora

“The Blue Devils’ prospects for a victory looked slim after North Carolina (5-3, 2-2) erased a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter with a bizarre touchdown. Quarterback Bryn Renner found Erik Highsmith wide open down the left seam, but Highsmith was stripped by Duke safety Jordan Byas on Duke’s 22 yard-line. Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell dove on the ball but could not hold it, and North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard scooped up the ball at the four yard-line and ran in for the score.”

– Nick Piotrowicz. Rocky Mount Telegram

“Honestly, that play doesn’t even matter. We lost the game. That one play, that’s just a little something out of the whole game. But we didn’t execute the whole day. We didn’t come out ready to win and we lost the Bell, and it hurts.”

– UNC’s Gio Bernard

“The Blue Devils were ready to play, came out firing at the line of scrimmage and really never let up. How they responded to UNC taking the lead was quite impressive. This program has grown up so much.”

– Andrew Jones, Fox Sports Carolinas

“This is why you play college football. You dream of this as a kid, playing your rival to go bowl eligible, doing something special pretty much the last play of the game – it doesn’t get any better.”

– Sean Renfree, Duke QB

Featured stories, N.C. State

What they’re saying about NC State’s 20-18 escape at Maryland

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“In yet another totally bizarre ACC game, NC State beat Maryland 20-18, thanks in large part to Maryland’s missed 33-yard field-goal attempt, which clanked off the upright as time expired.”

– Heather Dinich, ESPN.com

“Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon carried the Wolfpack through the two-minute drill at the end of the game, culminating with the game-winning kick from (Niklas) Sade after covering 54 yards in less than two minutes. Even though the N.C. State defense couldn’t hold at the end, it got bailed out by (Brad) Craddock’s missed kick.”

– Satchel Price, SBNation.com

“In a game in which two Maryland quarterbacks excelled after starter Perry Hills left the game with a second-quarter knee injury, Craddock missed a chance to become the biggest hero of all.”

– Jeff Barker, The Baltimore Sun

“I actually thought I hit it pretty well. It’s never good missing one, you know? It hit like the top of the upright.”

– Brad Craddock, Maryland kicker

“Probably the worst thing to happen to us is we knocked the quarterback out of the game.”

– Tom O’Brien, NC State coach

“That was a very disappointing and heartbreaking loss we had out there, but the guys competed and played very hard. They gave everything they had. We put ourselves in a position to win the game there at the end, but we just came up short.”

– Randy Edsall, Maryland coach

Featured stories

High school football winding down with several toss-ups; predictions stand at 89-15

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While the playoff teams are becoming more and more evident, there are a number of games that should be close this week. For instance, Green Hope is better than past years and could give Cary fits at home. Enloe usually beats Sanderson but the two teams are evenly bad this year and Sanderson is playing at home. Fuquay is better than Apex but Apex has been an enigma this year and are playing at home. Athens Drive can score and are playing at home against favored Lee. Northern Durham and homestanding Southern Durham are evenly matched. Finally, perhaps the best matchup this week is Orange (7-1) at Cardinal Gibbons (8-0). Orange has had a slightly tougher schedule and are allowing only nine points a game. Gibbons is scoring 39 points a game. Something has to give. Temperatures should hover around 60 with no chance of rain. Most games start at 7:30 p.m. You might want to check with local officials as some games start at 7. Last week I was 13-4. For the year I stand at 89-15. Game predicts are as follows.

Broughton at Wakefield
Cary at Green Hope
Chapel Hill at Southern Vance
East Chapel Hill at Hillside
Enloe at Sanderson
Fuquay Varina at Apex
Heritage at Leesville Road
Lee at Athens Drive
Middle Creek at Holly Springs
North Raleigh Christian at Wake Christian
Northern Durham at Southern Durham
Orange at Cardinal Gibbons
Panther Creek at Jordan
SE Raleigh at Garner
WF-Rolesville at Millbrook

Featured stories, N.C. State

NC State picked to win the ACC; first time since 1974

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For the first time since the 1974-75 season, NC State has been picked as the favorite in Atlantic Coast Conference in voting by the media at the league’s annual Operation Basketball.

The Wolfpack, which returns four starters from last season’s team that posted a 24-13 record and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, received 26 of the 53 first-place votes and totaled 601 points.

Duke, which also returns four starters, was second with 589 points, including 21 first-place votes while North Carolina was third with 520 points. Defending ACC Florida State received the remaining six first place votes and placed fourth with 484 points.

Miami was picked for fifth with 436 points, followed by Maryland (341), Virginia (287), Clemson (277), Georgia Tech (189), Virginia Tech (169), Wake Forest (151) and Boston College (90)

NC State junior forward C.J. Leslie, who averaged 14.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, was voted the Preseason ACC Player of the Year while teammate Rodney Purvis was named Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year.

Leslie heads up the ACC Preseason All-ACC team and is joined by Wolfpack teammate Lorenzo Brown, Duke’s Mason Plumlee, Florida State’s Michael Snaer and North Carolina’s James Michael McAdoo.

Listed below are results of the voting in the ACC Operation Basketball preseason poll.

Team Predictions
1. NC State (26) 601
2. Duke (21) 589
3. North Carolina 520
4. Florida State (6) 484
5. Miami 436
6. Maryland 341
7. Virginia 287
8. Clemson 277
9. Georgia Tech 189
10. Virginia Tech 169
11. Wake Forest 151
12. Boston College 90
(53 ballots)

Preseason All-ACC
Lorenzo Brown, Jr., NC State
C.J. Leslie, Jr., NC State
James Michael McAdoo, So., North Carolina
Mason Plumlee, Sr., Duke
Michael Snaer, Sr., Florida State

Preseason ACC Player of the Year
C.J. Leslie, Jr., NC State

Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year
Rodney Purvis, Fr., NC State

– News release

Featured stories, UNC

Offensive line a great strength for Heels despite different playing style

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The offensive line was expected to be good for North Carolina this year. But they didn’t count on having to learn a whole new, up-tempo game brought to Chapel Hill by Coach Larry Fedora.

Fedora said it was a big adjustment for the linemen to make. , there was a lot of talk about the offense, the up-tempo, how are these big guys that were recruited for pro-style offense, how were they going to be able to adjust.

“it was very difficult for them, because you’ve got big guys who are used to going to a huddle, relaxing, holding hands, and then coming, taking their time at the line of scrimmage and running the play,” he said. “Well, totally, it was a shock for most of them and probably more plays than they had ever gotten in in practice and their lifetime. So it was a total shock.”

As a result the linemen trimmed down and got in better shape. And, as usual, they did it together. Fedora said they have a comfort level with each other.
“A lot of those guys have gotten a lot of snaps together, they trust each other and know what each other is going to do and so they are able to excel and keep moving forward and now I think they are just starting to hit their stride,” he said.

Fedora particularly praised All-America candidate Jonathan Cooper. “I’ve been coaching a long time. I’ve coached some offensive linemen that have been drafted in the top five or six in the country and Jonathan has some skills at the offensive guard position unlike any others that I’ve ever coached. He has tremendous feet. He has feet like a tight end, a very skilled tight end. There are quite a few tight ends out there that don’t have the feet that Jonathan has. He’s big and he’s very intelligent and he understands what you’re trying to do, and he’s good at what he does.”

Featured stories, N.C. State

Heading into Maryland, Pack coach says team confident in Glennon

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After taking over for Russell Wilson, NC State QB Mike Glennon has started 19 games and is one of 15 college players up for the 2012 Johnny Unitas
Golden Arm Award. Glennon leads the Wolfpack into Maryland after a bye week.

“He’s very confident right now in what he’s doing,” State coach Tom O’Brien said Wednesday at his weekly media teleconference. “Our team has a lot of confidence in him. He’s performing at a high level.”

Glennon threw four interceptions in the season opener against Tennessee but has thrown only three in the five games since. So far he has completed more than 60 percent of his passes for 1681 yards.

“(He) had a couple of miscues early there in the Tennessee game,” O’Brien said. “But he’s come back and played well the last three games he played. He set a record throwing the ball against Miami. Came back in the second half against Florida State. I think threw for over 200 yards actually when we needed him there mostly in the fourth quarter. Converted three straight fourth-down conversions.”

O’Brien said things actually started kicking in for Glennon midway through last season, his first as a starter.

Historically, the Wolfpack has done well after a bye week under Tom O’Brien, posting a 4-2 mark. Although the record in those games following bye weeks have been favorable for the Wolfpack, the results have been close – decided by an average of just nine points per game.

“They’re playing great right now, coming off two victories, especially one on the road,” O’Brien said of the Terrapins adding that they have a senior-dominated defense that is playing well. +Then certainly they’re very explosive on offense. Tremendous speed and skill at the wide receiver, tight end position.
It’ll be a great challenge for us but we look forward to the opportunity.”

The winner will have the inside track on the division title.

Featured stories, N.C. State

NC State AD Yow to speak at weekly Raleigh Sports Club luncheon

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North Carolina State University Athletic Director Debbie Yow will be the guest speaker at the Raleigh Sports Club meeting Wednesday. Organizers expect a capacity crowd to listen to Yow give an update on the status of the Wolfpack athletic program.

Yow formerly held the AD position at the University of Maryland and Saint Louis University. She previously served as the head coach of the women’s basketball teams of the University of Kentucky, Oral Roberts University and the University of Florida.

Maddie Plumlee, a volleyball player at St Mary’s, will be honored as the Student Athlete of the Week.

The meetings emphasize friendship, fellowship, weekly door prizes, pick sheets, and great food. This is the 49th year of The Raleigh Sports Club.

The Raleigh Sports Club weekly Wednesday luncheon meetings are from 11:30 -1 p.m. at Highland United Methodist Church at 1901 Ridge Road in Raleigh. The Forks Cafeteria caters a Southern Buffet with lines opening at 11:30 a.m.

Member attendance fee is $15 while guests are $25. For more details go to www.raleighsportsclub.org.

Featured stories, N.C. State

State, Maryland meet with each controlling their destiny

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Two ACC Atlantic Division teams – NC State and Maryland – that “control their destiny” will meet in College Park, Md., at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium Saturday
(3:30 pm, ESPNU).

The Terrapins, the only unbeaten team remaining in conference play, are coached by Randy Edsall and feature a defensive unit led by a pair of seniors in DE Joe Vellano and LB Demetrius Martsfield, that is ranked 9th nationally in both rushing and total defense.

The Wolfpack, coached by Tom O’Brien, are led by senior QB Mike Glennon, who is 3rd in the ACC in passing yards per game with a 280.2 average.

The Terrapins and Wolfpack are meeting for the 69th time in a rivalry which began in 1909 and is the ACC’s 8th longest continuous series.

The Wolfpack enters Saturday’s ACC game at Maryland ranked sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.17). LB Rickey Dowdy leads the way with 1.33 TFL per game, and fellow LB Rodman Noel is averaging one per contest. Dowdy is also the team co-leader in sacks with .42 per game.

The Oct. 6 win over then- No. 3 Florida State marked the highest ranked opponent NC State has defeated since downing No. 2 Florida State, 24-7, in 1998 … NC State has now beaten a ranked FSU team in five of the last seven meetings. Sophomore WR Bryan Underwood set a new school record with a TD catch in his sixth consecutive game when he hauled in the winning score vs. FSU with 16 seconds left. Underwood now has seven TD catches on the season, a mark that is already seventh-most in a single season in school history.

Duke, Featured stories, UNC

Blue Devil, Tar Heel game summaries and a look ahead at Duke vs. UNC

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A week ago, many pundits might have thought homestanding Duke would be a favorite over North Carolina this Saturday but after the Tar Heels upset Miami and the Blue Devils fell apart at Virginia Tech, UNC will probably be favored.

The Blue Devils seek their first win over the rival Tar Heels since 2003 and their first in Durham since 1988 (7 pm, ESPNU).

This will be the 99th meeting between the arch-rivals but it’s only the second time the teams have had identical five-win records. The teams were each 5-3
when they met in Durham in 2010.

In his four-plus seasons leading the Duke football program, David Cutcliffe has guided the Blue Devils to 20 victories. That’s one more win than the Duke football program managed in 12 full years prior to Cutcliffe’s arrival in Durham.

Virginia Tech 41, Duke 20
The Hokies (4-3, 2-1) spotted the visiting Blue Devils a 20-0 lead in the first quarter before storming back with 41 unanswered points. The comeback marked the largest by the Hokies under Tech head coach Frank Beamer, and with it, Tech snapped a two-game losing streak. Duke – which lost to the Hokies for the 12th straight time, including nine straight since Tech joined the ACC – fell to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in league play. Virginia Tech freshman RB J.C. Coleman, in his first collegiate start, rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

When S Jordon Byas returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter of Duke’s ACC game at Virginia Tech last Saturday, it marked the Blue Devils’ fourth non-offensive touchdown of the season … It was the second interception returned for a touchdown by Duke in 2012 … DE Kenny Anunike recorded a half sack against the Hokies to extend his streak of at least a half sack in his seventh straight game to open the 2012 season … Anunike now has 9.0 sacks over his last nine games dating back to last year … QB Sean Renfree has now thrown for 200 or more yards in 24 career games to equal the second-highest total in Duke history held by Thaddeus Lewis …His 742 career completions are the 8th-highest total in ACC history…

WR Conner Vernon has increased his ACC career record total to 243 receptions … Vernon is now just 111 yards shy of the Duke career mark of 3,318 yards set by Clarkston Hines and just 217 yards short of the ACC career mark of 3,517 held by Florida State’s Peter Warrick … Vernon’s 42 straight games with at least one catch is the longest active streak in the nation and is three games shy of the ACC record of 45 held by North Carolina’s Corey Holliday… Duke junior CB Ross Cockrell is tied for 7th nationally in passes defended. Cockrell leads the ACC with 4 interceptions and 9 pass breakups for a total of 13 passes defended in seven games, an average of 1.86 per game.

North Carolina 18, Miami 14
Tar Heel RB Giovani Bernard, playing just a few miles from his hometown of Davie, Fla., put on an impressive show by rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tar Heels (5-2, 2-1) to their first road win of the season. Bernard had first-half scoring runs of 10 and 17 yards and gained 105 of his 177 yards after halftime for UNC, which has won four straight and two in a row against ACC Coastal Division opponents.

UNC ran a season-high 84 plays from scrimmage and amassed 486 yards of total offense, coming just shy of gaining 500 yards for the third week in a row. Miami RB Mike James had career-bests of 22 carries and 96 yards for the Hurricanes, and he scored Miami’s fi rst touchdown on a 1-yard run. QB Stephen Morris scored the Hurricanes’ second touchdown from 5 yards out in the third quarter, but suffered an ankle injury and had to leave the game with 8:26 to play. Bernard’s big afternoon helped the Tar Heels overcome 15 penalties. The outcome left the Coastal Division standings logjammed, as UNC, Miami, Duke and Virginia Tech each currently have one loss in ACC play.

The victory at Miami marked the first road win at UNC for first-year head coach Larry Fedora. WR Erik Highsmith tied his career high with eight receptions for 57 yards vs. the Hurricanes. .. OG Jonathan Cooper started his 42nd career game Saturday, most among active offensive linemen in the ACC … QB Bryn Renner completed 25 of 40 attempts for 214 yards and one interception at Miami … This is the first game this season and just the second game in two seasons as a starter that Renner has not thrown a touchdown pass (2011 NC State) … Renner moved into third place in UNC history with 386 completions, passing Jason Stanicek (372) … Carolina has made 154 consecutive extra points, including a school-record 116 in a row by senior PK Casey Barth.

– From ACC information

Featured stories, UNC

UNC’s Cooper, Boston earn ACC player of the week honors

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North Carolina senior offensive guard Jonathan Cooper and junior safety Tre Boston headline a list of eight players named as the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week, announced by the conference on Monday. Boston tallied six tackles, a pass breakup, and an interception, and Cooper helped the Tar Heel offense accumulate 272 rushing yards en route to an 18-14 win at Miami.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina, Senior, G, 6-3, 295, Wilmington, N.C.
Senior offensive guard Jonathan Cooper played all 85 offensive snaps, graded a team-best 93 percent, had 14 knockdown blocks and did not allow a sack in Carolina’s 18-14 win at Miami. Cooper helped pave the way for Carolina’s 272 rushing yards, which included 177 from Giovani Bernard, 77 from Romar Morris and 14 from A.J. Blue. Both of North Carolina’s touchdowns came on the ground. On the first scoring drive, Cooper had key blocks on three plays that went for 10-or-more yards, including the 10-yard touchdown run by Bernard.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Tre Boston, North Carolina, Junior, S, 6-1, 190, Ft. Myers, Fla.
Boston posted six tackles, broke up a pass and intercepted another in an 18-14 victory at Miami. A native of Ft. Myers, Fla., Boston led a Tar Heel defense that held Miami to 235 yards passing, 60 yards less than its season average.