UNC-Wake Forest Bill Belichick Q&A: 'Not Good Enough in Any Area'

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — North Carolina’s offense reached a new low for this season, as it fell at Wake Forest 28-12 on Saturday at Allegacy Stadium. It’s the first time the Tar Heels have been held without a touchdown since October 2016 — back when Carolina lost at home to Virginia Tech amidst a downpour of rain caused by the elements of Hurricane Matthew.

Gio Lopez completed 21-of-26 passes for 201 yards. Tight end Jake Johnson hauled in five catches for 54 yards and Kobe Paysour added five catches for 40 yards. The Tar Heels averaged 2.3 yards per rush and were outgained by the Demon Deacons by a 157-yard margin. Kicker Rece Verhoff set a new program record by converting a 57-yard field goal to end the first half.

Here are the key quotes from coach Bill Belichick following the loss and the full video …

Opening Statement

“Obviously a disappointing game. Just not good enough in any area — offense, defense, special teams, coaching, playing. We just didn’t have a good night, and certainly wasn’t enough here. So let’s go back to work this week and see if we get back on track. We’re a better team than what we were tonight, but we just weren’t very good.”

Can you elaborate on the decision to take a timeout there at the end of the game?

“Trying to keep the game alive. I didn’t know what they were going to do. (We could’ve) blocked a field goal, make a stop.”

In addition, it looked like when Coach Jake Dicker came out after the game it was a very quick exchange. What was said there?

“Congratulations.”

What led to the two blocked field goals?

“One there was penetration, the other, like I’ve said all the time, was execution of the kick. Obviously bad on our part.”

Talking about the issues on offense, what was it tonight that caused you not to find the end zone?

“There’s multiple things, several drives, a lot of different plays. But in the end, we didn’t get it done. So it’s not good enough.”

You had a decision to decline an illegal shift penalty late in the second quarter. What went into that call?

“2nd-and-eight or 1st-and-15 is about the same.”

Did you at the point prefer to limit their downs than back them five yards?

“Yeah, it’s about the same. Whichever one you do, I don’t think there’s a huge advantage one way or the other. So we took the down. But at the end of the half, I thought we made a stop (that would’ve) given a little more time to get the ball back, which we didn’t do so well. We did it, but it was after that I think they got a first down after that. So those can go either way, 1st-and-15, 2nd-and-nine, 2nd-and-10. It’s statistically about the same.”

What gives you confidence in Gio Lopez as your quarterback moving into the last two games of the season?

“I thought he did a pretty good job tonight. He’s under a lot of pressure. He could’ve thrown for a 100 yards more than that. He’s under a lot of pressure, and he hung there, made some good throws, dropped a long pass.”