N.C. State will look to avenge a heartbreaking last-minute loss to UNC-Chapel Hill last season as the Tar Heels return to Raleigh for Homecoming this Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The two teams will meet on Saturday for the 103rd time, with UNC leading the all-time record of 64-32-6. UNC’s win last season was its first against State since the 2006-2007 season, ending a five-year period of Wolfpack dominance.
“I have been looking forward to being a part of a rivalry that’s been around for over 100 years,” head coach Dave Doeren said at the weekly ACC teleconference. “Both teams are battling hard. I know it means a lot to our fan base, former players, current players and coaches. It will be a hard-fought game.”
The Tar Heels (2-5, 1-3 ACC) defeated Boston College at home last week, 34-10, to halt a four game losing streak.
After starting the season 3-1, the Wolfpack (3-4, 0-4 ACC) lost its last three games, the most recent of which coming at the hands of No. 2 Florida State. The Seminoles pounded the Wolfpack in Tallahassee, Fla., 49-17.
State went into halftime down 42-0 against the Seminoles, but fought hard in the second half to lessen the margin of victory.
“We rebounded in the second half [against the Seminoles],” redshirt junior running back Tony Creecy said. “If we pick up on that effort we had in that second half, we will have a great game against Carolina.”
“The coaching staff got here and played [the punt return] for us when we went over special teams,” redshirt sophomore cornerback Juston Burris said. “Seeing that play over again, I definitely cringe since I got hit hard by my own man. People have come up to me and shown it to me, and it’s something that I don’t want to see happen again.”
Graduate student quarterback Brandon Mitchell will start his third game of the season after returning to action last week against the Seminoles. Mitchell, who injured his foot against Louisiana Tech in the season opener, went 17-33 against the ‘Noles for 128 yards and two interceptions.
“Many saw what we were building our offense to be in the first game, so that had to change to a two-quarterback system [following Mitchell’s injury],” Doeren said. “It changed the dynamics of where our team was going. Entering our bye week, we said, ‘Now that we have [Mitchell] back, let’s get better for six weeks.’ Hopefully, we will be able to do that.”
Sophomore running back Shadrach Thornton said he looks to continue his hot streak. Thornton, since coming back from suspension after the season opener, racked up a career-high 173 rushing yards against Florida State, the most a Pack player had accumulated since the 2006 campaign.
Thornton leads the team’s rushing attack with 357 yards on the season and four touchdowns, tying him with freshman running back Matt Dayes.
The Heels’ offense will be centered around a two-quarterback system with senior quarterback Bryn Renner starting for UNC-CH. Renner is 137-for-209 on the season with 1,641 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.
“Bryn is playing well for them,” Doeren said. “Obviously he’s not a runner, but he’s put up outstanding numbers, especially since dealing with the injury he had [against East Carolina].”
Sophomore quarterback Marquise Williams will also see snaps for the Tar Heels. Williams has completed 32 passes on 51 attempts this season for 445 yards, scoring five times and throwing five interceptions.
Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is slated for 12:30 p.m.
