Inside the game
The Tar Heels took their first loss of the season 24-7 at Georgia Tech, losing their ninth straight ACC opener. The Heels (3-1) gave up 317 rushing yards, 160 more yards than they had given up in the first three games combined, and turned over the ball three times. The Jackets also had a significant advantage in terms of time of possession, 42:06 to 17:54.
Questionable call
Down 10-0 and finally on the move, UNC reached Georgia Tech's 14-yard line by hitting receiver Erik Highsmith underneath the coverage and running with Shaun Draughn. After an incomplete pass on first down, UNC coach Butch Davis sent in A.J. Blue to play quarterback. Blue ran the wrong way for a loss of a yard, then Yates threw away the ball after a third-down blitz. Kicker Casey Barth compounded the poor play-calling by missing a 32-yard field-goal attempt.
Game balls
WR Erik Highsmith: The rap on the freshman coming into the season was he wasn't big enough or fast enough to make an immediate impact, but the kid's a gamer, and he has knack for catching just about everything he touches.
DE Robert Quinn: It was a tough day for UNC's defense, particularly the line, but the sophomore defensive end continued his sensational start with a career-best 10 tackles.
Looking ahead
The Tar Heels return home for their 114th meeting with Virginia (0-3), which is coming off a bye week. The Cavaliers have won two of the past three in the series in Chapel Hill and six of seven overall. The Cavaliers are off to a rough start this season, though, with home losses to Richmond and Texas Christian and a road loss at Southern Miss.
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While this is a big week for the UNC and ECU baseball teams, which begin NCAA play Friday in Chapel Hill, it’s turning out to be anything except that for some of the two programs’ best former players. 
The Tar Heels will host fourth-seeded Cornell on Friday at 6 p.m. East Carolina will face St. John’s in the afternoon matchup at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill. 
Former North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall is training for the NBA draft at the IMG Basketball Academy in Florida, and he has some good news: He has nearly fully recovered from the broken wrist he suffered during the Tar Heels’ victory against Creighton in the NCAA tournament. 
North Carolina’s 5-3 defeat against Miami on Thursday ended after the Tar Heels left the bases loaded, and it ended with UNC’s best hitter, Colin Moran, standing motionless in the batter’s box, stunned at a third called strike. He wasn’t the only one in disbelief. 
A two-time ACC player of the year, the former Tar Heels tailback died Tuesday at the age of 58. Keep up with the latest sports stories with our free e-mail newsletters, delivered to your inbox!
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