San Diego State
(7-4 record; Ted Tollner, 5th year) |
North Carolina
(6-5 record; Carl Torbush, 1st year) |
School's Bowl Record: 1-3
Coach's Bowl Record: 1-2
Last Bowl Appearance: December 1991 Freedom Bowl (lost to Tulsa 28-17)
Record in Las Vegas Bowl: First appearance |
School's Bowl Record: 10-12
Coach's Bowl Record: 1-0
Last Bowl Appearance: January 1998 Gator Bowl (beat Virginia Tech 42-3)
Record in Las Vegas Bowl: First appearance |
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Offensive Stud |
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Jonas Lewis, RB, Jr. (181 rushes, 897 yards, 7 TDs): While he wasn't always the go-to back this year, he finished the season averaging 116 yards in his last three games.
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Na Brown, WR, Sr. (55 catches, 897 yards, 6 TDs): The Heels' all-time leader in receptions with 165. He tied his own school record with 55 catches this season.
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Defensive Stud |
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Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, DL, Jr. (14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks): One of the top defensive players in the WAC, having been named to the All-Pacific Division team the past two seasons
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Ebenezer Ekuban, DE, Sr. (96 tackles, 7 sacks): In just his second year playing defense after being converted from tight end, he led the ACC with 23 tackles for loss. |
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Player to Watch |
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Damon Gourdine, WR, Jr. (55 catches, 649 yards, 4 TDs): He is following the recent tradition of talented Aztec receivers such as Darnay Scott and Will Blackwell.
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Dre Bly, DB, Jr. (4 interceptions, 10 pass break-ups): A bona fide All-America candidate at the beginning of the season, he has had a very average year but is still the ACC's all-time leader in interceptions with 20. |
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Key Stats |
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Allowing just 16 points per game after getting blown out in the first three games of the year. |
Freshman phenom Ronald Curry rushed for 419 yards, tops in the ACC among QBs. The stat is even more impressive considering sacks are counted against rushing yards in college.
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Surprise Stat |
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Despite playing in the alleged high-scoring WAC, the Aztecs are averaging just 20.9 points per game -- the lowest total among all bowl teams.
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Averaged just 329 yards in offense per game, seventh in the ACC. Only conference doormats Clemson and Maryland did worse.
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1998 Turning Point |
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Playing a WAC schedule. The Aztecs opened the season with three straight losses to bowl teams Wisconsin, Arizona and USC by a combined score of 96-36. After that, they went 7-1 in the conference, losing only to division champs BYU.
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Only qualified for a bowl after knocking off in-state rivals N.C. State in overtime in the season finale. However, the Heels blew two 21-point leads during the game before winning.
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Key to Victory |
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Trying to score some points. The defense has been relatively solid but the offense has been anemic at times.
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Getting some decent offensive production from QBs Curry and Oscar Davenport, who have been very inconsistent all season.
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Outlook |
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While the Aztecs are 7-4, they were 0-4 against teams headed to bowls. Don't expect much of a change.
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The Heels are lucky to be in a bowl and even luckier to be playing San Diego State.
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