Back-to-back losses to open the 2017 football season left UNC with plenty of questions, but the Tar Heels appear to be finding some answers after traveling to Old Dominion on Saturday and dominating the Monarchs for a 53-23 victory.
Freshman Chazz Surratt made the start at quarterback for the second straight week, but this time he was given the opportunity to play all of the meaningful minutes.
In return, Surratt delivered a performance which should solidify him as the Tar Heels’ starter moving forward.
He completed 16 of his 24 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown, while avoiding an interception and rushing for two more scores.
There were a few big throws downfield, but for the most part Surratt never tried to do too much—instead just letting the game come to him naturally.
His steady hand helped head coach Larry Fedora’s offense finally find the rhythm it had desperately been searching for.
Sophomore tailback Jordon Brown carried the ball 17 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns against Old Dominion. (Jason Hirschfield/ Associated Press)
“Any of the layups that he had, he hit,” Fedora said, of Surratt. “That was a big improvement right there. I thought he did a nice job with his decision making—which is important—and he took care of the football.”
As important as Surratt’s play was at quarterback, he received plenty of help from two areas where the Tar Heels have struggled mightily this year—on defense and in the rushing game.
One week after allowing over 700 yards of offense, UNC recovered quite nicely. Old Dominion gained just 316 yards on Saturday, while going 3-for-16 on third down attempts.
Meanwhile, tailbacks Jordon Brown and Michael Carter combined to carry the ball 30 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
As a team, the Tar Heels rushed for 254 yards after gaining just 17 on the ground in last week’s loss to Louisville—something that surely helped Surratt find his groove behind center.
“Anytime we rush for over 200 yards, we’re pleased with it,” Fedora said. “They were very effective running the football—and that’s what we need to be able to do to take pressure off the quarterbacks.”
The improved play in all phases of the game helped the Tar Heels sprint out to a 39-7 halftime lead, with Old Dominion’s only points coming on a kickoff return touchdown in the second quarter.
From there, the rest of the game was just a formality.
Fedora was able to give a number of young players their first playing time down the stretch, which was a direct result of the team’s aggressive start.
“That’s what we wanted to do,” Fedora said. “We did not want to coast into this game. We wanted to jump on them fast, and then keep the pedal down.
“And I thought the guys did a good job of that throughout the game.”
Up Next:
UNC will come back to Kenan Stadium next week, as it prepares for the annual battle for the Victory Bell against Duke (3-0).
Game Notes:
- Brandon Harris took over at quarterback for UNC during the final minutes, but failed to complete either of his two pass attempts.
- UNC freshman safety Myles Wolfolk grabbed his first career interception in his first career game.
- The Tar Heels gained 511 total yards in an extremely balanced manner, with 257 coming through the air and 254 coming on the ground.
Cover Photo via Jason Hirschfield (Associated Press)
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