Just two yards from a program-changing upset over No. 1 Clemson on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, UNC freshman quarterback Sam Howell was stopped short on a two-point conversion attempt in the final minute—allowing the Tigers to escape Chapel Hill with a 21-20 victory.
Expected by many to get blown out by the defending national champions, the Tar Heels (2-3) made quite the statement by even being in that position to potentially steal a win.
Having led or been tied for the entire game, UNC finally fell behind for the first time when Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence connected with Tee Higgins for a 38-yard touchdown that put the Tigers up 21-14.
From there, Howell did what he’s done already so many times before—leading a clutch fourth-quarter touchdown drive. This one went 75 yards, took 16 plays and lasted eight and a half minutes before Javonte Williams found the endzone from one yard out.
Clemson’s Tee Higgins caught this 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give Clemson its first lead of the game. (Photo via Dakota Moyer)
Left with just over a minute on the clock and no timeouts, UNC head coach Mack Brown pushed his chips all-in with the decision to go for two. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, their triple option play call was well defended and their chances at a landmark victory went up in smoke.
“I felt like we had to win the game now,” Brown told reporters afterwards. “That was the moment. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that we should have gone for two. I just wish we would have made it.
“We’re having a different conversation if we make it,” the Hall-of-Famer added. “You’re all talking about me like I’m a genius instead of an idiot. That’s the difference in two points.”
Brown was also quick to note that he doesn’t believe in moral victories.
With the opponent being who they are, though, the Tar Heels proved that when they bring their ‘A’ game they have the chance to compete with any team in the country.
The UNC defense held Clemson to just 331 yards in the game, while the offense scored more points than any of the Tigers’ previous opponents and put themselves in a position to get the win.
Howell threw two touchdowns without throwing an interception, and junior tailback Michael Carter was just one yard shy of breaking 100 yards against one of the nation’s premier defenses.
The slow starts that have plagued UNC earlier this season were also absent against Clemson, as the Tar Heels scored a touchdown on the first drive of the game on a deep 40-yard pass from Howell to Dyami Brown. They stayed in control from that point on, for the most part, outside of allowing Clemson’s final touchdown.
As much as a rowdy Kenan Stadium, and the team itself, wanted this upset, there’s still way more positive takeaways than negative.
“I also told them if you do that every week, we have a chance every week to win the rest of the games,” Brown said. “Because this is who you are. But you’ve gotta be that every day. We actually played the whole game.”
Five games in to Brown’s second tenure at UNC, the hope and optimism for the future is still alive and well—even with three straight losses.
The outcome has come down to the final play in all five games, and the Tar Heels were a missed two-point conversion from beating the best team in America.
For someone like Brown who has been around the game forever, it’s telling how highly he speaks of this particular UNC team.
“In my 31 years of coaching, I’ve never been prouder of their effort,” Brown said. “If I’m a reflection of the way those guys fought their guts out tonight, I’m very, very proud of that. This shows us what we can be.”
Up Next:
The Tar Heels head to Atlanta next Saturday for a Coastal Division clash against Georgia Tech. Kick-off for that game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Game Notes:
- UNC is now 0-11 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll.
- Former quarterback Chazz Surratt was the Tar Heels’ top defensive performer in the game, racking up a team-high seven tackles (two for a loss), one sack and three quarterback hits.
- The Tar Heels’ final drive was the longest they’ve had so far this season in terms of time of possession, at eight minutes and 32 seconds.
Cover photo via Dakota Moyer
Well, Mack, you assessed your decision to go for two as making you an IDIOT if you missed it and you did. I hate watching a game where players play their hearts out only to have a coach call an IDIOT play at the end of the game that basically gives the game to the other team. MAKE THEM WIN THE GAME, MACK…plain and simple. Maybe they would have driven down and kicked a field goal but maybe not too. In overtime, I would say that the teams would be pretty evenly matched, given the way each was playing….but IDIOT MACK (in your own words), we will NEVER KNOW.