University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
North Carolina
Blue Hens Hang Tough at North Carolina, Fall to Tar Heels 41-14
9/26/2015 2:28:00 PM | Football
• Boxscore
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of Delaware scored first and was still in striking distance late in the third quarter, but host North Carolina took over from there and downed the Blue Hens 41-14 Saturday afternoon at rainy Kenan Stadium.
The Blue Hens (1-3) put in a strong showing for most of the game as they hung tough with the Atlantic Coast Conference contenders until the fourth quarter.
Delaware piled up a season-high 279 yards on the ground as redshirt freshman Thomas Jefferson was brilliant in his first career start with Jalen Randolph out with an injury. He finished the day with 
163 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns, including a thrilling 72-yard scamper on the second play of the day that gave the Hens a quick 7-0 lead just 51 seconds in.
The Hens also got a big effort from sophomore Kareem Williams (at left) who rushed for 95 yards on 18 carries. Delaware quarterback Joe Walker hit on 4 of 10 passes for 24 yards and was intercepted once.
The Delaware defense could not contain the Tar Heels (3-1) through the air as North Carolina piled up 568 total yards, including 377 yards passing. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky hit on 17 of 20 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns off the bench. He threw two scoring passes to Mack Hollins, including a 64-yarder with 1:40 left in the third quarter that upped the lead to 27-14.
Dave Brock, who served as an assistant coach at North Carolina during the 2005-06 seasons. "We battled all day and really showed resolve. We were excited to come down here. It's a great place to play a football game and it showed in the
way we played. We played with a lot energy and we got some positive reinforcement with the big start.
"We ran the ball physical and with authority," said Brock. "But North Carolina had too many explosive plays from too many explosive players. We had some opportunities to do more than what we did today."
Fans were barely in their seats when Jefferson broke through the line and outran the North Carolina secondary for a 72-yard scoring run. The scamper was the longest ever by a Blue Hen freshman.
"I come into every game confident," said Jefferson. "Our offensive line does its job well. I saw the hole open up and I hit it as soon as possible."
North Carolina came right back to take the lead for good, going up 13-7 at the break on an 18-yard run by starting quarterback Marquise Williams and field goals of 46 and 26 yards by Nick Weiler.
The Tar Heels upped that lead to 20-7 on the first Trubisky to Holland touchdown pass, this one a 33-yarder with 10:20 left in the quarter.
Delaware was not about to give up. The Blue Hens answered with an impressive 13-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in Jefferson bulling his way in from the one to cut the lead to 20-14 with 3:21 remaining in the third stanza.
The rest of the day belonged to the Tar Heels as Trubisky tossed scoring strikes of 64 yards to Hollins just 1:41 later and 10 yards to Bug Howard and 63 yards to Ryan Switzer in the final stanza.
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• First-time opponent North Carolina is just the fourth Atlantic Coast Conference opponent in UD football history, joining Maryland, Wake Forest and Pitt. The Hens played Pitt last year to open the season in Pittsburgh
• The 568 yards by UNC was the ninth highest single game total against Delaware in school history
• Delaware played without five injured starters, RB Wes Hills (out for season), RB Jalen Randolph, WR Diante Cherry, DE Vince Hollerman, and OG Will Lewis.
• FCS teams entered the day with a record of 5-80 vs. FBS teams this season
• OT Ben Curtis started his team-leading 33rd straight game vs. North Carolina
• Jefferson's 163 yards rushing was the most by a UD freshman since Andrew Pierce had 186 in a playoff win over Georgia Southern in 2010
• Delaware fell just short of having two running back rush for over 100 yards in the same game since the 2011 season
• Delaware returns to Colonial Athletic Association play next Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Hens host William & Mary at 7:30 p.m. at Delaware Stadium
