"Like a lot of things since I've been here, I think (the spring game) went a
little better than we expected," said head coach Butch Davis. "I think if
you had watched us the first couple of days of spring practice you would
have been amazed that we completed a pass today. That was one of the major
emphasis today to throw the ball a little more than we ran. It gets
everyone involved in the game and it gives us an opportunity to evaluate the
quarterbacks."
No score was kept in the game as the structure was to pit the offense vs.
the defense for approximately 50 plays and then work on red zone offense and
the two-minute drill.
"I was extremely happy to go as many plays as we did and not get anyone hurt
and for the first time have some full special teams work. If there's one
guy that's clearly had an outstanding spring it's Connor Barth. He's
kicking the ball as well as anyone I've ever been around."
Barth made all three field goal attempts, connecting from 25, 33 and 22
yards prior to the scrimmage.
Many of the Tar Heels' offensive leaders were either freshmen or sophomores.
Yates, a redshirt freshman from Marietta, Ga., led the team in passing,
redshirt freshman Anthony Elzy finished second on the team with 37 rushing
yards and sophomore Hakeem Nicks had 82 yards receiving.
"Speed and inexperience is a pretty good assessment of this entire football
team," said Davis. "If we're not the youngest team in the country, I'll be
shocked."
The Tar Heels have 10 scholarship seniors and 44 of the 69 players currently
on scholarship are either freshmen or sophomores.
Defensively, linebacker Martel Thatch led the team with six tackles, while
defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer had two sack and three tackles. Others with
sacks included defensive end Hilee Taylor, Tavares Brown, Kendric Burney,
Aleric Mullins and Garrett White.
On a personal note, Davis, who had a cancerous growth removed from his mouth
in February, told reporters he had one more chemotherapy treatment
remaining.
"I feel great and I'm looking forward to spring recruiting."