By Briana Gorman

bgorman@heraldsun.com; 419-6668

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina’s victory over East Carolina wasn’t just an emotional win over an in-state rival, it also was a boost of confidence for its offense that had struggled the week before.

Unlike vs. Connecticut, the offensive line protected quarterback T.J. Yates and gave him enough time to throw for 227 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. It also created spaces for Shaun Draughn to gain 84 of UNC’s 148 yards on the ground.

But even though the offense had a better performance, it was the Tar Heels’ defense that set the tempo for the game as they held the Pirates to 247 yards of offense. It is the third consecutive game UNC has kept its opponent under 250 yards of offense and the first time its held three straight opponents to 20 or fewer points since 2000.

And on a day where many UNC defenders stepped up, defensive end Robert Quinn was the standout. The 6-5, 270 pound sophomore recorded both of UNC’s sacks for a total loss of 17 yards.

“I think [Robert] Quinn is better than he was on film,” ECU coach Skip Holtz said. “I though he was one of the better players on defense. I think he is a pro right now. I know he is only a sophomore, but he can run.”

UNC finally begins ACC play this week as it heads to Atlanta for a matchup with Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets were blasted by Miami 33-17 last Thursday, and dropped out of the AP poll this week after being ranked 14th. The Tar Heels went from being ranked 24th to 22nd in the poll.