William & Mary @ North Carolina preview
Kenan Memorial Stadium
It's not like FCS power William & Mary has never beaten an FBS team. The Tribe accomplished that feat five times in the past 25 years, including a 26-14 win over Virginia in the 2009 season opener.
This is one of the better William & Mary entries, compiling a 6-1 record and No. 4 FCS (formerly I-AA) national ranking with wins over defending champion and then-No. 1 Villanova and then-No. 2 Delaware.
The Tribe would love to come away from Saturday's game with more than a $350,000 payday to show for its effort.
But even a hobbling North Carolina (4-3, 2-2 ACC) program, where a total of 26 scholarship players have missed games because of injury or NCAA issues, should have the horses to ride this one out. The Tar Heels are coming off a disappointing 33-10 road loss to Miami in which they had just 289 yards of offense. Miami snapped Carolina's four-game winning streak, outscoring the Tar Heels 20-0 after halftime.
North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates has completed 133 of 203 pass attempts for 1,635 yards and 11 touchdowns. He ranks second in the ACC in passing efficiency, third in passing yards and fourth in total offense. The senior is the ACC's active leader with 38 career starts at quarterback and 7,594 passing yards.
Junior Dwight Jones has 23 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns. Fourteen players have caught passes for North Carolina, and five have more than 200 receiving yards apiece. But the Heels will be without senior tight end Zack Pianalto, who will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his right fibula in practice Oct. 22. He leads the team with 30 catches for 311 yards and ends his career as UNC's leader in receptions by a tight end with 95.
Senior tailback Johnny White has climbed the UNC depth chart and leads the team with 549 yards on 94 carries and also has 19 receptions for 239 yards. He ranks third in the ACC with 112.6 all-purpose yards per game. He ran a 76-yard touchdown in the loss to Miami. His main backup, senior Shaun Draughn, is averaging 59.7 yards a game.
The game pits brother against brother: William & Mary defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is trying to stop the offense coached by a younger sibling, North Carolina's John Shoop.
W&M junior running back Jonathan Grimes was named Colonial Athletic Association offensive player of the week after rushing for 77 yards on 21 carries, catching three passes for 22 yards and returning four kickoffs for 95 yards in a win over Delaware. He leads the conference with 146.7 all-purpose yards per game.
W&M ranks eighth in the FCS, allowing just 16.0 points a game. The Tribe held Villanova to 62 yards rushing and Delaware to 47.
The Tribe will stick with fifth-year senior quarterback Mike Callahan, who came off the bench in last Saturday's win. He relieved UNC transfer Mike Paulus, completing 7 of 10 for 93 yards and a touchdown.