Chapel Hill, N.C. – Before ending his meeting at the team hotel Friday night, North Carolina defensive coordinator Marvin Sanders generated an image on his computer and projected it for all to see – 669.
That was Utah’s offensive yardage in last year’s 46-16 blowout in Salt Lake City. On Saturday, the Tar Heels’ defense helped deliver five turnovers and a 31-17 victory.
Matt Baker threw two touchdown passes and Tommy Richardson made two key fumble recoveries in the fourth quarter to help the Tar Heels (2-2) win their second straight game.
“He had them revved up,” North Carolina coach John Bunting said of Sanders. “They carried it over into the game today. They started fast, they played extremely hard and they did a terrific job for the most part.”
Utah finished with 378 yards, a far cry from what the North Carolina defense surrendered a year ago.
“I thought they played tougher against the run than they did last year,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “I think the front seven is more active and just a better overall front seven than what we saw last year. A much better job by them defensively.”
Richardson said the difference starts with the front line.
“We have a great front eight,” Richardson said. “We have a D-line that can rotate and do a great job, and it gives our secondary a chance to compete. It gives the linebackers a chance to run around and make plays. I always tell people I’m not good at all. When you have good people around you, you can be very talented.”
The game turned on a penalty late in the third quarter, after Utah (3-2) took the opening kickoff and drove for a score on a Brian Johnson touchdown pass that gave the Utes a 14-10 lead. On a second-and-12 at his own 32, Baker’s pass for Jaworski Pollack was intercepted by Eric Weddle, who returned it for a touchdown. But Utah was called for roughing the passer, and the momentum reversed in favor of North Carolina (2-2).
“I started to walk to the sideline, and I was pretty (upset) that it happened like that,” Baker said. “And I saw a kind of glimmer of hope in the eyes of some of the people on the sideline, and turned around and figured there would be a flag. And sure enough, there was.”
Whittingham wasn’t so sure the flag should have been thrown by the all-Atlantic Coast Conference officiating crew.
“I can’t say for certain until I see it on tape, but as it happened, I thought it was a legal hit. But obviously, I didn’t have a chance to see the replay yet,” Whittingham said.
The Utes fumbled on three of their last five possessions.
