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Jordan Shipp highlights UNC's big offensive plays in second half vs. Stanford
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- Jordan Shipp highlights UNC's big offensive plays in second half vs. Stanford
All an offense needs is a couple big plays to win. That's exactly what happened for the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, as they beat Stanford, 20-15, winning their second-straight football game.
UNC's (4-5, 2-3) first big play came on a Gio Lopez- Davion Gause connection, when Lopez found his running back on a 20-yard wheel route midway through the third quarter. Rece Verhoff converted his extra-point attempt, extending North Carolina's lead to 13-3.
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Just under three minutes into the fourth quarter, Lopez connected with Jordan Shipp on a 55-yard touchdown. Shipp caught a deep pass, changed direction, and out-ran the Cardinal (3-7, 2-5) defender.
After the game, Shipp spoke on his touchdown catch, highlighting how he and Lopez made it look easy:
"Man, that's a play we've been repping for awhile," Shipp said. "I seen the zero (blitz) look, so I just got into my route faster. I just knew Gio, we've hit that route so many times in practice, so when he called it, I knew I just had to get out of my break and just go make a play. I trusted my O-line, I trusted Gio. I knew he was going to put the ball exactly where it needed to be. Like I said that's a trust thing. He threw it before I even got out the break. That's nothing but trust and repetition. A lot of praise for Gio."
Gause, a projected starter ahead of the Tar Heels ' current season, watched his usage uptick again. Gause took advantage of his increased playing time: setting a career-high with 51 receiving yards, while adding his second receiving touchdown in three weeks.
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"Football to the side, that's my brother," Shipp said. "Just seeing him, being able to just make those plays. I tell him every time I know he gets the ball, I'm expecting him to jump over somebody. He's been doing it since freshman year. It just feels good to see him doing his thing. It just goes so much deeper than football. To see him make those plays, we all know he can do it, it's refreshing. I'm just happy to see my brother go out there and perform."
North Carolina will face another tough test next Saturday, traveling to face Wake Forest in a rematch from last November . UNC needs to piece together a complete offensive game, but the Demon Deacons (6-3, 3-3 ACC) counter with a top defensive unit amongst conference opponents.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC offense breaks out with big plays from Jordan Shipp, Davion Gause
