Rushers step up vs. UConn.

North Carolina tailback Shaun Draughn knew he had a good game.

Kicking back on a leather chair in Kenan Stadium’s second-floor player lounge, Draughn recalled his accomplishments on the ground during UNC’s 38-12 victory against then-No. 24 Connecticut.

The 39-yard touchdown burst. Check. A career-best 109 rushing yards. Check.

But there was one thing that the sophomore hadn’t realized. For the first time this season, no UNC back lost ground on a single carry.

“Oh,” he said. “I didn’t know that.”

Tar Heel running backs combined for 154 rushing yards, with Draughn and fellow sophomore Ryan Houston accounting for the bulk of the total.

It was the first time this season North Carolina succeeded in establishing a consistent running game right from the get-go. Already after the first quarter, Draughn had runs of 12, 14, six and eight yards and Houston had a goal line carry for a one-yard score.

Not bad for a unit that’s been criticized throughout the year for its inconsistent production.

“These guys are hearing, ‘We can’t run the football, we can’t run the football,’” quarterback Cam Sexton said Saturday. “I mean, we’re getting tired of hearing about it, and I think those guys said, ‘We’re gonna go run the football.’”

But no rushing attack is possible without help from the offensive line — and against UConn., the Tar Heels won the battle in the trenches.

The tackles did a good job sealing off the edge for Draughn’s outside runs, and guards turned opposing defensive tackles away from the action when UNC ran it up the middle. Whenever Draughn or Houston broke off a big run, it was because of a gap created by the offensive line.

“The o-line, I joke with them all the time,” Draughn said Monday. “I tell them, ‘You make me look good, I’m gonna make you look good.”

With the offensive line’s success in creating running lanes, it’s no surprise the UNC coaching staff elected to become a running team against the Huskies.

Draughn’s name was called 19 times, while Houston and incumbent-starter Greg Little contributed three carries each.

That doesn’t mean a change at running back necessarily is in the near future.

Coach Butch Davis said he won’t hesitate to stay with the hot backup if it’s beneficial to the team.

 “This has to do with every position on the football team,” Davis said Monday. “We’re going to play the guys at the time that give us the best chance to win.”

That meant Draughn was the featured back against the Huskies, much as Little had claimed a prominent role in the past four games.

Davis said Saturday that success on the ground for North Carolina is contingent on contributions from each member of the trio.

“As I’ve said, we’re gonna need all three of these guys,” he said. “They each bring a dimension, they each do (certain) things really well.”

What remains to be seen is which of the three excels Saturday against Notre Dame.



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.