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Duke Football: ‘Heels roll into Durham out of sorts and struggling

By Kevin Connelly

SYRACUSE, NY - OCTOBER 20: Nathan Elliott #11 hands the ball off to Michael Carter #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on October 20, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats North Carolina in overtime 40-37. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - OCTOBER 20: Nathan Elliott #11 hands the ball off to Michael Carter #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on October 20, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats North Carolina in overtime 40-37. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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The North Carolina Tar Heels have been struggling throughout the entire season, but the Duke Football team cannot look past them in a major rivalry game.

It hasn’t been the season Larry Fedora envisioned for the North Carolina Tar Heels, but that hasn’t stopped Blue Devil fans from enjoying the circus show down Tobacco Road.

After eleven players were suspended for selling merchandise on the internet the ‘Heels started off their season in California taking on the Golden Bears, after a seven point loss, UNC returned to the Carolinas and traveled to East Carolina and got beat down by the Pirates.

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The Tar Heels had a game canceled with UCF because of Hurricane Florence, but they responded with their only win of the season at home against Pittsburgh.

Since that lone victory, North Carolina has lost five games straight but most have been relatively close. The one blowout came against the then No. 16 Miami Hurricanes, losing 47-10.

One possession losses against Virginia Tech and Syracuse, rounded out by a pair of ten point loses to Virginia and Georgia Tech round out the North Carolina schedule.

The Heels have been led by quarterback Nathan Elliot who is completing 60.0% of his passes for a total of 1,640 yards this season. Elliot has thrown for eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in his junior campaign.

Like many other quarterbacks Duke has faced this season, Elliot is not a threat to run the ball as he has only taken off 36 times this season, totaling 27 yards.

North Carolina has relied on a two man backfield of Antonio Williams and Michael Carter. Williams has taken the ball 85 times on the season for 478 yards and five touchdowns, while Carter has 402 yards on 59 carries and a touchdown.

Very much like their running backs, two wide receivers stick out for the Tar Heels in Anthony Ratliff-Williams and Dazz Newsome.

Ratliff-Williams has 32 receptions on the season for 475 yards and two touchdowns while Newsome has caught 31 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns.

While the Tar Heels certainly aren’t impressive with their 1-7 record on the year, the Duke Blue Devils must take them seriously as they will certainly put their best effort forward in a rivalry game.

Kickoff between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels is scheduled for 12:20 pm ET from Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, November 10.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham at our Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of Duke vs. North Carolina. 

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