Playing spoiler may not have been on UNC football fans’ bucket lists this season, but that doesn’t mean they’ll enjoy this win any less. After trailing 45-27 to No. 9 Wake Forest in the third quarter, the Tar Heels outscored the Demon Deacons 31-10 in the remaining 22 minutes to take a thrilling 58-55 win. With the victory, Carolina dealt Wake Forest its first loss of the season.
Are you not entertained?#CarolinaFootball | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/IoYfyVBJgS
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) November 6, 2021
“Like last year’s game, this thing was a little bit out of hand,” head coach Mack Brown told reporters after the game. “18 points with seven minutes left [in the third quarter], last year I think it was 21 points with four minutes left in the third. And our guys didn’t quit.”
In a game Brown touted during the week as featuring two of the best quarterbacks in the country, both Sam Hartman of Wake Forest and Sam Howell of UNC showed out in front of a national television audience. The game was historic for both players, with Hartman becoming the first opponent to ever account for seven total touchdowns against Carolina (five passing, two rushing), and Howell breaking Marquise Williams’ UNC record for career total offense.
“I’m not huge about records, but it’s definitely something I don’t take for granted,” Howell said. “I’m just super blessed to be in this position. There’s been so many players that have helped me get to this point. And credit Marquise, too. Phenomenal player, role model to me… one of my biggest supporters.”
Much of Howell’s production came on the ground, with the first two Carolina touchdowns coming on runs from their quarterback. He showcased his toughness on the first, shedding a tackler just before breaking the goal line. On the second, Howell showed off his savvy, weaving in and out of Demon Deacon defenders before finding the end zone. He ended the game with over 100 rushing yards for the fifth time this season. Williams never did so more than three times in a single season.
Hartman and Wake Forest’s powerful offense stayed with UNC blow-for-blow in the early stages of the game. The Demon Deacons quarterback shook off an early interception to Cam’Ron Kelly to run for a touchdown and throw for three more, all in the first half. Tough catches by star receivers A.T. Perry and Jaquarii Roberson in the second quarter, as well as a long touchdown to Taylor Morin, helped Wake Forest explode for 21 points in the period and hold a 31-24 lead at halftime.
UNC’s offense suddenly couldn’t find the end zone, with multiple drives fizzling out in the red zone, and others ending in punts. Wake pounced on the opportunities, with another Hartman touchdown run and a 66-yard bomb to Perry blowing the score open at 45-27.
“There were some times in the game where I thought we got some bad body language,” Brown said. “And I thought, ‘Don’t go there, man. We can’t afford to let this thing get out of control.’ And I thought the coaches kept their composure, because at times I didn’t. And I wasn’t very happy.”
“You can’t look up at the scoreboard,” Howell said. “You’ve just gotta go out there and play good football… and do your job. You just gotta keep punching.”
Thanks to a Howell touchdown pass to Antoine Green, Carolina got the deficit back down to 14 points before the fourth quarter. A Ty Chandler touchdown run sliced into the Wake lead further, before the UNC defense made the first of several critical plays down the stretch.
Facing a 3rd and 9 from the Wake Forest 26-yard line, Hartman’s hard count appeared to draw a Carolina defender offsides. Expecting a flag, Hartman rolled out of the pocket and threw a deep pass down the seam, which went straight into the arms of Kelly. No flag was thrown on the play, and the Tar Heels kept the ball, and the momentum. Just two plays later, Chandler was in the end zone again, and Carolina had tied the game.
“I wasn’t even worried about that,” Kelly said of the controversial no-call. “I was too busy reading the releases of the receivers. I didn’t see no flags, or anybody screaming about being offsides… I just read the play.”
UNC’s defense stepped up once again on Wake’s next drive, stopping the Demon Deacons on a 4th down deep in Carolina territory. Defensive lineman Ray Vohasek batted down a Hartman pass to force the turnover on downs.
Howell and the offense got the ball back with 7:58 remaining, and didn’t let Wake Forest touch it again until 2:12 remained. A Grayson Atkins field goal had given the Tar Heels their first lead since the second quarter, but the defense would once again be tasked with stopping Hartman and the Demon Deacons.
That they did, as a 4th down pass from Hartman sailed out of the reach of Perry. UNC cornerback Storm Duck, who was playing in his first game this season after struggling with injuries for much of the last year and a half, covered Perry on the play.
On the very next snap, it was Chandler breaking loose for a 50-yard touchdown burst to put the game to bed and send Kenan Stadium into a frenzy. The run put Chandler’s final stat line at a massive 213 yards on 22 carries and four touchdowns, by far his most productive game as a Tar Heel. As a team, UNC rushed for 330 yards.
“Great team win,” Chandler said, deferring credit for his performance to the offensive line. “Big win for us, man. We’ve been grinding. This is what we’ve been working for. Had a great week of practice, feeling confident. And we were just able to go out there and execute.”
Chandler’s gaudy numbers meant it was a much humbler day for Howell: just 16 completions on 26 attempts for 216 yards and a touchdown. But as fans stormed the field after the clock hit zero, box scores seemed to matter little. It was, as the saying goes, a Good Day To Be A Tar Heel.
“Nobody deserves to win more than these young people,” Brown said. “And I’ve told them: every Saturday you build memories. That’s what you do. And this is a game that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Up Next
UNC will travel to No. 25 Pittsburgh on a short week and face off with the Panthers on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
Game Notes
- Receiver Josh Downs was held without a touchdown catch for the second straight game, after catching TDs in eight straight previous games.
- Linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel was ejected for targeting in the first half. Freshman Power Echols played in his place. Gemmel will be available for UNC’s game with Pittsburgh.
- This was the first game in which kicker Grayson Atkins has made three field goals for the Tar Heels.
- UNC has now beaten Wake Forest 71 times, more than any other opponent.
Featured image via The News & Observer
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