A dynamic performance from running back Omarion Hampton helped Carolina work through a slow start against North Carolina Central at Kenan Stadium on Saturday night. Hampton carried the ball 25 times for 210 yards and three touchdowns – tying a career high in the latter category – in a 45-10 Tar Heel win.

“Proud of the guys. Proud of the way they fought,” head coach Mack Brown said afterward. “And happy to be 3-0.”

Carolina rotated its quarterbacks throughout the evening, as back-up Jacolby Criswell replaced Conner Harrell after two scoreless drives. Criswell outperformed Harrell on the night, leading five of Carolina’s six touchdown drives and throwing a 23-yard score to John Copenhaver in the fourth quarter. It was Criswell’s second career passing touchdown as a Tar Heel. Harrell finished 2-6 for 22 yards, while Criswell finished 14-23 for 161 yards and the touchdown to Copenhaver.

“We’ll be playing both of them,” Brown said of his team’s future plans at quarterback. “We’re just gonna look at it and see what we can do to find the hot hand.”

Brown indicated the substitution plan – to have Criswell play the third series – had been put in place during the week, regardless of results during the game. Brown also said he and his coaching staff would evaluate both quarterbacks’ performances against North Carolina Central to determine a starter next weekend against James Madison.

“Me and Conner, we’re boys. We’re tight,” Criswell said. “We had each other’s back throughout the week.”

The Tar Heels finished the night with more rushing yards (330) than the Eagles had total yards (167) and scored 28 points in the fourth quarter, much of which came on the back of Hampton.

“Omarion’s such a great player,” Brown said. “He takes care of the ball. He pass protects. He catches the ball… he had the bruise last week [against Charlotte] and I didn’t think he showed any effects of it this week.”

“If you see 3rd-and-3, I’m looking right at Big O,” Criswell said. “There’s just no words. From where he was as a freshman to where he is now, and me seeing it… he’s just put in so much work. And he had himself a day today.”

On a sour note, Carolina committed a season-high 16 penalties (which also ties a dubious school record) for 102 yards. At one point in the second half, UNC’s penalty yards surpassed its passing yards.

“It was unbelievable. It made me so mad,” Brown said. “I was really, really disappointed in our defensive penalties. They absolutely disrupted our first half. We would’ve taken care of the game in the first half if it hadn’t been for the penalties.”

The Tar Heels will be back in action next Saturday at noon when it hosts James Madison at Kenan Stadium.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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