Middle Tennessee @ North Carolina preview
Kenan Memorial Stadium
Head coach Larry Fedora began developing the offensive philosophy he uses at North Carolina as an offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State, which visits the Tar Heels on Saturday. Fedora introduced the spread offense when he joined the staff in 1999 and the Blue Raiders set 43 team records during his three-year tenure. "It was my first job as an offensive coordinator and really it's where the basis of this offense evolved from," Fedora said at his Monday press conference. "It is fortunate that I didn't have a quarterback that could run at all ... because we would have dabbled in the option a little bit more."
That quarterback was Wes Counts, whose school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns could be surpassed if senior Logan Kilgore stays healthy. Kilgore left the Blue Raiders' opening win in the third quarter with a right shoulder injury but will start Saturday. "I doubt he will be 100 percent ... but there's no question that Logan will play and he'll play well," coach Rick Stockstill said at a Tuesday press conference.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network, ESPN3. LINE: None.
ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (1-0): Redshirt freshman Austin Grammer went 7-of-9 for 61 yards and had a rushing score in relief of Kilgore (12-of-18 for 144 yards and a touchdown) in a 45-24 win against Western Carolina. Sophomore Jordan Parker rushed for a career-high 156 yards as the Blue Raiders improved to 23-3 under Stockstill with a 100-yard rusher. Freshman defensive end Steven Rhodes walked on with the Blue Raiders after five years of service with the United States Marines and made national news when the NCAA initially only gave him two years of eligibility because he played recreational football on his base. Rhodes made four tackles in his debut.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (0-1): Senior quarterback Bryn Renner's streak of 134 attempts without an interception is the third longest among active quarterbacks, and is closing in on Oscar Davenport's school record of 154 (1996-97). Ten players caught passes as the Tar Heels tried to use screens and short passes to negate South Carolina's big defensive line in a 27-10 loss. Fedora said his defense looked better on film than the final score indicated, saying five big plays - which led to three touchdowns and two field goals - made the difference.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Middle Tennessee State senior WR Kyle Griswould has at least one reception in 23 straight games.
2. Kilgore needs 13 touchdown passes and 2,522 passing yards to break Counts' career records (50 scores and 8,007 yards).
3. North Carolina OC Blake Anderson replaced Fedora at Middle Tennessee State in 2002 and Tar Heel TE coach Walt Bell and graduate assistant Luke Paschall played for the Blue Raiders between 2003-06.
PREDICTION: North Carolina 38, Middle Tennessee State 17