Carolina is partying like it’s 1997.
A star performance from cornerback Alijah Huzzie helped the No. 17 Tar Heels win in Pittsburgh Saturday night, as his 52-yard punt return touchdown was part of a 21-point second quarter in the 41-24 victory. UNC is now 4-0 for the first time since the 1997 season, which was head coach Mack Brown’s last before leaving for Texas.
𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧' 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲.#CarolinaFootball🏈 x #UNCommon x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/qRROKGsCqq
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 24, 2023
Huzzie’s touchdown was the first by a Tar Heel on a punt return since Dazz Newsome did so against Syracuse in 2018. Huzzie totaled 81 yards on two punt returns and added a pair of interceptions – his first with Carolina – to his stat sheet.
On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Drake Maye completed 22 of 30 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown, spreading the wealth among eight receivers. Maye provided the highlight of the night when he fought through a tackle and tossed a touchdown pass to a wide open Kobe Paysour – with his left hand.
DRAKE MAYE LEFT HANDED TD 🤯 @UNCFootball pic.twitter.com/oJNpiYgB4t
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) September 24, 2023
Maye also added a pair of rushing touchdowns, while Omarion Hampton carried much of the load on the ground with 18 carries for 66 yards and a score. British Brooks was the only other Tar Heel to run the football.
After a sloppy start on defense that saw the Panthers lead 14-7 early in the second quarter, Carolina went on a 31-3 run spanning into the third, capped off by a quarterback sneak from Maye on the goal line to make it 38-17 Tar Heels. Pitt responded immediately with a kickoff return touchdown and made another special teams highlight by blocking a punt early in the fourth quarter, but gave away what momentum it had by fumbling the ball on its first play after the block. Cedric Gray recovered the fumble for the Tar Heels.
Pitt backup quarterback Christian Veilleux relieved an injured Phil Jurkovec at halftime, and in six drives with Veilleux at the helm Carolina limited the Panthers to a punt, two interceptions, a fumble and two turnovers on downs. That impressive performance was certainly necessary, as UNC closed the game sleepily on offense. After a touchdown and two Noah Burnette field goals to begin the second half, Carolina ended drives with three consecutive punts and a turnover on downs before kneeling out the clock.
Thus, a truly odd football game came to a close in Pittsburgh. Carolina has now won two in a row against the Panthers after losing two straight, both of which came on the road. It’s also Brown’s first win at Pittsburgh, and marks the fourth time in five years under Brown’s watch UNC has won its first conference game of the season.
Now, the 4-0 Tar Heels will enter the bye week hoping for some key contributors to return to action. Starting receiver Gavin Blackwell and offensive lineman Willie Lampkin both missed Saturday’s game against the Panthers with injuries, while cornerback Lejond Cavazos hasn’t played all season with an injury suffered in training camp.
UNC will be back in action on Saturday, October 7 when it hosts Syracuse. The Orange are also currently 4-0, but will host Clemson next weekend. A kickoff time for UNC’s game is yet to be announced.
Featured image via Associated Press/Gene J. Puskar
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