Game #11 - UNC Chapel Hill

In the Cat's eleventh and final regular season game of the season, Western Carolina travels to Chapel Hill for the second meeting with the Tar Heels in two years.


The Cats dropped last season's game to the Tar Heels in a 65-10 setback for the short-handed Catamounts.  











UNC-Chapel Hill

When: Saturday, November 17 at 3 pm ET
Where: Kenan Stadium (63,000) - Natural Grass -  Chapel Hill, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
- Talent: Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers; Color Analyst: Daniel Hooker; Host / Producer: Jeff Bryson
TV / Video: ACC Network Extra
- Talent: Jones Angell, play-by-play; Brian Simmons, analyst; Lee Pace, sideline
Game Notes:   WCU          -     UNC 

The Series: Second meeting on the football field between these two UNC sister schools, the Cats dropped last season's game to the Tar Heels in a 65-10 setback for the short-handed Catamounts.

Games that the Heels will play this season prior to the WCU contest: 9 games -   The Tar Heels are currently 1-8 this season, they kicked off the year with two road games loses, first at California (17-24), to the ECU Pirates (19-41). The UCF game was canceled,  and the Heels picked up their only win against Pitt (38-35). UNC traveled to Miam for a 10-47 loss, followed by a game in Chapel Hill against Virginia Tech (19-22).  Then two more road losses, at Syracuse (37-40) and at Virginia (21-31).  Back in Chapel Hill, the Heels lost to Georgia Tech (28-38), followed by a 35-42 loss at the hands of the  Duke Blue Devils, prior to the Western Carolina's visit to Chapel Hill

The last game played vs. UNC:  Nov. 17, 2017 - Catamount Football Drops Season Finale at North Carolina, 65-10 - Chapel Hill, N.C. - Western Carolina senior tailback Detrez Newsome rushed for 107 yards on Saturday afternoon, eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season to cap his career in Cullowhee. However, it was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing finish for the short-handed Catamounts. North Carolina (3-8) erupted for 35 points in a decisive second quarter, breaking open a 7-7 game as a part of scoring 65-straight in handing Western Carolina (7-5) a 65-10 setback on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium. Newsome accounted for 155 all-purpose yards, adding a team-best seven catches for 48 yards receiving to lead the Catamount offensive attack. Tyrie Adams, who played just the first half on Saturday, finished 8-for-18 for 69 yards and WCU's lone touchdown, completing a one-yard, play-action TD pass to Connell Young that capped a 61-yard drive and gave Western Carolina an early, 7-0, lead. Redshirt freshman QB Ray Smith saw his most extensive action of the year, completing 8-of-15 passes for 84 yards as the Catamounts threw for 153 through the air.

UNC's 2017 Record:  3-9 overall, 1-6 home, 2-3 away, 1-7 ACC 
UNC's 2018 Record:  1-8 overall, 1-2 home,  0-6 away, 1-6 ACC

Starters Returning/Lost: 15 /  12
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 5  /  6
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7  /  4
Specialist - Returning/Lost:  3   /   2
Lost from 2-Deep roster:   18

Key Offensive losses: Quarterback  - Brandon Harris; Left Tackle  - Bentley Spain; Left Guard  - Khaliel Rodgers; Center  - Cam Dillard; Right Guard  - R.J. Prince; Wide Receiver  - Austin Proehl; Wide Receiver  - Jordan Cunningham

Key Defensive losses: Linebacker  - Hunter Crafford; Linebacker  - Cayson Collins; Cornerback  - M.J. Stewart; Nickelback 6 - M.J. Stewart

Top returnees: WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams, QB Chazz Surratt, QB Nathan Elliot, RB Jordon Brown, RB Michael Carter, TE Brandon Fritts, LB Cole Holcomb, DB K.J. Sails, DE Malik Carney, DT Aaron Crawford, DE Tomon Fox, DE Jalen Dalton, DB Myles Dorn.


2018 UNC Statistics (9 games):
Rushing Offense: 1853 yards
Yards per game: 5.3 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 83
TDs rushing: 13
Passing Offense: 2106 yards or 234 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 6 yards
Passing 1st downs: 93
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 347-205-11
TDs Passing: 10
Total Offense: 3780 yards or 420 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 17 - 8
3d Down Conversions: 35%
4th Down Conversions: 50%
On-side kicks: 0-3
Red Zone Scores: 29 of 33
Red Zone Touchdowns: 18 of 33
Punts - Yards: 43 - 1737

Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 1% probability of winning (24-53) over the Tar Heels

According to Massey, Western Carolina should be 3-8 after this game. 

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