UNC vs. N.C. State

What are the most important days here in the state of North Carolina? There's the opening of the N.C. State Fair. There's Ric Flair's birthday.

Then there is today, when the 4-6 Wolfpack come and try and play spoiler to the 25th ranked Tar Heels. The Wolfpack is trying to complete a late season roll that could mirror what Tom O'Brien willed the season to do late in 2007.

The Heels will just be happy if they can figure out who is going to be their quarterback for the rest of the year. These story lines added to the caustic vitriol the two teams' fan bases share for one another, and it should make for a fun afternoon in Chapel Hill.

12:13--Yates is the starter, and the offense has displayed rhythm in its first series.

12:18--We have the game's first turnover. Draughn fumbled and the Wolfpack takes over at midfield. The Tar Heels wanted to cause turnovers, not give them up.

12:23--State couldn't turn the fumble into any points for themselves. Wilson looked good on the drive, but Josh Czajkowski missed a 39 yard field goal with 9:54 to go in the first quarter.

12:25--Draughn fumbles again on the UNC 24. If you would have told me turnovers would have been a storyline in the first quarter, I wouldn't have guessed they would be going State's way.

12:30--After a delay of game penalty helped State gain a second chance at making a field goal they had first missed, Czajkowski makes a 39 yard field goal to give the Pack a 3-0 lead with 8:12 to go in the first quarter.

12:42--Two fumbles and a punt in UNC's first three possessions. Is it time to unleash Cam Sexton?

12:47--Jarvis Williams just made an unbelievable 55 yard reception from Russell Wilson, who just set the N.C. State record for consecutive completions without an interception. Wilson also holds the longest streak in college football. The first quarter comes to an end with Wolfpack taking over at the Carolina 19. N.C. State 3 UNC 0

12:51--On the second play of the second quarter, Russel Wilson throws a 17 yd touchdown pass to TE George Bryan. N.C. State is controlling the ball by eating up the clock. I question whether the Tar Heels want to play today. N.C. State 10 UNC 0

1:03--Casey Barth helps the Heels answers and connects on 37 yard field goal. The Heels showed some gusto as they picked up a 4th and 8 inside the 50 . N.C. State UNC 3

1:19--The Heels' offensive line continues to let States front four get penetration up the middle. The Pack is getting off the ball with great speed and bullet into the backfield to either stop Draughn or sack Yates. Carolina will have to adjust in the second half.

1:28--The Heels, who usually generate turnovers like Britney Spears does bad headlines, have just turned the ball over for the third time in the game. Owen Spencer dropped a pass in the end zone that would have been a 39 yard touchdown and put the Heels at a major hole heading into half time.

1:34--Questionable coaching decision to end the half for O'Brien. N.C. State was on the UNC 31 with one second on the clock. Instead of attempting a 48 yard field goal, O'Brien elected to have Wilson throw down field. State came up empty in the end zone, and as a result, the Wolfpack hold a 10-3 lead over the Heels at halftime.

2:00--Yates starts the second half as quarterback. He hardly looked sharp in the first half, was responsible for one turnover and threw a number of balls low to his receivers. I have to ask. If Cam Sexton had started and performed that way, would Yates have been put in? I would have to imagine so, and I don't understand why the same wouldn't hold true now. Sexton was 4-0 at home this year. He has nine TD's, so why wouldn't he see some time today if Yates' offense only leads to stagnation.

2:08--Mine eyes have seen the glory. In a year of ups and downs and inconsistency, I am ready to claim some resolution to one issue. Russell Wilson should be the ACC Player of the Year. When you watch what he does to get rid of the ball and to play within himself, he never puts his team at risk. He completed a 54 yard pass to Owen Spencer, which set up a 1-yard TD run by Jamelle Eugene. N.C. State 17 UNC 3

2:16--UNC used a 27 yard completion from Yates to Greg Little in an 8-play, 60 yard drive to set up a 2-yard TD run by Ryan Houston. Once they were in the red zone, the Tar Heels committed to pounding the ball on the ground with Houston. It led to success as the Tar Heels now trail N.C. State 17-10 with 6:44 to go in the third quarter.

2:31--In the first quarter Mark Paschal dropped a sure interception that could have led to six the other way. Deunta Williams repeated this mistake. Two results: No turnovers for UNC and a State TD by Andre Brown. That would have been enough, but UNC fumbled the kickoff, and on the first play from scrimmage Wilson threw his second touchdown, a 21 yarder, to Owen Spencer. All of this took fifteen seconds to occur. N.C. State 31 UNC 10

2:48--There is 10:13 left on the clock, but the game is clearly over. I've yet to see a UNC team give up and quit. They did today. This loss falls on the players for deciding to wake up today and not care. I also assign blame to the coaches for sending mixed signals with the QB position all week. Nothing ever got established offensively, and it cost the Heels, who also had four turnovers. Just an all-around poor effort in Chapel Hill. State, on the other hand, is one win away from a bowl. State 34 UNC 10