Unfortunately for Durant and the Tar Heels, the answer was pretty much no. He did move the ball well, something starting quarterback Ronald Curry struggled with again. But instead of being responsible for two touchdowns, Durant was charged with two interceptions.
His numbers were also still better than Curry's. Durant was 10 of 14 for 97 yards and was sacked twice. Curry went 6 of 12 for 61 yards. He was picked off and was also sacked twice.
"I thought Darian played pretty well when he was in there. Can he play better? I think so," North Carolina coach John Bunting said. "We had a couple dropped balls, they made some plays and the ball got tipped around and intercepted. I think Darian went in and once again he's out there, trying to make plays.
"Once again, he will scramble to make a play; he's evasive and that's a great quality to have, especially right now where we're at."
Where the Tar Heels are at is a crossroads. The quarterback position has blossomed into a question, with Durant telling the media that "It's the coach's decision to make" instead of "Ronald's still the man," like he did after Oklahoma. Bunting said after the game that he was inclined to leave things as they were. But if Curry can't mount drives like Durant has been, Bunting might be inclined to rethink things.
When Bunting put Durant in the game with a little more than six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Durant immediately connected for an 11-yard gain with senior wideout Kory Bailey. The catch marked Bailey's 100th career reception.
But in that series, Tony Jackson picked Durant off for a 21-yard pass meant for UNC wideout Sam Aiken. Durant's other INT came in the fourth on a throw to Bailey. Terp cornerback Curome Cox batted it down and teammate Mike Whaley dove to the ground and plucked the ball out of the air before it hit the ground.
Change of Style Helps Perry
In Maryland's auditions for LaMont Jordan's replacement, Bruce Perry has emerged as the Terrapins' guy.
