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Live Blog: UVA football hosts North Carolina

Chris Graham

AFP editor Chris Graham will be in Scott Stadium for today’s matchup between UVA (2-4, 1-1 ACC) and North Carolina (5-2, 3-1 ACC).

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

Join the blog for live updates, commentary, analysis and press box chatter.

 

Virginia vs. North Carolina • #UNCvsUVA
Date/Time Sat., Oct. 22, 2016 | 3 p.m.
Location Charlottesville, Va. | Scott Stadium (61,500)
Television RSN | Affiliates
Radio Virginia Sports Radio Network |
Satellite Radio — Sirius 157 | XM 194
Multimedia Gametracker | WatchESPN
Twitter @UVA_Football | @UVACoachBronco | @VirginiaSports
Game Notes Virginia | UNC | ACC | UVA Depth Chart
Additional Information Tickets | FacebookInstagram | 2016 Fact Book |
Game Day Central | 2016 Season Stats |
Parking Map

 

Getting to know: North Carolina

UNC has wins over Pitt, Florida State and Miami, sandwiched around a 34-3 home loss to Virginia Tech.

The offense under coach Larry Fedora is what you’d expect, putting up 430.4 yards per game, getting 130.7 yards per game (4.3 yards per carry) on the ground, and just shy of 300 a game through the air.

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has thrown for 2,068 yards while completing 70.5 percent of his passes (179 of 254), for 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

T.J. Logan (409 yards, 6.3 yards per carry) and Elijah Hood (369 yards, 4.6 yards per carry) are weapons in the backfield.

Ryan Switzer is putting up otherworldly numbers at wideout – 58 catches and 10.4 yards per catch. Also watch out for Bug Howard (29 catches, 14.8 yards per catch) and Austin Proehl (24 catches, 12.6 yards per catch).

The defense is also what you’d expect from a Fedora-coached team: not good. The UNC D gives up 417.3 yards per game, including 216 a game (4.5 yards a carry) on the ground.

Punter Tom Sheldon averages 44.0 yards per boot with six of his 25 punts downed inside the 20.

Placekicker Nick Weiler is 8-of-12 on field-goal attempts, including 2-of-3 from 50+, with 24 of his 43 kickoffs going for touchbacks.

Watch out for Logan on kickoff returns, a weak point for UVA last week in its loss to Pitt. Logan has a kickoff return TD this season and is averaging 27.2 yards per return.

 

Getting to know: UVA

The offense seems to get a little better every week. For the season, the Cavs are averaging 403.3 yards per game, including 114.2 a game on the ground (3.8 yards per carry).

QB Kurt Benkert has thrown for 1,733 yards, completing 57.2 percent of his passes (139 of 243) with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Running backs Taquan Mizzell (355 yards, 5.5 yards per carry) and Albert Reid (346 yards, 5.1 yards per carry) are productive in the backfield.

Benkert has a quartet of receivers moving the chains – Keeon Johnson (31 catches, 9.8 yards per catch), Olamide Zaccheaus (29 catches, 14.6 yards per catch), Mizzell (24 catches, 7.8 yards per catch) and Doni Dowling (21 catches, 14.7 yards per catch).

The defense is a sieve, allowing 450.7 yards per game, 169.8 yards per game on the ground (4.2 yards per carry) and 280.8 yards through the air.

Punter Nicholas Conte averages 45.2 yards per kick, with 14 of his 34 punts downed inside the 20.

The placekicker du jour is Sam Hayward. UVA has made just two field goals all season long.

Kickoff specialist Dylan Sims has had 10 touchbacks on 27 kickoffs.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

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