Wednesday, November 22, 2017

NC State Hosts UNC in ACC Regular Season Finale

The Tar Heels and Wolfpack collide for the 107th time when North Carolina travels to NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. The Tar Heels hold an overall edge in the series 66-34-6, but the Wolfpack have won seven of the last 10 meetings between the arch-rivals, including a 28-21 win last year in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have won the last two meetings in Raleigh, including a 45-34 decision two years ago that wrapped up an unbeaten regular season in ACC play. UNC leads 35-29 in all-time ACC meetings and is 29-15-4 versus NC State in Raleigh. The series began with a home-and-home set in 1894, and the teams have met every year since joining the ACC as fellow charter members in 1953.

Carter-Finley Stadium

Last Year

NC State jumped out to a 21-0 lead in last year’s game and never allowed UNC to pull even. The Wolfpack was led by versatile Jaylen Samuels, who ran for one touchdown and threw for another on a trick play, and earned bowl eligibility with the road win.

Players to Watch

North Carolina
Anthony Ratliff-Williams – sophomore wide receiver has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season; threw a TD pass, scored on a kickoff return, and caught a receiving TD against Pitt two weeks ago

NC State
Bradley Chubb – defensive end ranks second in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 2.2 per game. He is also seventh nationally in quarterback sacks, averaging 0.91 per game; named a player of Interest for the 2017 Walter Camp National Player of the Year award.

What the Coaches are Saying

Larry Fedora (43-33 in sixth season at North Carolina; 77-52 in 10th season overall)
“I think what our team has done, under the circumstances, is play extremely hard. We’re starting to make fewer mistakes. I think a lot of the young guys who are playing are making fewer mistakes, and we’re able to overcome the ones we are (making). So, we’re playing better as a football team right now. And I do like the way we’re playing at this point going into this last game.”
Dave Doeren (32-30 in fifth season at NC State; 56-33 in seventh season overall)
“Last home game for a great group of seniors, a very special group of young men and 20 guys we get to honor on senior day this week… A special group of young men, it’s been fun and rewarding to be a part of the journey with them. As much as it is rivalry week, to us as a staff and a football team it’s senior week, which is huge for these young men. It’s a chance for them to come out of the tunnel in Carter-Finley Stadium one more time and see their loved ones on the 50-yard line. All of that is very special to me and these players, we look forward to doing everything we can to play our best football in this game."

North Carolina (3-8, 1-6 ACC) at NC State (7-4, 5-2 ACC)

Carter Finley Stadium (Raleigh, NC)
3:30 pm