Eagles End Road Trip at North Carolina
10/7/2009 11:42:00 PM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Football ends a three-game road trip in the same region they started it at, traveling to North Carolina this Saturday (Oct. 10). Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Kenan Stadium.
Every Georgia Southern Football game can be heard on the 19 station Georgia Southern Radio Network (Eagle 102.9 FM the flagship station) and on the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. Chris Blair (play-by-play), Terry Harvin (color analyst) and Ryan Chambers (sidelines) will call the action. The pregame show begins two hours prior to kickoff. Fans inside Kenan Stadium can listen to the broadcast on 90.3 FM.
The game will also be broadcasted live on ESPN360.com, ESPN's live sports broadband network giving fans a 24/7 online destination that delivers more than 3,500 live, global sports events annually. It is available at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated service provider. ESPN360.com is currently available in nearly 41 million homes - a majority of US broadband homes. It is available via dozens of Internet Service Providers nationwide, including: Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.
The Eagles (3-2 overall) began their current road trip at Elon and are coming off a 26-21 win at Wofford last weekend. This will be Georgia Southern's third Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in as many years, and first-ever meeting not only against UNC but a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. GS is 1-16 all-time against the FBS, getting the win in 2004 at Florida International.
Sophomore quarterback Lee Chapple ranks among the national leaders in several categories, including: third in completions (124), fifth in completions per game (24.8), 40th in passing yards (198.2), 68th in total offense (179.8) and 72nd in passing efficiency (116.87). He needs 32 more completions to tie the GS season record.
Sophomore running back Adam Urbano is seventh in the league averaging 56 rushing yards, good for 78th in the nation. Freshman wide receiver Jamere Valentine stands 54th in receptions (5.2 p/g) and 99th in receiving yards (53 ypg). His team-leading 26 receptions are three shy of 10th place on the GS season 'Top 10', while his four touchdown receptions already tie for ninth place.
Adrian Mora, the reigning Southern Conference 'Special Teams Player of the Week', stands in a tie for 10th averaging a league-leading 1.6 field goals per game. The sophomore kicker is also tied for 52nd averaging 6.8 points per game.
Sophomore linebacker Dion DuBose is 12th in the SoCon and tied for 90th nationally averaging eight tackles per game. He forced the fumble late in the Wofford game that the Eagles recovered to seal the win.
Senior defensive back Darrell Pasco enters the weekend fifth in the SoCon and 61st nationally averaging 22.8 yards per kickoff return. He also is tied for sixth in the league and 71st nationally with two interceptions.
North Carolina is coming off a 16-3 ACC loss at home to Virginia last weekend. The Tar Heels were held to 39 rushing yards and 174 of total offense, but did limit Virginia to 254 yards. UNC committed three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble) and was held to nine first downs. UNC (3-2) will look to end a two-game losing streak this Saturday, both coming in ACC play.
Among 120 FBS programs, the Tar Heels rank eighth in total defense (251.2), 15th in scoring defense (14.6 ppg), fourth in pass defense (135.2), fourth in tackles for a loss (9.4 p/g), 17th in pass efficiency defense (97.87) and 40th in rushing defense (116). On the flip side, offensively they rank 113th in total offense (280.8), 107th in scoring offense (18.6 ppg) and 103rd in rushing offense (100 ypg).
Robert Quinn is tied for seventh nationally averaging 1.2 sacks per game and is tied for eighth with an ACC-leading 1.9 tackles for a loss. Da'Norris Searcy is eighth among the national leaders averaging 16.6 yards per punt return. Charles Brown and Deunta Williams are tied for 48th with two interceptions apiece. One common opponent between UNC and Georgia Southern will be The Citadel, as the Tar Heels won 40-6 in the season-opener.
