Delaware @ North Carolina preview

North Carolina gets its final tune-up before the ACC schedule begins when it hosts FCS opponent Delaware on Saturday. The Tar Heels are looking to improve to 3-1 for the first time since 2011 after they crushed Illinois 48-14 last weekend, riding three touchdown passes from Marquise Williams, who also ran for 105 yards.

The senior signal-caller appears primed for the challenging upcoming slate - beginning with a visit to Coastal Division favorite Georgia Tech the following Saturday - but knows his team cannot look too far ahead. "We just can't come out and think, 'We're going to run these guys off the field and out of Chapel Hill,'" Williams told DailyTarheel.com. "Delaware's a good football team." The Tar Heels struggled with FCS foe Liberty last year before dominating the fourth quarter to pull away, although they trounced North Carolina A&T for their first victory in 2015. The Blue Hens coughed up a fourth-quarter lead in a tough 28-21 loss to FCS No. 4 Villanova last Saturday on the road.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3, RSN. LINE: NL

ABOUT DELAWARE (1-2): The poor stretch-run against the rival Wildcats came two weeks after the Blue Hens suffered a 20-14 loss to Jacksonville State on a late defensive touchdown. "We just have to find a way to finish," head coach Dave Brock told reporters after the Villanova loss. "I love the effort, but I'm sick about the result." Redshirt freshman Joe Walker was intercepted to seal last week's setback and has struggled with his accuracy, completing 20-of-52 passes for 204 yards on the season.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (2-1): Since a difficult showing in a season-opening loss against South Carolina, Williams has elevated his game to another level. He has completed 72.7 percent of his passes for 414 yards and five touchdowns over the last two games while rushing for 158 yards on only 13 carries. The Tar Heels' rushing attack ranks 16th nationally and second among ACC teams - behind only Georgia Tech's vaunted triple-option offense - in yards per carry (5.9).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tar Heels WR Quinshad Davis needs four receptions to grab sole possession of third place on the school's all-time list and moves into fourth place in yardage with another 82 yards.

2. North Carolina K Nick Weiler has made five field goals of more than 32 yards one season after his team failed to produce a single field goal of more than 30 yards.

3. Brock was the wide receivers coach for the Tar Heels from 2005-06.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 56, Delaware 17