New Faces Light Up UNC's Spring Game

Forget about an upcoming fall filled with 66-point games. Forget about a 2002 season of 33-point victories -- or 33-point defeats.

No, the 66-33 "Carolina" win against the "Tar Heels" didn't mean anything, not with the essentially nonsensical scoring system used Saturday at Kenan Stadium.

But the Spring Game isn't about keeping score. It's about giving the coaches one last look at their players before the break heading into summer. It's about giving the fans an idea of what's been happening down on the practice field.

"I think overall this game showed the progress we've made in some areas," said UNC coach John Bunting. "We've got a lot of work to do, but we're on our way."

Saturday, the dual mission of the intrasquad scrimmage was accomplished. Not only did Bunting and his staff get to evaluate his players in a pseudo-game environment, but it allowed UNC fans the chance to see the new names they'd heard all spring.

C.J. Stephens. Isaac Mooring. Jarwarski Pollock.

Jarwarski Pollock?

The 5-foot-8 sophomore wideout, who sat out last season as an academic partial qualifier, put on a show of speed en route to a six-reception, 100-yard day.

On one play, Pollock snagged a pass from reserve quarterback Jared Hall at the 30-yard line, turned quickly, lost his shoe and still scampered for a 42-yard score.

"He is, literally, one of the quickest people I've ever seen," said Stephens, a junior quarterback who transferred from Florida. "I don't know how many people could run out of their shoes and still run for a touchdown. I know I couldn't."

Pollock, who said he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, had difficulty with his shoes all day. He is battling turf toe, and he wore a shoe with a metal sole in it that didn't cover his entire foot.

Regardless, Pollock impressed both his teammates and the coaches, who alternately call him "Watt" and "Jaws."

"He's a really shifty, quick, very competitive young man," Bunting said. "He's a great playmaker because he has a great feel for where everybody is."

In a game in which the teams combined for 99 points but scored only five touchdowns, the points had to come from somewhere else. The modified scoring allowed for the defensive team to earn points for good defensive plays.

Saturday, Mooring was at the center of that defensive effort. The projected starting defensive end had three tackles -- including two sacks -- and was impressive at the spot vacated by Julius Peppers.

"It's basically impossible to fill shoes like that," he said. "I think that we, as a group, will definitely be able to take over."

Entering the Spring Game, the quarterback matchup between Stephens and Darian Durant was much anticipated. But Bunting put a red jersey on Durant to keep him from getting hit after the quarterback missed some of spring practice while deciding whether to transfer.

Durant, who said he understood why Bunting wanted him to avoid contact, played only three series, completing 3 of 7 passes for 33 yards. Stephens finished 6-for-10 for 103 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown pass to Sam Aiken.

But Bunting downplayed Durant's short outing.

"It's obvious that Darian hasn't thrown the ball as much as the others," Bunting said. "I'm sure he's going to compete to be number one."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.