Tag Archive for: #uncfootball

West Virginia defeated North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, 30-10

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— by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

The West Virginia Mountaineers received the opening kickoff of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and stunned the North Carolina Tar Heels with a one-play, 11-second scoring drive. Quarterback Garrett Greene connected with wide receiver Traylon Ray, who carried the football 75 yards for a touchdown.

While under pressure early in the first quarter, UNC quarterback Conner Harrell demonstrated exceptional quickness and vision. Harrell’s ability to pivot and evade West Virginia’s defenders resulted in back-to-back first-down runs totaling 32 yards.

“I thought Connor did really well,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “I didn’t think we helped him enough.”

However, during the next set of downs, UNC failed to advance the ball effectively through the ground game and had to punt the ball away.

West Virginia failed to gain significant yardage during its second offensive series and had to punt the ball away.

On the ensuing drive, UNC responded with an impressive 47-yard passing play featuring sophomore wide receiver Gavin Blackwell. Blackwell’s one-handed grab moved the Tar Heels into the red zone.

Despite the huge gain through the air, UNC’s offensive momentum quickly dissipated. Harrell’s next pass attempt was intercepted in the end zone, and the Tar Heels finished the first quarter with zero points.

UNC’s defense found its footing late in the first quarter, forcing a fumble near midfield. With possession to start the second quarter, UNC’s offense executed 14 plays, advancing the ball 45 yards to set up a 28-yard field goal. The field goal shrunk West Virginia’s lead to four.

West Virginia failed to score on its next two possessions due to strong tackling and tight coverage from UNC’s defense.

After two sluggish offensive possessions, the Mountaineers responded by scooping up a fumble on a 42-yard punt and carrying the football 78 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown extended West Virginia’s lead to 11 with 1:29 left in the first half.

The scoring didn’t stop there. UNC’s offense quickly marched 76 yards for a touchdown. West Virginia’s offense responded by picking apart UNC’s defense and accumulating 63 yards in 23 seconds to set up a 29-yard field goal.

At the start of the second half, UNC relied on the speed and strength of running back Omarion Hampton to keep the chains moving. However, UNC’s first offensive possession ended abruptly after Harrell’s pass was intercepted and returned 24 yards to the WVU 45.

With under three minutes left in the third quarter, West Virginia’s Michael Hayes kicked the football 34 yards through the end zone. West Virginia extended its lead to 10.

Trailing by 10 to start the fourth quarter, UNC was limited to 14 yards on offense with nowhere to run. In contrast, West Virginia achieved success through its elusive rushing attack, gaining 59 yards and a touchdown.

For the remainder of the final quarter, UNC failed to build momentum on offense. Both of UNC’s fourth-down conversion attempts in the final quarter fell incomplete, and Harrell was sacked on the final play of the game for a loss of seven yards.

“I think it’s just one of those situations where the better team won,” said UNC linebacker Kaimon Rucker. “I’m not discrediting anything that we’ve done.”

UNC Football Retains the Victory Bell After Emotional Double Overtime Victory 47-45

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

The Victory Bell remains in Chapel Hill after an emotional battle between the North Carolina Tar Heels and long-time rival Duke Blue Devils called for double overtime. UNC quarterback Drake Maye completed 28 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown. Maye also ran 12 times for 22 yards, including a rushing touchdown.

“I saw Drake Maye do some things tonight, that were just unbelievable,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “He made play after play after play, including the two-point play that normal people just don’t make.”

Through the air, Maye looked poised in the pocket, dispersing the ball to seven offensive playmakers. One of Maye’s top targets, wide receiver Tez Walker, reeled in seven passes for 162 yards.

UNC’s ground attack was equally successful. Tar Heel running back Omarian Hampton demonstrated elusiveness and explosive speed, carrying the ball 31 times for 169 yards.

UNC wasted no time putting points on the board. Their first offensive drive consisted of 10 plays, which accumulated 75 yards. During that drive, Maye connected with Walker for a 43-yard completion before rushing into the end zone for a one-yard score.

After UNC’s defensive unit limited Duke to four yards, Maye led a fast-paced offensive attack, advancing the 67 yards in 3:51 to set up a 31-yard field goal.

Towards the beginning of the second quarter, Duke, down by 10, found its footing and marched 70 yards for a touchdown to shrink UNC’s lead to six. However, for most of the first half, UNC was dominating in total yards and success through the air.

On the ensuing possession, the Blue Devils took advantage of UNC’s poor field position by forcing an interception to set up a scoring opportunity at the UNC 14. A few plays later, Duke quarterback Grayson Loftis rushed three yards into the end zone to give his team its first lead of the night.

UNC’s last drive of the first half resulted in a 25-yard field goal to reclaim the lead.

After Duke failed to gain a yard on its first drive of the second half, UNC went 55 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal and extend its lead to six.

Throughout the third quarter, The Tar Heel defense stunned the Blue Devils, limiting them to 16 yards of total offense and forcing multiple punts. With the clock winding down at the end of the third quarter, UNC’s offense found themselves in an excellent scoring position. Then, at the top of the fourth quarter, Hampton plowed his way into the end zone, building a comfortable 12-point lead.

Duke’s offense bounced back in the fourth quarter, outscoring UNC 22-10. After scoring three touchdowns, Duke managed to take the lead with 41 seconds left in the game. However, that lead was brief because UNC kicker Noah Burnette booted the ball 43 yards through the end zone to tie the game up at 36-36.

Duke received the ball to start the first period of overtime. With minimal success, they had to settle for a 49-yard field goal. The Tar Heels responded with another Burnette field goal to force a second overtime.

On UNC’s second possession in overtime, Maye rushed five yards into the end zone and completed a two-point conversion. Duke, down by eight, responded with a touchdown after Loftis hit wide receiver Jordan Moore in stride. Unfortunately for Duke, the two-point try was unsuccessful as the ball fell incomplete. Tar Heel fans immediately stormed the field to celebrate the hard-earned victory.

“What a game,” said Brown. “It was fun to coach. It was fun to watch and both teams competed.”

UNC Football Demolished Campbell in Bounce-Back Win, 59-7

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

After disappointing back-to-back losses, the North Carolina Tar Heels found their footing, scoring 52 unanswered points against the visiting Campbell Fighting Camels.

“Our guys did what you’re supposed to do,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “They took the team that they were better than and dominated them.”

Sophomore running back Omarion Hampton ran rampant, rushing 15 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns. After one half, Hampton became the latest Tar Heel to amass 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Through the air, UNC quarterback Drake Maye completed passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

“The offensive line did their thing all day,” said Hampton. “They opened up the holes and allowed me to reach 1,000 yards.”

UNC took an early lead in the first quarter after Devontez Walker caught a 10-yard touchdown pass. However, the lead was short-lived after Campbell responded with a seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive to the game at 7-7 towards the end of the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, Hampton demonstrated his explosive running abilities with a 54-yard rushing touchdown, and UNC reclaimed its lead. UNC scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter as Campbell struggled to build momentum.

Entering the third quarter, UNC, holding onto a comfortable 14-point lead, wasted no time scoring for the fifth time. Maye completed three passes for 75 yards in 37 seconds. At this point, Campbell couldn’t match UNC’s intensity and continued to fall further behind.

Throughout the remainder of the game, UNC’s strong defensive unit forced three turnovers (two fumbles and an interception) and allowed just 98 yards of total offense. The unit, led by linebackers Cedric Gray and Power Echols, accumulated 79 total tackles, including five sacks and 10 TFLs. UNC’s defense also batted down four passes.

Virginia Completes Comeback to Defeat UNC, 31-27

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

The Virginia Cavaliers bounced back after trailing by 10 points at the top of the third quarter to hand the Tar Heels their first loss. With the win, the Cavaliers beat a top-10 opponent on the road for the first time in program history.

The Cavaliers took an early 7-0 lead after UNC’s offensive unit failed to advance the ball through the air. After completing a short pass to wide receiver J.J. Jones for a gain of five yards, UNC quarterback Drake Maye’s three pass attempts fell incomplete. Following the incompletions, UNC had to punt the ball away.

“That first drive was lackadaisical on offense,” said Maye. “Afterwards, they came down and scored. After that, we knew we were in a dogfight.”

UNC responded by moving 75 yards in just 2:29. Maye connected with wide receiver Tez Walker, who reached the end zone for the fourth time in two games. In total, Walker caught 11 passes for 146 yards.

The Cavaliers once again secured the lead after completing a fourth-down conversion to set up a three-yard rushing touchdown.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Maye connected with tight end Bryson Nesbit, who carried the ball 62 yards down the left sideline to the end zone.

For much of the second quarter, strong tackling and excellent coverage downfield from both defenses kept the game tied.

With under a minute left in the half, the Tar Heels executed seven plays for 54 yards, setting up a 43-yard field goal.

During UNC’s first offensive possession of the second half, Maye made plays with his legs, including a three-yard scamper to reach the end zone. With the rushing touchdown, UNC extended its lead to 10.

In response, the Cavaliers marched to the UNC 11 to set up a series of Mike Hollins runs, including a one-yard rushing touchdown. The touchdown shrunk UNC’s lead to three.

At the beginning of the fourth half, the Cavaliers reached the end zone for the third time to reclaim their lead. Although UNC had ample chances to put the game away, Virginia’s defense excelled in the second half, allowing only 10 points.

“Obviously, tonight was a disappointing loss for us,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “Congratulations to Virginia, they out-coached us and played better than us tonight.”

UNC Football Rallied in the Second Half to Defeat Miami, 41-31

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

Despite a slow start, the North Carolina Tar Heels’ dynamic offensive unit rallied in the second half to defeat the Miami Hurricanes. With a win against the Hurricanes, the Tar Heels are 6-0 for the first time since 1997 and remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“Tonight was a heavyweight fight from start to finish,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown.

In his second game with UNC, wide receiver Tez Walker routinely broke free from coverage, catching nine passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Omarion Hampton, with grit and determination, gained 197 yards on 24 attempts and scored a touchdown.

UNC took an early lead after reaching the end zone on their second possession of the game. Quarterback Drake Maye led his team 91 yards in three minutes, capping off the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Walker.

Then Miami matched UNC’s energy, marching 89 yards in less than three minutes. However, UNC defensive Lineman Jahvaree Ritzie forced a fumble inside the one-yard line to maintain the one-score advantage. Roughly five minutes later, Miami reached the end zone after completing four plays for 63 yards.

Towards the end of the first half, Hampton ran rampant, evading tackles to accumulate 41 yards on seven carries. From the two-yard line, Hampton plowed into the end zone to tie the game at 14-14.

With less than a minute to spare in the first half, Miami executed seven plays for 57 yards to set up a 28-yard field goal.

After trailing at the half, UNC put 21 points on the board in the third quarter to establish a substantial lead. In the third quarter, Walker broke loose, catching touchdown passes on back-to-back offensive possessions.

UNC’s robust defensive unit forced a fumble and interception on Miami’s first two second-half drives.

“Probably the difference in the ballgame was forcing four turnovers and giving none,” said Brown. “We forced two interceptions and two fumbles.”

Although Miami gained momentum in the fourth quarter to outscore UNC 14-6, the constant pressure from UNC’s defense was overwhelming. With the game clock winding down, Maye handed the ball off to Hampton, who ran 60 yards to the Miami 10 to put the game away.

Maye and McCollum Shine in UNC’s First-Ever Matchup Against Minnesota

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

In a first-ever matchup against the Minnesota Gophers, the North Carolina Tar Heels (UNC) heavily relied on a passing-dominant offensive strategy to move the ball downfield. UNC’s success through the air paved the way for a 31-13 victory.

Wide receiver Nate McCollum, a transfer from Georgia Tech, shined in his debut for UNC, catching 15 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown.

“I was ready to go,” said McCollum. “Last week, I only played a few snaps and I’ve been itching to work myself back up.”

McCollum demonstrated a strong connection with quarterback Drake Maye, who overcame two sloppy interceptions and threw for a season-high 414 yards.

During UNC’s first offensive series, Maye repeatedly targeted McCollum, who caught four of five passes, including a 46-yard touchdown.

After UNC claimed an early lead, the Gophers’ offensive unit quickly advanced the ball 50 yards into Tar Heel territory. However, the series ended immediately when linebacker Power Echols intercepted quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis’ pass at the UNC 16.

On offense, Maye proved he can do it all, including throwing deep passes, running efficiently, and punting when necessary. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Maye punted the football 36 yards to the Minnesota 13.

“I’ve never seen anybody do it better than Drake,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “We’ve had some great quarterbacks, but Drake has a knack of finding the open player, and he’ll do that next week.”

Throughout the first half, UNC dominated in time of possession and converted seven of nine third-down attempts.

Early in the second half, Minnesota, looking for answers, made a change at quarterback. Cole Kramer entered the game. Although Kramer only attempted one pass, which fell incomplete, he led a run-heavy Gophers offense for 170 yards. Kaliakmanis later returned under center.

For much of the second half, UNC’s stout and versatile defensive unit hindered Minnesota’s offensive success. The unit, led by Echols, linebacker Cedric Gray, and defensive back Antavious Lane, amassed 52 tackles, eight PDs, one sack, and one TFL. UNC’s defense allowed only 133 yards through the air and limited the Gophers to just three third-down conversions.

UNC Prevails in Overtime to Defeat App State

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

The North Carolina Tar Heels (UNC) fought hard to defeat in-state rival Appalachian State, 40-34.

UNC’s first offensive series stalled out at the App State 13-yard line. In an attempt to build momentum and quickly move the chains, UNC running back Omarion Hampton charged forward but was pushed behind the line of scrimmage for a 1-yard loss.

In contrast, App State quarterback Joey Aguilar started hot, connecting with receiver Dashaun Davis twice for 33 yards. But, the momentum was short-lived. An incomplete pass and a couple of rushes for minimal gains forced the Mountaineers to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt, but App State kicker Michael Hughes missed.

UNC, hoping to turn things around, faced another third-and-short situation. Running back Caleb Hood forged ahead but was wrapped up immediately. The Tar Heels had to punt the ball away.

The Mountaineers capitalized on the missed opportunity, bouncing back and capping off a 19-play, 66-yard drive with a 46-yard field goal to take an early lead.

Then UNC responded.

Running back Omarion Hampton evaded multiple defenders and displayed incredible speed while carrying the ball 68 yards to the end zone. That was only the beginning for the elusive Hampton. He ran rampant for most of the game, accumulating 234 yards and three touchdowns.

“Omarion is a really good player, and we’ve seen that type of performance coming,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown.

Omarion Hampton (UNC v App State 09-09-23)

App State fought hard to reclaim the lead before the half. Aguilar, early on in the second quarter, hit Davis in stride for 34 yards. Moments later, Aguilar completed a pass to tight end Eli Wilson for a 5-yard touchdown.

The Mountaineers started the second half strong, executing six plays for 75 yards and a touchdown. Then UNC quickly found its footing and matched App State’s energy.

UNC safety Don Chapman intercepted Aguilar in the third quarter, forcing a 31-yard field goal. Aguilar distributed the ball to Miller Gibbs, Dalton Stroman and Milan Tucker for a total of 47 yards before handing the ball off to Noel, who ran seven yards for a touchdown.

The shootout persisted well into the fourth quarter as Maye launched a deep pass to receiver J.J. Jones for a 57-yard completion before setting up Hampton for a 7-yard touchdown.

With little time to spare, App State relied on Aguilar’s passes and Noel’s runs to set up a 33-yard field goal and tie the game. Tar Heel fans anxiously watched as their kicker lined up to attempt a game-winning field goal. A few minutes later, the kick was declared no good.

To secure the win in overtime, Maye propelled his team forward with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Then UNC’s defense made a vital stop in crunch time.

“Drake just glows with confidence and always knows we’re gonna win the game,” said Brown.

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Coach’s Corner 11/13/20: Fresh Off Win Against Duke, Tar Heels Face Wake Forest

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Jones Angell, the voice of UNC Football, joined Trey Snide on the WIZS Coach’s Corner Show Friday to discuss the Tar Heel’s impressive win over the Duke Blue Devils and to provide a preview for the upcoming match against Wake Forest.

“Most of the attention, and probably deservedly so, was on the offense because it was so good,” said Angell. “Carolina’s offense has been good and has been getting even better as this year has gone along. For them to score on their first seven possessions of the game is pretty impressive.”

Jones continued, “The offense was relentless, but I did think the Carolina defense took some steps. As the defense and special teams continue to grow, the more consistent these sides of the ball can be, and the better chance Carolina has of being a really, really good team.”

The Tar Heels play the Demon Deacons at home on Saturday, November 14 at 12 p.m.

Click Play to Hear More From Angell on the Tar Heels:

Coach’s Corner: Jones Angell, UNC Football BC Recap and Preview VT

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UNC Football vs. Virginia Tech on WIZS 1450 AM / 100.1 FM.  Pregame today is 11am.  The noon kick and live play by play begins at noon.  The Tar Heel Sports Network on WIZS.

Play-by-play voice of the Tar Heels, Jones Angell, joins our WIZS Trey Snide to get you set on the Coach’s Corner each Friday at 1 p.m.

From winning close games, to finishing drives by putting points on the board, to two ranked teams playing in the rain…

Key for UNC, control VT running game.  The Tar Heels have the number-1 rush defense in the country.  The test is VT is best running attack UNC will have faced this year, running the ball 68 percent of the time.  Thing two…UNC has to protect Sam Howell, having allowed six sacks in two games.

Click Play for Full Audio and Details…

 

SportsTalk Audio: 9-14-20 UNC & Panther

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WIZS is your local home for UNC Tar Heel games and The Carolina Panthers!

SportsTalk Audio: 9-14-20 highlighted the UNC Tar Heels win over Syracuse and the Carolina Panthers game against LV Raiders.

SportsTalk; M-F at 1:00 p.m. on WIZS 1450 AM / 100.1 FM / Listen Live Online

Click Play for Monday’s SportsTalk broadcast