Nov. 18, 2009
By Turner Walston
Carolina has put together a string of three quality wins, including two over teams ranked in the Top 15 at the time. In those three wins, the Tar Heels have scored 72 points. And here's the kicker: Casey Barth has been responsible for half of them. The Wilmington native has 10 field goals and six extra points over the last three games. Dating back to the beginning of October, Barth has made 13 consecutive field goals.
"We're in a good streak right now, kicking confidently," Barth said this week. "Everybody's got confidence in me. That really helps me out a lot, and I'm just kicking."
In the loss at Georgia Tech, Barth missed a 32-yard attempt that would have kept the Jackets within reach as the first half ended. But since then, he's been perfect. "When you start missing, you can kind of feel the team (thinking), `I hope he does well,' whereas now, it's, `I know he's going to do well.' There's a point where on the field you get a little bit nervous, and now it's a lot more comfortable on the field."
Barth was the difference in Carolina's stunning 20-17 win at Virginia Tech, kicking game-tying and game-winning field goals of 19 and 21 yards. Pedestrian distances, sure, but in the final three minutes in Blacksburg, the pressure is on.
Early in the fourth quarter, Carolina gave up the lead to the Hokies for the first time. With Lane Stadium rocking and keys rattling, a weaker group might have folded. Instead, the Tar Heel offense put together a 78-yard drive that consumed nearly nine minutes, and Barth was set to tie the game from the right hash.
"It's a tough angle, with a short field goal on the right hash, but Coach Davis actually does a good job of practicing those kicks," Barth said. "We did one that week (in practice), and in the game, all the guys were like, `You can do this,' so that really helped me out a lot and I just knew I could make it, so I just kicked it."
Following a Virginia Tech fumble moments later, Barth kicked from nearly the same spot - just two yards deeper - and the kick was good as time expired, giving Carolina a three-point win. "One of the best feelings I've ever felt," Barth said. "I've never hit a game-winner before, and on that stage, it was awesome."
After that game, Barth talked with another clutch Carolina kicker, older brother Connor whose 42-yarder beat No. 2 Miami in 2004. "He was like, `I'm really proud of you.' He said he was glad to see me get a game-winner."
Since graduating from Carolina, Connor has spent time with three NFL teams. This past weekend, he had his best day as a pro, tying a league record with three field goals of 50 yards or more. In the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 25-23 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Barth hit from 50, 51 and 54 yards.
"I was so happy for him," Casey said. "I said, `You can do this. Just kick well. You'll get on the team,' so that was exciting, too."
Four years younger than Connor, Casey said he's learned from the best. "I kind of mimicked his form, or tried too, since he had so much success, I wanted to try to kick like him," Casey said. One area that Casey would like to improve on? His distance. Connor's longest field goal was from 54 yards, against N.C. State in 2006. Casey's longest to date has been 42 yards. "He's always had a little more strength than me," Casey said. "I'm just trying to get a little bit bigger, too, to match his strength."
As the 2009 season has progressed, Casey said his teammates' confidence in him has grown. "I think they really started trusting me more, just with my ability to do well in the game and for them to count on me," he said. "Definitely we want to score touchdowns, but I think they have good confidence sending me out there for three or four field goals, so that's nice."
Turner Walston is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Turner's weekly Tar Heel football podcast, The Walkthrough, is available on iTunes.
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