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Show ™ PATTY UTAH CHRONICLE Game Guide 4 Friday, September 30, 2005 FOCUS ON THE ACC TOP 25 Hokies Pocus! Vick reborn! 1. USC (3-0) ACC spotlight shines on the resurgent Marcus Vick Last week: beat Oregon 45-13 This week: @ No. 14 Arizona State When Marcus Vick announced he was headed for Virginia Tech three years ago, his older brother i Michael claimed that Marcus was faster than he was ' and piqued the interests of sports fans everywhere. Still, Frank Beamer insisted on making Vick sit on the bench, while we wondered if that thing on his face had finally started making the decisions in Blacksburg. It's hard to understand how someone with Mike's genes could be any worse than he was. I mean, how good of a quarterback do you think you'd be if you could run a 4.2 40 and throw a 75-yard deep ball with as much effort as it takes a normal human to swat a fly? Nonetheless, the younger Vick was made to pay his dues, and now that he's finally taken the reigns of the offense for good in 2005, it's clear that his big bro's appraisal might have been a little exaggerated. The right-handed junior is not 2. Texas (3-0) Last week: bye This week: @ Missouri ACC 3. Virginia Tech (3-0) Last week: beat Georgia Tech 51-7 This week: @ West Virginia 4. LSU (M) Last week: bye This week: lost to Tennessee 30-27 5. Florida (4-0) Last week: beat Kentucky 49-28 This week: @ No. 15 Alabama 6. Florida State (3-0) Last week: bye This week: vs. Syracuse 7. Georgia (4-0) Last week: beat Miss State 23-10 This week: bye 8. Ohio State (3-1) Last week: beat Iowa 31-6 This week: bye have righted the ship er for new hurricane names, since quite as explosive he seems to have such an affinity in Tallahassee. on the ground Freshman quarter- for odd monikers. as Michael and Here's a sampling of some back Drew Weatherdoesn't appear to ford has had a shaky first names on the Miami roster: have particularly start to his college ca- Quadtrine, Sinorice, Kirby, Buck, great vision, but he reer, but the Seminoles DajLeon, Akleem, Tanard, Jerhas emerged into a (3-0) still pulled out rell, Francesco, Jean, Lovon, Luqsolid junior quarwins against Miami man, Teraz, Romeo, Cyrim, Calais, terback. Orien, Baraka, Vegas and good ole' and at BC. Matthew Piper With the talent Florida State receiv- boy Rhyan Anderson. surrounding him L.V. Whitwdrth and Andre Calon the No. 3 Hokies, a solid QB ers Decody Fagg and Chris Davis might be all he needs for a trip to are two of the nation's best targets, lender have combined for over the Rose Bowl and a complimen- and if the defense continues to 500 yards splitting carries in the tary Heisman nomination. VaTech dominate, the offense should have backfield, as the Golden Eagles are stomped No. 25 Georgia Tech 51-7 plenty of time to improve as Weath- threatening to contend with the Seminoles in the Atlantic region of last weekend, dominating on both erford gets more comfortable. sides of the ball. The Hurricanes (2-1) recovered the conference. No. 25 Georgia Tech (3-1) relies Cedric Humes and Mike Imoh from their loss against FSU by eking have combined for over 400 yards out a 36-30 win on the road against heavily on junior quarterback Regon the ground, while the speed- Clemson. Quarterback Kyle Wright gie Ball, who had a tough showing laden defense has allowed just 5.8 and running back Tyrone Moss against the Hokies last weekend. give the Hurricanes a fierce attack, Miami, Virginia and No. 7 Georpoints per game. but they will need to improve their gia will present a number of opThe Hokies avoid playing No. 6 Florida State, but they have tough play with remaining games against portunities for the Yellowjackets games remaining against No. 21 Virginia Tech and Virginia on the to impress voters, but myriad questions remain for the Techies. Boston College and No. 9 Miami, road. mpiper@ and at No. 19 Virginia. Whoever's in charge of disasters chronicle.utah.edu Bobby Bowden finally appears to around here should ask Larry Cok- UTES NOT OVERLOOKING THE HEELS 9. Miami (Florida) (2-1) Last week: beat Colorado 23-3 This week: vs. South Florida continued from Game Guide 1 10. Tennessee (2-1) Last week: bye This week: beat LSU 30-27 that will have to improve for North Carolina to have success." The UNC offense has had more than its share of problems all season, but showed improvement in last weekend's win over the Wolfpack. If that improvement can continue, Whittingham thinks this year's group of Tar Heels will be even better than last year's. "I think they're improved. Overall, in every area, I think they're a better football team than they were last year," he said. "They had a nice win over N.C. State Saturday, which was big for them." While going on a road trip to the East Coast is challenge enough for the Utes, they know they will also be facing one of the most athletic teams they will see all season, perhaps even more than the TCU squad that dominated the second half of play in a 23-20 victory two weeks ago. "I think they're probably the most athletic team we've faced at this point, just as far as speed and athleticism. They're very athletic on defense," Whittingham said. Despite the problems at quarterback, the Heels boast one of the most dangerous groups of receivers in the ACC, and one of the most experienced, as they return almost their entire receiving corps from a season ago. Already, their top three wide- Brian Johnson looks for a receiver while evading an Air Force defender In a 38-35 win over the Falcons last week. outs—Jesse Holley, Jarwarski Polence road game across the country first month of the season relatively lock and Derrele Mitchell—have ferences. combined for 26 catches and 441 "We got into them last year and will be a distraction as the Utes unscathed, health-wise. For Johnyards this season. had a good game, and we're excited try to fight for their third-straight son, it doesn't matter who the opponent is, be it in the conference or "We expect them to get then- to go to their place and go against MWC crown. an ACC team to prove to everyone "First of all, just the logistics of it out of it. guys out in space. They've got a "It's my first time doing this, so it great group of receivers. They're all that we can play teams like this," (are tough). The distance is a challenge," Whittingham said. really doesn't matter to me. You've, coming back from last year," Utah Weddle said. safety Eric Weddle said. "They "This game is tough because it's "It's a little bit of a departure. just got to take it one week at a time have four quality receivers. They're not just going against a confer- You'd like to get in a rhythm in the and prepare each week the best you all athletic, they're fast, they spread ence, it's going against the coun- conference and play the guys one possibly can and go out there and the ball around well." try. They're all going to watch us. after another. But the schedule is make plays for your team," he said.1 "We really can't worry about beBut Weddle said that the team's It puts that excitement into it. We what it is." ing in the middle of a conference, want to show everyone that we can Neither Whittingham nor his speed and athleticism simply players feel that it will be much of race—you've gotta focus pn North! comes with the territory when fac- play at that high level." , ing an ACC team. However, he said Utah is already well into confer- a problem, in large part because the Carolina now." the Utes are anxious to prove they ence season, opening up at 1-1, lead- Utes will have nine days between c.bellamy@l can play with the nation's elite con- ing many to wonder if a non-confer- games and have come out of the chronicle.iitah.edu 11. Michigan State (4-0) Last week: beat Illinois 61-14 This week: vs. Michigan 12. California (4-0) Last week: beat New Mexico St. 41-13 This week: vs. Arizona 13. Notre Dame (3-1) Last week: beat Washington 36-17 This week: @ No. 22 Purdue 14. Arizona State (3-1) Last week: beat Oregon State 42-24 This week: vs. No. 1 USC 15. Alabama (4-0) Last week: beat Arkansas 24-13 This week: vs. No. 5 Florida 16. Texas Tech (3-0) Last week: beat Indiana State 63-7 This week: vs. Kansas 17. Wisconsin (4-0) Last week: beat Michigan 23-20 This week: vs. Indiana 18. Minnesota (4-0) Last week: beat Prudue 42-35 This week: @ Penn State 19. Virginia (3-0) Last week: beat Duke 38-7 This week: @ Maryland 20. Alabama (3-0) Last week: beat South Carolina 37-14 This week: vs. Arkansas 21. Boston College (3-1) Last week: beat Clemson 16-13 This week: vs. Ball State 22. Purdue (2-1) Last week: lost to Minnesota 42-35 This week: vs. No. 13 Notre Dame 23. Iowa State (3-0) Last week: beat Army 28-21 ••5 This week: @ Nebraska TAR HEELS A DANGEROUS 1-2 f 24. Louisville (2-1) continued from Game Guide 1 % Last week: lost to South Florida 45-14 s This week: vs. Florida Atlantic I 25. Georgia Tech (3-1) s Last week: lost to Virginia Tech 51-7 ••j This week: bye wards ran for a career-high 129 yards against the Wolfpack, including a 60-yard dash on the second play of the game. North Carolina struggled with its rushing defense after allowing more than 225 yards rushing nine times last season, including a 288-yard day S T U D E N T S ! DECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT WITH ID OLDEST JEWELER IN THE INTERMOUNTA1N AREA Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-5:30 Saturday 10:00-4:00 "•14k and 18k gold > White & Yellow Gold - Platinum • Titanium * • Tungsten > Bridal & Wedding Rings • Custom Designs • Anniversary Bands - Certified Stones ' BENNION JEWELERS ^ ^ Loose Diamond Headquarters 364-3667 59 S Main • Salt Lake City www.bennionjewelers.com We accept: Visa, Mastercard, AmEx & Discover against the Utes. North Carolina also had trouble with its pass defense last season, particularly against Utah. Alex Smith finished with 341 yards passing with four touchdowns and another touchdown rushing. The 669 total yards they allowed the Utes were the most they had ever allowed an opponent, but this year they've vastly improved. Now they're 31st in rush defense, allowing an average of just 100.3 rushing yards per game. They have allowed nearly 250 yards-pergame passing, but that was against some of the better passers in the NCAA. "They're very athletic on defense," Whittingham said. "They're physical. Their | North Carolina sSHf 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/8 i 10/22 1 10/29 I .11/5 @ Georgia TecL L 27-21 Wisconsin L14-5 @ N. Carolina St. W 31-24 Utah Virginia @ Miami J ? J @ Boston College | 11/12 Maryland ':KK 1 11/19 Duke 1 11/26 @ Virginia Tecih""" secondary is what you'd expect from &n ACC football team. They're fast, and they'll hit you. They're solid/' The Tar Heels will try to use that defense in slowing the Utes' offense, which has averaged 432.5 yards per game over their first four games, making them 31st in the country. They will also try to attack the Utes with their rushing game, since Utah has allowed 186.5 yards-per-game on the ground against their first four opponents. The Tar Heels will rely on Edwards to eat up the playing clock and take the focus off Baker. Edwards's performance will most likely determine the outcome of the game. m.patton@chronicle.utah.edu | Utah Schedule/Results 9/2 Arizona ^ f WMi,9/10 9/15 9/22 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 11/5 11/12 11/19 Utah State _ W31-7 fL.23-20 Air Force W38:35 @ North Carolina d Colorado State San Diego State @UNLV Wyoming New Mexico @BYU |
