UNC wins turnover battle

In each of North Carolina’s victories this season, the Tar Heels won a critical category needed to be successful in college football.

Finding a way to win the turnover battle, regardless of the method, improves any team’s chances to end up the victor.

Entering Saturday’s game at Scott Stadium against Virginia (3-3, 1-1 ACC), UNC leads the nation in turnover margin and boasts a plus-13 ratio in its five wins.

“The team with the most turnovers — most of the time — wins the game,” said UNC safety Trimane Goddard after the Tar Heels’ victory over Notre Dame. “It takes points off the board and gives the ball to the offense more and changes field position.”

In the eyes of Virginia coach Al Groh, the turnover process, namely 14 eye-catching interceptions, starts with North Carolina’s last line of defense.

“A few of [the turnovers] have come under rush but they’ve got two safeties who really track the ball hard — Goddard and [Deunta] Williams,” Groh said. “We’re quite familiar with them. They were real good high school players, and they’re really after the ball and they believe it belongs to them, which is the way that everybody wants their safeties to play and they do a real nice job with it.

“They’re impressive in what they do.”

For the season, Goddard has four interceptions and is tied for the national lead in interceptions per game. Cornerbacks Kendric Burney and Charles Brown, a reserve, have also combined for a pair of takeaways through the air.

“I would say their defensive backs are very opportunistic; they are very aggressive,” said Virginia quarterback Marc Verica. “When the ball is in the air, they

believe that is their ball. They are not just letting the receiver take it.”

Verica, who will be making his fifth career start, may appear to be a prime target for North Carolina. Through four career starts, he has thrown seven interceptions.

“It is something to keep in mind,” he said, “and it will be a challenge.”

North Carolina (5-1, 1-1) has also mastered turning its opponent’s aerial miscues into field position-changing plays, returning the 14 thus far for a total of 342 yards.

Goodard alone has amassed 68 yards off his four interceptions.

“He’s such a good, quiet leader,” said UNC coach Butch Davis last week. “He is professional about the way that he works, the way he studies film.

“He’s infectious to the young kids because they see the byproduct of his work during the week manifests itself on Saturday by having the awareness and being savvy enough to be in the right place to take advantage of opportunities to make plays.”