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sports@nique.net Sports Editor: Alex Sohani
Technique
Follow the Pack Joe Sobchuk previews the Jackets’ matchup on the road against the N.C. State Wolfpack.425
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Friday, September 30, 2011
Tech stops UNC for first ACC victory
Three Tech players earn ACC Player of the Week honors
Redshirt junior guard Omoregie Uzzi, sophomore outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu and sophomore safety Isaiah Johnson all earned ACC Player of the Week honors at their respective positions after a 35-28 win against UNC at home. Uzzi earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after helping lead the Jackets to 312 rushing yards against a stout North Carolina defense. Prior to the game on Sept. 24, the Tar Heels were only allowing 77 rushing yards per contest. Led by Uzzi, the offensive line did not allow a sack by the UNC defense. Uzzi recorded almost 20 knockdowns on the day. Attaochu earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors after posting a career-high nine tackles and three sacks against UNC. Attaochu also tipped a pass that allowed Johnson to record one of the Jackets’ two interceptions on the day. The game ended on a sack by Attaochu to run out the clock and secure the win for the Jackets. Johnson was named Defensive Back of the Week with seven tackles and an interception on the day. Johnson led a secondary that held North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner to his lowest completion percentage of the season. It was the first time for both Johnson and Attaochu earning ACC Player of the Week honors in both players’ first seasons as full-time starters.
Golf finishes eighth in Golfweek Conference Challenge The No. 4 Jackets went to Burlington, Iowa to play in the Golfweek Conference Challenge from Sept. 25-27. After ending the first day of the tournament in ninth place, the Jackets rallied to finish in eighth place. Senior James White shot one-under-par on the final day to finish in the top 20 in individual play, however the Jackets finished the event at 25-over-par with a total of 889. Arkansas finished the event in first place with a five-under-par 859, followed by Chattanooga with a two-over-par 866 and Oklahoma State with a three-over-par 867.
Photo by Austin Foote / Student Publications
Daniel Drummond and Julian Burnett quickly stuff the North Carolina run game for a loss. The Jackets’ defense held the UNC offense to under 100 yards and seven points in the first half before a late surge by the Tar Heels in the second half. By Adam West Contributing Writer
Tech defeated North Carolina in a closely-contested game on Saturday to win their fourth straight game and the first conference game of the season. The Jackets scored the final touchdown of the game with 5:20 remaining on the clock to win 35-28.
The Tech defense had a productive day on the field. The Jackets accumulated six sacks of UNC quarterback Bryn Renner during the game. Sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, who was named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, led the Jackets with nine tackles, five of which were unassisted.
On the offensive side, Tech racked up 272 total yards in the first half compared to just 93 for UNC, but the Tar Heels managed to complete a series of long drives to close the gap in the second half. In the end, the Jackets finished with 496 yards (184 of which came via the passing game) compared to UNC’s 332. Tech’s ability to limit the
number of turnovers this game was better than previous games. Redshirt junior quarterback Tevin Washington threw his first interception of the season and the Jackets fumbled only once, but were unable to recover the ball. By comparison, UNC’s Renner threw two interceptions. See UNC, page 24
PLAY OF THE WEEK
Photo by Will Folsom / Student Publications
Down 7-3 late in the first quarter, Tech faced a third-and-5 at the UNC 33-yard line and lined up with both wide receivers, junior Stephen Hill and senior Tyler Melton, split out to the left side. Melton ran a streak route while Hill, working from the slot, ran a short slant pattern toward the left sideline and found an open area between three UNC defenders past the first-down marker. Washington’s pass was high, but the 6’5” Hill made a leaping, one-handed catch, bringing the pass in at the highest point of his jump and maintaining possession even as UNC safety Tre Boston hit him as he landed. Tech picked up a first down as a result, and even though they failed to score on the possession, Hill’s catch ranked No. 1 on SportsCenter’s top ten plays from the day.
Washington-to-Hill connection opens up option attack By Danielle Sharpe Contributing Writer
Photo by Austin Foote / Student Publications
Stephen Hill returns to the line after a catch. Hill already has more receiving yards than he had in the 2010 season.
Tech’s triple option offense is known for wearing down a defense and eating time off the clock. The efficiency of the Jackets’ passing game has contributed heavily to a Tech offense averaging 53.3 points per game, making it the nation’s highest-scoring offense. The Tech offense has demonstrated the ability to strike for big plays quickly, already racking up seven one-play scoring drives this season. As part of this, the improvement in Tech’s passing game from past seasons has helped Tech achieve a 4-0 start for the 2011 season.
The effectiveness of passing plays by redshirt junior quarterback Tevin Washington and the athleticism of junior wide receiver Stephen Hill have helped to open up the ground game for the Jackets. The 2011 season has shown improved offensive success for the Jackets. In the season opener, Washington completed eight of 13 attempts for 271 yards and three touchdowns against Western Carolina. Hill had four receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns, including an 82-yard touchdown and a 77-yard touchdown. With the passing game keeping the defense honest, the Jackets amassed 297 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns against
the Catamounts. On the road against Middle Tennessee State, the redshirt junior completed five of eight passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Hill had three receptions for 126 yards, which included a 71-yard touchdown. This allowed for 382 yards rushing, with five different Jackets seeing the end zone to defeat the Blue Raiders. In a 66-24 victory against the Kansas Jayhawks, Washington threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Though he had only a fouryard reception, Hill was a vital tonesetter and blocker for big run plays. See Hill, page 24