At halftime Saturday night against Georgia State, an agitated Mack Brown kept his No. 24 Tar Heels in the locker room until just over three minutes remained before kickoff. UNC led 24-10 over the visiting Panthers, but Brown would tell you it should’ve been more. Among other things, the Tar Heels had failed to open running lanes, missed wide open receivers in the end zone, and fumbled inside their own territory. Brown said his message to his team at the break was all about effort.
“The biggest thing I said was, they [Georgia State] have got good players. And they’re playing hard,” Brown told reporters after the game. “And they’re not gonna lay down and quit, you’re gonna have to make them. So, let’s get better. Let’s get better as a football team.”
Fans began to get antsy after Grayson Atkins missed a short field goal on the Tar Heels’ first drive in the second half. Could Carolina be coming out flat again?
For the next few drives at least, rumors of the Tar Heels’ demise seemed greatly exaggerated. UNC promptly scored touchdowns on its next five possessions, three of which came on the ground. British Brooks powered in for his second career touchdown, Ty Chandler found the end zone for the first time as a Tar Heel and Sam Howell galloped in from 62 yards out.
Yes, you read that right.
“There were about three times where I said, ‘Get down! Get down!'” Brown said. Eventually, it transitioned into, “‘Great job, Sam! You’re gonna score, man!'”
Sam Howell calls his own number 🔥🔥🔥
📺 https://t.co/Mh7EiXoL7R pic.twitter.com/e7SHEBifNv
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 12, 2021
Howell’s run, by far the longest of his career and his second touchdown carry on the night, electrified Kenan Stadium and put the Tar Heels ahead by a 45-10 score. Howell, nominally a quarterback, averaged 9.5 yards per carry and ended the night as the team’s leading rusher.
“We have so many talented backs here that… it’s probably [better] to hand the ball off than to have me run it,” he said. “But I definitely think I am a threat in the run game. I try to show that as much as I can. I probably don’t do a great job of it at times. But yeah, I definitely think I’m a threat in the run game.”
Sam Howell, dual-threat quarterback.
A five-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs, the sophomore receiver’s second score on the young season, carried the offensive flurry into the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Jacolby Criswell came in to relieve Howell on the next series, and promptly threw his first touchdown as a Tar Heel, a 47-yard pass to freshman tight end Bryson Nesbit. For a little while, at least, it looked like the star-studded UNC offense of old. But the burning question is this: is it a sign of things to come, or an heirloom from days gone by?
Carolina fans won’t get an answer until next Saturday night against Virginia. But for now, they can savor this fact: Sam Howell is the first UNC quarterback to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 more since Marquise Williams did so against Notre Dame in 2014.
“If I’m in any category with Marquise Williams… I’m just blessed to be in the presence of Marquise,” Howell said with a smile. “Marquise is a great player. He’s my favorite Tar Heel ever. So, shout-out to Quise.”
Howell’s cannon arm, often compared to Williams’, appeared to be in fine form throughout the evening. The junior quarterback dropped in a beautiful 57-yard bomb to receiver Antoine Green in the first quarter, threading the ball past tight Panther coverage and into Green’s waiting hands. Howell ended the night an efficient 21 for 29, with 352 yards and a trio of touchdowns. His 104 yards on the ground was more than every other Tar Heel rusher combined.
Most importantly, Carolina ended the night victorious, by a score of 59-17.
A Great Day To Be A Tar Heel#CarolinaFootball | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/kQENFxbta4
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 12, 2021
Problems still abound for the No. 24 Tar Heels. The offensive line seemed to be porous at times. The defensive line allowed many positive runs for Georgia State, especially on a 17-play, 74-yard touchdown drive for the Panthers in the second quarter. Special teams miscues continue to occur.
Still, a win is a win. Now 1-1, Carolina has some momentum going into next weekend’s game against the Cavaliers. The Tar Heels have not beaten Virginia on the gridiron since 2016, and if their Coastal Division aspirations are to have extended life, this game stands as a must-win.
Game Notes
- UNC has now won its past four home openers.
- Freshman linebacker Power Echols snagged his first career interception. He ran it back for a touchdown before officials ruled he stepped out of bounds after replay review
- Carolina moves to 1-0 all-time against Georgia State. They will visit the Panthers in Atlanta next season.
Featured image via Carolina Athletics
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