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Show The University THE of U t a h ' s I n d e p e n d e n t Student Voice Since 1890 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE VoLll5 No. 60 Friday, September 30, 2005 ©2005 www.dailyutahchronicle.com GAME GUIDE UTAH AT NORTH CAROLINA Utes hope to make Carolina blue UTE FOOTBALL AT UTAH NORTH CAROLINA SATURDAY, OCT. 1 11:30 a.m. @ CHAPEL HILL, NX. TV KJZZ-14 RADIO HOT TICKET 7 0 0 Chris Bellamy Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor THE The UNC football team isn't quite where it expected to be three games into the season, having dropped its first two games before upending N.C. State last week- However, that doesn't mean that U head coach Kyle Whittingham is taking UNC lightly, and the Utes head to Chapel Hill this week looking for their first road victory of the season. "They're a very good football team, and we've got to go back to their place, which will be tough," Whittingham said. The last time these two teams faced each other, the Utes put together an offensive clinic, amassing 669 yards and 35 first downs in a 46-16 rout. With that blowout fresh in the Heels' memory, Whittingham and tl^e Utes know that North Carolina will be out for blood. "Obviously, I'm sure they remember the game with us last year, it was disappointing for them. We've got our work cut out for us this week," Whittingham said. UNC's struggles start at the quarterback position, where senior Matt Baker has experienced plenty of growing pains in his first year as a starter after waiting behind Darian Durant for three seasons. Unfortunately for the Heels, they have had to experience those growing pains right along with him. Baker has completed just 47 percent of his passes and has been picked off five times, including three in the team's season-opening loss to Georgia Tech. "The quarterback is struggling a little bit. He has not gotten off to a great start," Whittingham said. "Obviously, FACTOR: Can the Utes get going on the ground? \ The Tar Heels held N.C. State to just 13 rushing yards last week, in large part because of the pressure they put on Wolfpack quarterback Jay Davis. But they also held tailback Toney Baker to just 58 yards on the ground. With Quinton Ganther struggling to find running room lately, rushing for just 125 yards in the last two games, the Utes have made the running game a priority. Head coach Kyle Whittingham hasn't been happy with the running ^ttackihe-last two weeks and said that it must improve. But that might be a tough task against the UNC defense. Brian Johnson has been effectively throwing the ball, but playing on the road against an opponent such as North Carolina, he could certainly use all the help from the running game that he can get. If UNC can slow Ganther, the pressure will be solely on Johnson. But if Ganther performs the way he did during the first two weeks of the season, the Heels may be literally on their heels all day, and the Utes could be in for another big offensive showing. Chris Bellamy See U T E S Game Guide 4 ONTHEOTHERSIDELINE Tar Heels more dangerous than record shows strong passing game to have success against the Utes. Led by quarterback Matt Baker, the Tar Heels use a wide variety of receivers to attack opposing defenses. "They spread the ball around," North Carolina's first Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham victory of the season said. "They've got a lot of weapons, couldn't have come at a a lot of go-to guys." Jarwarski Pollock leads the receivbetter time. After losing core with two touchdowns and ing close games to Georgia Tech and Wisconsin, a 31-24 upset is only eight catches short of becomof N.C. State was just the lift the ing the Tar Heels' all-time reception Tar Heels needed as they prepared leader. for the remainder of their difficult "As far as speed and talent, the schedule. receivers are good," Whittingham After they play Utah this Saturday, said. "They have four quality receivthe Tar Heels' next four games will ers (Derrele Mitchell, Mike Mason, be against Louisville, Virginia, Mi-, Pollock and Jesse Holley), they're all ami (Fla.) and Boston College. athletic, and they're fast." A loss to their in-state rivals would After losing its leading rusher, have put them at 0-3, which would Ronnie McGill, to a torn pectoral have been devastating going into muscle, North Carolina has relied on a schedule as brutal as that which LSU-transfer Barrington Edwards. they have to face. After a relatively slow start against Their 1-2 record is extremely deceiving. Their first loss was a 27-21 the Yellow Jackets and Badgers, Edsetback at No. 25 Georgia Tech, and See TAR HEELS Game Guide 4 their other loss was to No. 17 Wisconsin, 14-5. They will have to rely on their Matt Patton f A&E Chronicle Writer Opinion Page 4 Sports Page 6 Page 7 More, More, MORE! TheG.C. The speakers won't be as well dressed as Marissa Cooper, but Eric Vogeler still thinks LDS General Conference is pretty cool. At a crossroads Polaroid's "Oliver Twist" consummates a charming Dickensian vision. Volleyball tries to turn around its conference record against TCU. Stat Box RushlngJJS NC-Edwards NC-Arnold Utah-Ganther Utah-B.Johnson Utah-Casteel Att. Yds. Avg. TD 43 188 4.4 1 25 85 3.4 0 81 356 4.4 2 59 169 2.9 5 19 155 8.2 1 Passing / J NC-Baker Utah-B. Johnson Cmp-Att-Int Yds. TD Long 47-99-5 738 4 87 73-110-2 1001 5 60 Receiving ; NC-Holley NC-Pollock NC-Mitchell Utah-LaTendresse Utah-Madsen Utah-Casteel Utah-Hernandez Catches 10 10 6 19 16 15 11 Punting ; NC-Wooldridge Utah-Sakoda No. Avg. Long Blocked 21 42.7 56 0 26 36.8 49 0 Field goals NC-Barth Utah-Beardall FG made/Att 2-5 6-7 Today's weather Long 62 15 40 18 59 Yds. Avg TD 158 15.8 0 118 11.8 2 165 27.5 1 253 13.3 1 227 14.2 2 179 11.9 1 195 17.7 1 Long 26 30 87 26 47 40 60 Long Blocked 43 0 46 0 |
