North Carolina Tar Heels: Win on Senior Day
The North Carolina Tar Heels left it all on the field for Senior Night. Senior Marquise Williams had three rushing touchdowns and one passing score. Senior Landon Turner blocked for him. Senior Shakeel Rashad ran down Miami runners. Senior Jeff Schoettmer had an interception and a return that defied logic.
Nor did the seniors have all the fun. Ryan Switzer had a punt return for touchdown. Elijah Hood ran for over 130 yards and a touchdown. The future should be pretty bright on this night when the Tar Heels saw their leadership one last time at Kenan Stadium.
Williams set the record for total touchdowns last week, breaking the record of Darian Durant. He did a good part of that damage throwing to Quinshad Davis, who owns the receiver scoring record. Both were seniors. Davis came on as a freshman to be a favorite target of Bryn Renner and remained steady ever since. He was arguably the first big recruit that Larry Fedora brought to campus.
Williams was a big recruit of the last regime, the Butch Davis one. At one time both he and Florida State quarterback Everett Golson were both Butch Davis recruits. Golson went to Notre Dame, and Williams became the heir apparent to Renner.
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When Larry Fedora became the head coach, there was some concern that Williams would have no part in the new offense and would likely transfer out. This was more speculated when Fedora brought in his guy Mitch Trubisky a year behind Williams.
Arguably Renner is the one responsible for keeping Williams on campus. Renner went down with a heartbreaking injury his senior season and Williams took over. With a few ups and downs he has kept it ever since even with the platoon system that lasted in the early season last year.
For Turner, it has been a story of watching an offensive line build around him to the point where they are pretty good finally.
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For Shoettmer, it has been the story of a walk-on defensive back who became a starting linebacker by force of will.
For Rashad, it has been the story of a guy who spent three years trying to rush the passer before being placed at what seems to be his true calling, linebacker.
All of these stories were on display against Miami, and late in the fourth quarter the seniors on offense came on one more time just so they could be subbed out to the applause of the remaining fans.
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The Miami game was not totally clean for the Heels. They lost the total yards battle and Miami had success running the ball at times. The Heels did get turnovers to prevent Brad Kaaya from getting any real momentum in the game.
The story of this Tar Heel senior class is still being written. They get to play Frank Beamer in his last home game and then face a State team that beat them 35-7 the year previous.