East Carolina @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2009 ) East Carolina 17, North Carolina 31

Optimism has returned to North Carolina as the Tar Heels host East Carolina Saturday in a non-conference game at Kenan Stadium.

Last week’s 17-13 comeback win at Rutgers buoyed the embattled Tar Heels, who opened with close losses to LSU and Georgia Tech.

Now UNC (1-2) aims to build on that momentum against the upset-minded Pirates. The Tar Heels still will be without 18 scholarship players – including seven anticipated defensive starters – as the NCAA continues its agent-related and academic investigations.

North Carolina again will look to senior quarterback T.J. Yates, who completed 22 of 30 passes last week for 204 yards and a touchdown, to shoulder the offensive load. Once a target of fan ire, Yates has completed 68 percent of his passes (68 of 100) for 825 yards and five touchdowns. Senior tight end Zack Pianalto has been his favorite target with 19 catches, good for second in the ACC and 19th nationally.

Converted tailback Johnny White leads the team in rushing with 178 yards on 35 carries. White began his career in Chapel Hill as a tailback before being moved to cornerback in 2008 and then to wide receiver last year. He was pressed back into tailback duties after a preseason knee injury sidelined Giovani Bernard and last year’s two leading rushers were sidelined by the NCAA probes.

Linebacker Bruce Carter and his defensive teammates were impressive against the Scarlet Knights. Carter had a blocked punt, a 55-yard interception return and seven tackles, while fellow linebacker Quan Studivant and defensive end Quinton Coples added 12 stops and three sacks respectively.

The Pirates (2-1) were idle last week after being scorched 49-27 by Virginia Tech on Sept. 18. ECU’s spread attack registered 278 yards of total offense and scored on five of its first six possessions before managing just 83 yards after the break.

Former Boston College starting quarterback Dominique Davis has played well as the trigger man in coach Ruffin McNeil’s spread offense. Wide receiver Dwayne Harris hauled in 10 passes for 119 yards in the loss to Virginia Tech. Harris now has at least one reception in 34 consecutive games.

The Pirates hope to improve to 3-1 for just the second time since 2001. But they are just 2-9-1 alltime against the Tar Heels.