Holliday: Heels 6-1 after beating Duke by inches

By Bob Holliday, WRAL sports columnist

Replay officials spent some long minutes reviewing Antoine Green’s game winning touchdown catch against Duke. Yes, he clearly was in bounds when he caught the ball, but did he step on the white line of the end zone boundary while coming back to make the catch? It looked to me like a few blades of green grass alongside Green’s left foot were all that separated the Tar Heels from a call of incomplete pass.

The thing is, that was just one of three seemingly impossible catches UNC receivers made inches inside the white lines.

In the closing seconds of the first half, Drake Maye threw to running back Caleb Hood in the near right corner of the end zone. Looking down on the field from the Wade Stadium press box, it didn’t seem possible that Hood could have gotten a foot down before his momentum carried him out of bounds. But the officials on the field ruled touchdown. And replay confirmed their call. Hood actually got both feet down with possession.

Then in the fourth quarter with Duke leading 35-31, Maye again worked the sideline passing to Josh Downs. Again, to the naked eye, it didn’t seem possible that Downs made the catch. But replay showed that as he was hurtling out of bounds, Downs managed to drag one foot across a few inches of green grass, giving the Tar Heels a drive extending first down.

It seems to me there is no defense for a pass that’s thrown out of bounds to be caught by a limber receiver who snags the ball by extending his arms and hands while dragging a foot.

But this is how UNC is winning games in 2022—with clutch plays in the passing game and a porous but opportunistic defense that for the second straight week actually locked down victory with an intercepted pass.

In 2021, Mack Brown bemoaned the fact that his team could not win close games or road games. This autumn the Tar Heels are doing both. They’re a perfect 4-0 on the road, with all those wins coming by a touchdown or less. Usually much less.

There is still plenty of football to play, but at North Carolina, starting with six wins in the first seven games historically augurs well for a strong finish.

But 6-1 starts are rare in Chapel Hill. This is just the fifth time since the Dick Crum era in 1983 the Tar Heels have fashioned such a strong first half of the season.

The last 6-1 start came under Larry Fedora in 2015; common denominator is Gene Chizik as defensive coordinator. That 2015 team played in the ACC Championship Game and finished 11-3.

All of the other 6-1 starts came in the first iteration of Mack Brown.

In 1993, UNC finished 10-3 on the strength of that strong start and finished the season nationally ranked.

In 1996 and 1997, the Heels went 10-2 and 11-1 and again finished high in the season ending AP Poll; number 7 in 1997.

All of those other 6-1 teams boasted much better defenses than the 2022 Tar Heels, but none of them had a quarterback like Drake Maye, whose ability to read a defense and quickly deliver a strike, turbocharged by the outstanding quality of his receivers, could well break many of the single season pass records at UNC.

Maye usually seems to be at his best when the game is on the line.

The freshman quarterback had some rough moments at Duke. In the second quarter, he was charged with a fumble when a teammate ran into his hand as he was attempting a pass. The Blue Devils scored soon after. The empty hand syndrome struck again in the fourth quarter as Duke’s R.J. Oben hit Maye right as he was releasing the ball.

Maye also presided over the Tar Heels’ worst offensive series of the game late in the third quarter. UNC’s defense had stopped Duke cold on fourth and one at the Blue Devils’ 30 yard line, creating a wave of emotion on the Tar Heel sideline. A score there with UNC leading 31-21 might have been a mortal blow for the home team, and should have been easy pickings for an offense that routinely scores touchdowns on drives of 80 and 90 yards. But three plays lost a collective four yards. Noah Burnette then missed a 51 yard field goal. The momentum immediately swung to Duke.

But on the two occasions where Carolina absolutely had to put the ball in the end zone, Maye was money.

Late in the first half with Duke leading 21-10 and soon to receive the second half kickoff, Maye marched the Tar Heels 75 yards in nine plays. His four yard touchdown pass—on the wondrous corner catch by Hood—came with exactly 13 seconds to spare.

Maye’s second half heroics were even more noteworthy. 2:09 remained when the Tar Heels took custody of the football at their own 26 after Charlie Ham’s missed field goal, a critical miss as things turned out.

The first 50 yards on UNC’s final drive came quickly on a long pass, a short pass, and a Duke face mask penalty.

Then the Blue Devils’ defense stiffened and forced a fourth and five at the Duke 20 with 45 seconds left. UNC took its final time out. Afterward, Maye connected with Downs for an 11 yard gain to keep Tar Heel hopes alive.

30 seconds later Maye and Green completed the 74 yard game winning drive that will now be forever part of UNC football lore.

Devils improving but come up just short

Duke played extremely well in most phases of the game starting with Riley Leonard at quarterback. UNC does not generate enough pass pressure with its front four, so defensive coordinator Gene Chizik blitzes periodically with corners and safeties. Those blitzes worked well against Tyler Van Dyke at Miami. But Leonard quickly served notice that he would punish attempts at extra pressure. The Tar Heels blitzed on second and seven at the UNC 17 early in the game. The athletic Leonard easily scrambled out of the pocket and rambled all the way to the two yard line.

Then, in the second quarter, a corner blitz by DeAndre Boykins provided UNC’s only sack of Leonard during the entire game. And it was a big one-14 yards. But Leonard struck back on the very next play, 2nd and 24, breaking a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, dashing through a crease between UNC’s linebackers, and looking ahead to see the Tar Heels had no safety help-maybe Cam’Ron Kelly was out of position? Leonard outran UNC’s pursuing defenders over 74 yards, giving Duke a lead it did not relinquish until the second half.

Penalties played a major role in Duke’s narrow defeat. The Blue Devils were flagged 7 times for 75 yards in the second half alone. A block in the back spoiled Duke’s pivotal possession to start the third quarter. UNC then recaptured the lead with help from a roughing the passer call. The Tar Heels ultimately scored 21 unanswered points.

The Blue Devils played penalty free football on their next two drives though, to go back on top 35-31.

Alas, Duke’s bid to put the game away was sabotaged—by more penalties. The Blue Devils drove to the UNC 11, looking to take a 7 or 11 point lead. But on third and two, the Devils were cited for an illegal shift. Then on third and seven from the Tar Heel 16, Leonard threw a touchdown pass to Jalon Calhoun. That play, however, was negated by an illegal chop block. Ultimately Charlie Ham had to attempt a 43 yard field goal. The longer than anticipated kick did not come close to the uprights. That whole sequence opened the door for a Carolina comeback.

Statistically, Duke did enough offensively to win. Duke rushed for 297 yards—130 by Leonard and 167 by Jordan Waters, Terry Moore, and Jordan Moore; this despite injuries to leading rusher Jaylen Coleman and key run blocker Maurice McIntyre. Leonard passed effectively; 20-31 for 245 yards, and he passed to eight different receivers.

Defensively, Duke contained UNC’s running game, apart from Maye’s scrambles. The quarterback once again led his team in rushing with 70 yards. However, the Tar Heel running backs gained just 86.

Duke applied pressure in the passing game, sacking Maye three times with two quarterback hurries. And of course the Blue Devils forced two Drake Maye fumbles.

Though the result was a bitter disappointment, Duke’s effort and execution were a big bounce back from a lackluster performance at Georgia Tech. Can the Blue Devils build on that this week at Miami?

The Hurricanes have all but abandoned their ground game in favor of Tyler Van Dyke’s strong arm. However Van Dyke can be pressured; UNC recorded five quarterback hurries and two sacks. Also TVD may be without his favorite receiver, tight end Will Mallory, who appeared to suffer a concussion in the Canes’ 20-14 win at Virginia Tech.

Miami ranks third in the ACC against the run, but UNC rushed for 161 yards against the Canes in their 27-24 win back on October 8. Miami also gives up yards through the air. Duke should be able to move the ball Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium and Leonard could well have a big day.

The Hurricanes, however, excel at red zone defense, second in the ACC. Duke will likely need some Charlie Ham field goals to win; but he is just 9-15.

Playing in the Miami heat and humidity can be problematic. On the other hand Duke forces turnovers and that can be problematic as well. The Blue Devils rank third in the league in turnover margin. Also the Canes cough up the football more than 10 other ACC teams. Only Virginia, Boston College, and Louisville commit more turnovers than Miami.

If the Blue Devils can force fumbles as they did against UNC-and maybe even score an interception, that could point the way to victory. And with games against Boston College and Virginia Tech still remaining, a win at Miami would almost guarantee bowl eligibility for Duke in Coach Mike Elko’s first season.