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Demon Deacons, Tar Heels meet in ACC opener

Published: September 7, 2012 Comment on this article

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina and Wake Forest both started the year with home wins against lower-division opponents. Yet only the Tar Heels are feeling good heading into Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference opener between the instate rivals.

photo - North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora has a word with Kareem Martin (95) during the Tar Heels' pre-game warm up for their season-opening NCAA college football game against Elon, Saturday Sept. 1, 2012, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Robert Willett) MANDATORY CREDIT

North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora has a word with Kareem Martin (95) during the Tar Heels' pre-game warm up for their season-opening NCAA college football game against Elon, Saturday Sept. 1, 2012, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Robert Willett) MANDATORY CREDIT

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The Tar Heels beat Elon 62-0 in the first game under new coach Larry Fedora while unveiling a no-huddle spread offense and a 4-2-5 defensive scheme. But the Demon Deacons struggled against Liberty, scoring the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter of a 20-17 win that left the players disappointed with their performance.

Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe says he expects tailback Josh Harris to be OK after suffering a possible concussion last week, while UNC tailback Gio Bernard says he expects to be ready after a minor knee injury in the opener.