Losing any key player strikes a massive blow to any team.

When that key player is your starting punter, it’s tough because you rely on him to pin the opponent deep in its own terriory.

Unfortunately, UNC lost its starting punter, Ben Kiernan, for the season due to a knee injury sustained in the blowout victory over Syracuse.

With the Heels up early and one of their rare drives stalling, they made the decision to punt deep in their own territory. Syracuse blocked the punt – Kiernan just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He picked up the ball, ran towards the first down line and got DRILLED.

If you don’t like seeing hard, uncomfortable hits, I suggest you don’t watch the video. It’s nothing like Kevin Ware’s bone sticking out of his knee when Louisville was in the NCAA tournament, but it makes you clench your teeth.

Luckily for UNC, it has a couple additional punters on its roster. Sophomore punter Tom Maginness, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, is taking over punting duties tonight. He’s off to a solid start in his first collegiate game action, punting once for 49 yards in the first quarter of tonight’s UNC-Miami clash.

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Story originally appeared on Tarheels Wire