GAME PREVIEW: NORTH CAROLINA
intercepting seven passes in their first four games,
led by senior nickel back Matthias Farley's two. Fifth-
year senior and Florida transfer Cody Riggs will be
asked to help limit North Carolina's leading receiver,
sophomore Ryan Switzer (19 grabs for 202 yards and
a touchdown).
The Irish held their first four opponents to 6.93
yards per passing attempt and 11.36 yards per com-
pletion. Those numbers are partly attributable to
VanGorder's aggressive, blitzing schemes that have
caused headaches for opposing quarterbacks and
resulted in eight sacks and 18 quarterback hurries
through four games.
Advantage: Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS.
NORTH CAROLINA RUN DEFENSE
Notre Dame's rushing game started and sputtered
through the first four games, bottoming out with
54 rushing yards against Michigan one week after
gashing Rice for 281 yards. A revamped offensive
line led the way to 161 yards versus Syracuse, but
the ground game has yet to find its rhythm, ranking
77th in the country with 158.5 yards per game. That
figure comes across as a bit generous once senior
quarterback Everett Golson's 42.0 yards per game
(not counting sacks) are deducted.
Notre Dame's three-headed backfield of senior
Cam McDaniel and sophomores Tarean Folston and
Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Ethan Farmer (11 tackles) anchors a front seven that yielded 190.0
rushing yards per game during the Tar Heels' 2-2 start.
PHOTO BY JEFFREY CAMARATI
