Tag: Ben Kiernan

Tar Heels lose starting punter for season to knee injury

Ahead of tonight’s matchup with Miami, the UNC football team learned starting punter Ben Kiernan is out for the year with a knee injury.

Losing any key player strikes a massive blow to any team.

When that key player is your starting punter, it’s tough because you rely on him to pin the opponent deep in its own terriory.

Unfortunately, UNC lost its starting punter, Ben Kiernan, for the season due to a knee injury sustained in the blowout victory over Syracuse.

With the Heels up early and one of their rare drives stalling, they made the decision to punt deep in their own territory. Syracuse blocked the punt – Kiernan just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He picked up the ball, ran towards the first down line and got DRILLED.

If you don’t like seeing hard, uncomfortable hits, I suggest you don’t watch the video. It’s nothing like Kevin Ware’s bone sticking out of his knee when Louisville was in the NCAA tournament, but it makes you clench your teeth.

Luckily for UNC, it has a couple additional punters on its roster. Sophomore punter Tom Maginness, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, is taking over punting duties tonight. He’s off to a solid start in his first collegiate game action, punting once for 49 yards in the first quarter of tonight’s UNC-Miami clash.

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Hampton, Evans, Kiernan nab UNC Player of the Game honors against App State

After Saturday’s wild, 40-34 triumph over App State, UNC named Omarion Hampton, Desmond Evans and Ben Kiernan Players of the Game.

I think UNC fans can all agree that Saturday’s football game against App State was a rollercoaster of emotions no one wants to experience again, at least not anytime soon.

The Heels’ defense looked a lot like last year’s, showing an inability to get off the field on late downs and struggling to generate quarterback pressure. They made a stop when it mattered most, though, locking up the 40-34 double-overtime win by forcing an incompletion on fourth down.

Carolina’s offense, led by a career day from running back Omarion Hampton, won it the game.

For their efforts in the victory, Hampton, defensive end Desmond Evans and punter Ben Kiernan were named UNC’s Players of the Game.

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Not only did Hampton generate three touchdowns and a career-high 234 rushing yards, he led the entire FBS in rushing yards. On a day where UNC quarterback Drake Maye failed to throw a touchdown, Hampton single-handedly kept Carolina in the game.

While British Brooks is on track to return and, quite possibly start against Minnesota on Saturday, it’d be difficult not to give Hampton a ton of carries.

Evans was not the Heels’ defensive leader, but he played a respectable game on the line. He generated six tackles (three solo), including half-a-tackle for loss, plus a pass deflection.

Evans sacked South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler once the week before. UNC will looking for even more production out of his this coming Saturday.

Kiernan had a practically identical game punting against App State, with his two punts traveling a total of 90 yards (45-yard average). Against the Gamecocks, Kiernan punted the ball twice for 85 yards (42.5-yard average).

Here’s to hoping Carolina’s offense can stay on the field even more against Minnesota. If not, however, it’s relieving to have a reliable punter like Kiernan.

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UNC Football names captains for home opener

Corey Gaynor, Kaimon Rucker, Ben Kiernan and suspended wide receiver Devontez Walker are game captains for UNC’s home football opener.

There’s no feeling for a college football team that compares to its home opener.

The players spend all offseason thinking about this moment – running out of the tunnel to thousands of cheering fans. Teams build the anticipation by swaying back and forth in their tunnels, the PA announcer channels the hype music and – BOOM – here comes your favorite team.

We’re already three weeks into the college football season and it’s now UNC’s turn to host its home opener.

The Tar Heels take on Appalachian State at 5:15 p.m. today, within the friendly confines of Kenan Stadium. When these two in-state rivals matched up last year in Boone, a combined 124 points were scored, most in an FBS matchup since UCLA’s 67-63 triumph at Washington State in 2019.

Adding onto the excitement of their home opener, the Heels named their game captains: center Corey Gaynor, jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker, punter Ben Keirnan and an honorary captain, the young man who has been wronged countless times by the NCAA, Devontez Walker.

Rucker was an absolute stud last week, generating two of the Tar Heels’ nine sacks and a game-high 5.5 tackles for loss.

Gaynor helped pave holes for a UNC ground game that combined for 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Kiernan only punted twice, but racked up 85 yards on his punts for a 42.5 yard average.

There’s no doubt that Walker will be cheered for the loudest when Carolina takes the field this afternoon. Expect to hear several “Free Tez” chants break out and for UNC players to be sporting those words on warm-up gear. You can best bet that if the NCAA is mentioned over the loudspeakers, fans will join in a chorus of boos.

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Brooks leads four Tar Heels with Player of the Game honors in win vs. Gamecocks

British Brooks, Kaimon Rucker, Ryan Coe and Ben Kiernan all earned Player of the Game honors for their role in UNC’s Saturday victory.

It’s been an amazing Labor Day weekend for the UNC football program and its fans.

That all started Saturday night, when an experienced but revamped Tar Heel squad stifled South Carolina, 31-17, in the season opener for both teams under the bright lights of Bank of America Stadium.

There were so many positives from UNC, particularly with the defensive unit that was one of college football’s worst in 2022. The Tar Heels’ defensive generated nine sacks – more than half the 2022 total (17) – and held the Gamecocks to just three second half points.

UNC running back British Brooks, playing in his first game since 2021, showed no signs of rust. He gained a game-high 103 rushing yards on 15 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. This earned him the Tar Heels’ Offensive Player of the Game.

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There were so many Tar Heels who could’ve earned Defensive Player of the Game, but that honor went to starting Jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker. It’s easy to see why Rucker was picked – he led all UNC defensive players with six solo tackles, including a game-high 5.5 for loss, plus tied for the team lead with two sacks.

The Tar Heels’ special team were pretty solid, too, which earned new transfer kicker Ryan Coe and longtime punter Ben Kiernan Special Teams Player of the Game honors. Coe kicked a 37-yard field goal and was a perfect 4/4 on extra points, while Kiernan punted twice for 85 yards.

UNC has another tough test coming up on Saturday, Sept. 9, as it welcomes App State to Kenan Stadium for its home opener. We all remember what happened last time these two squads played…

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Notre Dame vs. North Carolina: First-Quarter Analysis

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On the eve of Halloween, Notre Dame and North Carolina are locked in a tight battle in South Bend. Initially, neither side did much of anything to separate itself from the other. Then, the Irish broke through, and they have a 7-0 lead after one quarter.

The Irish had the opening possession and picked up a couple of first downs on it. That progress was halted around midfield when Jack Coan was sacked Kaimon Rucker on third down. The Tar Heels’ first possession was almost identical. They also earned two first downs before stalling out near midfield, though their drive ended on an incomplete pass.

Kyren Williams returned Ben Kiernan’s first punt 47 yards to set the Irish up in Tar Heels territory. This time, the Irish focused on the run, and it paid off with gains from Williams, Tyler Buchner and, believe it or not, Coan. Much of Coan’s progress was wiped out on a false start, but Buchner still hit Avery Davis for a 7-yard touchdown on a screen pass.

Faced with an early deficit, the Tar Heels took the ball back with new life. With a balanced attack, they reached Irish territory for the first time. The quarter ended when Sam Howell hit Josh Downs for 40 yards to give the Tar Heels a first-and-goal, then ran himself to get his team closer:  The 3-yard line to be exact. That goose egg on the scoreboard doesn’t appear it will last much longer.

Notre Dame at North Carolina: Fourth-Quarter Analysis

As impossible as it seemed, Notre Dame’s defense neutralized the powerhouse that is North Carolina’s offense.

As impossible as it seemed, Notre Dame’s defense neutralized the powerhouse that is North Carolina’s offense. There’s no other way to describe it when the Tar Heels only scored a field goal over the final three quarters. Now, the Irish have every serious challenge en route to the ACC championship game in the rear-view mirror. But for now, they’ll celebrate their 31-17 win.

Once again, we got a quarter featuring a punting battle between Jay Bramblett and Ben Kiernan. It took a while for the Irish (9-0, 8-0) to get any offense going, but they eventually did when Kyren Williams ran for 47 yards on the first play of their final possession. Ian Book kept giving it to Williams, and that persistence paid off when Williams took it into the end zone from 1 yard out. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels (6-3, 6-3) never got beyond the Irish’s 41-yard line the entire fourth quarter.

Give all of the credit in the world to Clark Lea for preparing his defense for a seemingly insurmountable task. After the first quarter, that unit made the Tar Heels look like a team still figuring things out. If fans didn’t know about that offense’s reputation going in, they never would have known what it’s done this season. That’s how good the 2020 Irish are.

Notre Dame at North Carolina: Third-Quarter Analysis

Notre Dame still has North Carolina breathing down its neck. However, it’s been able to put a little distance between the teams.

Notre Dame still has North Carolina breathing down its neck. However, it’s been able to put a little distance between the teams. It might have taken a little time, but that it happened at all is an accomplishment. The question is whether the Irish’s 24-17 after three quarters will mean anything.

The Irish’s defense kept the high-powered Tar Heels offense in check on the first drive of the second half, but Ben Kiernan punted the ball 62 yards all the way down to the Notre Dame 3-yard line. Ian Book used his passing abilities and also got a little luck with North Carolina defensive penalties, including an offsides call on fourth-and-1 to lead his offense on a time-consuming possession. Eventually, the Irish got into the red zone and then took the lead on a 13-yard touchdown run from Ben Skowronek. Yes, that’s a 97-yard scoring drive we’re talking about.

As crazy as it sounds, Notre Dame shut down North Carolina’s offense again. On the first play of the Tar Heels’ second drive, Justin Ademilola sacked Sam Howell. Though Javonte Williams got some yards back on a 7-yard run, Howell’s subsequent pass to him was incomplete. Can the defense keep this going for 15 more minutes?

The defense will need to keep making plays if the offense can’t support it. Book found Javon McKinley for a 53-yard reception to get into the red zone.  The drive stalled, and Doerer shanked a field-goal attempt from 32 yards, the same distance he hit from to end the first half. Luckily, the defense responded by not allowing the Tar Heels past their own 42.

Notre Dame at North Carolina: Second-Quarter Analysis

Perhaps Notre Dame and North Carolina needed some time to take it easy.

Perhaps Notre Dame and North Carolina needed some time to take it easy. Unlike in the first quarter, offense was hard to come by in the second. This time, we saw the defenses shine. Consequently, this game is tied at 17 at halftime.

The frame became a battle of whether Jay Bramblett or Ben Kiernan could punt the ball further. It really doesn’t matter who won that because it didn’t make a difference on the scoreboard. That this even was the story for most of the quarter shows how great the defenses were. We’ll find out in the second half if rumors of an offensive shootout were greatly exaggerated.

Sam Howell barely avoided giving up a safety when Isaiah Foskey sacked him at the North Carolina 1-yard line. That drive ended in a punt. Later, it was Marist Liufau’s turn to wrap up Howell deep in Tar Heels territory. This time, Howell recovered and picked up the first down on the drive, which was followed by a series of passes to set up a 42-yard field goal for Grayson Atkins.

The biggest play of that sequence is a third and 20 that Notre Dame bailed out North Carolina on when Kyle Hamilton’s targeting penalty both extended the Tar Heels drive and got the pre-season All-American ejected for the rest of the afternoon.

Related:  Watch the play that got Kyle Hamilton ejected against North Carolina

With over a minute left in the quarter, Ian Book completed three consecutive passes to get into North Carolina territory and also got some help from a pass interference call. He took one unsuccessful shot at the end zone, and the clock dictated there only was enough time for Jonathan Doerer to tie the game with a field goal. He did just that from 32 yards out.