After consecutive storybook endings, North Carolina probably could use a little breather, but the Tar Heels are not going to get it.Florida State, the 37-35 victim last week on Nick Weilers 54-yard field goal as time ran out, was just the first of a three-game stretch that likely will determine the postseason fate for the Heels, who have won four in a row since dropping their opener to Georgia.Next up: Virginia Tech on Saturday, the only home date for the Heels in the month of October. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.First-year coach Justin Fuentes Hokies have recovered from a big loss to Tennessee in Bristol and have won their last two game to improve to 3-1 on the season overall and 1-0 in ACC play. They were idle last week as the Tar Heels improved to 2-0 in league play.They look really good on film right now, said Carolina coach Larry Fedora, whose team scored with two seconds left to get by Pittsburgh 37-36 in its league opener a week before knocking off the Seminoles. Maybe even more than I expected since I havent had a chance before now to see them.Theyre playing great football, and I can see why their sitting in the position theyre in right now, ranked in the Top 25.Both the Hokies and the Tar Heels jumped into this weeks poll with the Heels, who were No. 22 in the preseason but dropped out after the loss to the Bulldogs, at No. 17 and the Hokies at No. 25.Coach Fuente has brought a high-powered offense in that has made them extremely explosive, Fedora said, singling out quarterback Jerod Evans for his play. Their quarterback is somebody that can beat you with his legs and his arm.And then you have Bud Foster there dialing it up on the defense. He will make sure they are good on defense.Evans is the teams No. 2 rusher 209 yards to running back Travon McMillians 212 and is passing for an average of 241 yards a game. That works out to an average of over 290 yards a game in total offense for the junior transfer from Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College.Foster, of course, is Techs longtime Tech defensive coordinator, a holdover from coach Frank Beamers staff who has the Hokies at No. 9 in total defense statistically among FBS teams, limiting foes to just 264.3 yards a game rushing and passing.The Hokies are No. 10 in pass defense in giving up just 150.8 yards a game through the air. That goes right at the strength of a North Carolina offense that has averaged 342 yards a game passing behind junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky (76.0 completion percentage and no interceptions in his last 240 pass attempts going back to 2014) and a talented and deep receiving corps.Senior wide receiver Ryan Switzer has a team-high 47 catches for the season, but he has plenty of support from junior Austin Proehl (19 receptions, 269 yards) and seniors Bug Howard (18-261) and Mack Hollins (13-252).Tech doesnt have that kind of depth at receiver but still has experienced a resurgence on offense since behind held to under 400 yards in total offense in the loss to Tennessee. The Hokies recorded a season high 476 yards rushing and passing against a well-regarded Boston College defense and came back with 462 in a win over East Carolina.Like a Krispy Kreme doughnut with the Hot sign on, Hokies wide receiver Cam Phillips said when asked what its been like to be a part of the red-hot offense.This will be Techs first game as a ranked team against a ranked opponent since No. 13 Michigan beat the 17th ranked Hokies in overtime in the 2012 Sugar Bowl.Techs last contest as a ranked team came on Sept. 13, 2014. The Hokies moved into the top 25 after a big road victory over Ohio State, then promptly lost at home to East Carolina the following week.My opinion on being ranked is youre not truly ranked until you defend your rank, Hokies offensive lineman Augie Conte said. The number next to our name wont help us win. Francois Beauchemin Jersey . 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Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Stu Grimson Jersey . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. NEW YORK -- The chants of Ole, ole, ole, ole, Delpo, Delpo, were still reverberating around Arthur Ashe Stadium after Stan Wawrinka wrapped up his 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in the US Open quarterfinals early Thursday morning.The clock had ticked past 1:20 a.m. ET, but so many fans had stayed at Flushing Meadows to serenade Juan Martin del Potro.They had given him a standing ovation when he trailed 5-2 in the fourth set, in one last bid to rally their man; their support brought the 6-foot-6 Argentine to tears on court.Something difficult to describe with words, Del Potro later told a media conference. I mean, I can lose the match, but I will never forget this. Its bigger than winning any match.Officially, Del Potro will move up to No. 63 in the rankings next week -- a jump of 982 places in just eight months. If he can stay healthy, a return to the top 10 is almost a certainty.It is a huge springboard for the 2017 season. The next goal will be to get back into the top 40, which would see him directly enter Masters events again.Im already top 100, so thats good, he added. And everything here is positive for me. Im so glad for that.My tennis is starting to respond as I want, but physically Im still down. Im not in the same level as these guys. I need to just to stay healthy and wait for the preseason to get 100 percent for next year.After three surgeries on his left wrist in the last two and a half years, the right-handed Del Potro had considered quitting tennis. But he stuck it out and launched his latest comeback in February, ranked No. 1,045 in the world.He managed to get that ranking up to 142, having beaten Wawrinka in the Wimbledon second round in what was Delpos first Grand Slam since the 2014 Australian Open.And after a stunning run at the Olympic Games, where he saw off Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on the way to a silver medal, the 2009 US Open champion was awarded a wild card into the US Open.ddddddddddddDel Potro duly made a fairy-tale run here -- he was the lowest-ranked US Open quarterfinalist since 174th-ranked Jimmy Connors 25 years ago -- and recaptured the hearts of the people of New York.Never will ask for wild card anymore, he said, smiling.He was probably still smiling when he woke up in the morning. But moving forward, this guy is not just going to be a feel-good story -- he is going to be a threat.Wawrinka had done his homework; he knew Del Potro would tire and started playing backhands down the line and using his slice, making the 27-year-old run. Del Potro admitted he got exhausted after the third set of a contest that went 3 hours, 13 minutes.Im starting to play tennis again after a long, long time, he added. Like two months ago, I was losing first round, second round, 80 players or different rankings.And now Im fighting at the same level as the top guys, and I already beat Djokovic, Rafa. I played against Murray in a great match. Wawrinka is the No. 3 player in the world and Im there. That means something good to me.But I need to keep working. I need to get my physical back as soon I can, and then I will have a chance to play in the same conditions.There was an emotional embrace at the net after the match between Del Potro and Wawrinka, who surely summed up the feelings of everyone watching in Ashe Stadium and around the world on television.Hes an amazing champion, the Swiss world No. 3 said. He won here. He got so unlucky with all the injuries he had, and the way hes playing right now already, its amazing. Everybody is happy to see him back at that level. ' ' '