Lucas: Rapid Reactions
November 2, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the battle with Virginia.
By Adam Lucas
1. A down to the wire, last team to have the ball wins, back and forth night at Kenan Stadium--which is to say, a typical 2019 Carolina football game. One bad stretch in the middle of the game decided the outcome and Virginia took a 38-31 win over the Tar Heels.
2. It looked like Carolina had control when Dyami Brown caught a 34-yard scoring pass with 2:06 left in the first half to give the Tar Heels a 17-10 lead. But Virginia ripped down the field in less than two minutes to tie the score before half, and that started a disastrous stretch. By the time it was over, the Cavaliers scored 28 points in 14:06. They managed just ten points in the other 45:54 of the game, but that 14:06 was decisive, as they were able to build a 38-24 advantage and hang on.
3. Dyami Brown had one of the best days ever by a UNC receiver, becoming just the seventh Tar Heel to crack the 200-yard receiving mark and needing just six catches to do it. He also grabbed three touchdown passes to highlight his career-best day.
4. Jonathan Kim did a very credible job neutralizing Virginia's Joe Reed on kickoffs. Reed is one of the best in the country at that skill, but a variety of long kicks and squib kicks limited Reed to just a total of three returns and a 19-yard average.
5. Bad outcomes on fourth down also were decisive. It started early, when Virginia had a fourth-and-three on the UNC 32 and lined up for a field goal, then shifted into punt formation, and then ultimately threw a first-down pass. That would lead to a one-yard scoring run for Bryce Perkins--who was sensational in the game. A stop there would have changed the game.
6. Carolina failed on two other key fourth downs offensively. Mack Brown has said he wants to be more aggressive on fourth down and proved it by going for fourth and three on the Cavalier 20 in the first half (even after Noah Ruggles had knocked in a field goal from a similar distance earlier in the game). Sam Howell's pass fell incomplete on fourth down after the Tar Heels had tried Javonte Williams in the wildcat on third down.Â
7. And, of course, Carolina also fell short on two key fourth downs late in the game. The first was a fourth and goal pass to Beau Corrales, who had a rough game, that fell incomplete in the end zone. And the final was the Tar Heels' last gasp, a fourth and seven pass with a minute left that was a little high but not hauled in by Brown. Even with the defensive struggles, the Tar Heels had some chances, but would have had to play an almost perfect offensive game to win it.
8. And they nearly did, honestly. Howell threw for 353 yards and four scores. Williams had 98 yards rushing on 16 carries and Michael Carter added 87 yards on 14 carries. In all, the Tar Heels had 539 yards of total offense...and still lost the game, a bitter reminder of some recent seasons when big offensive numbers were eclipsed by defensive struggles. Whatever Howell's incredible numbers end up being for his freshman season, ten years from now when you're telling the story you'll likely add, "And he could have thrown for even more if there hadn't been a few drops!"
9. What is and isn't pass interference in college football has become a mystery only that day's officiating crew knows for sure. Regulating that particular call needs to be an offseason point of emphasis.
10. One week after Jason Strowbridge was very disruptive against Duke, the Wahoo offensive line did a good job of containing him. He had just one tackle and was unable to find Perkins in the UVA backfield (zero quarterback hurries). Chazz Surratt, as usual, was the defensive leader, this time with 15 tackles--giving him 56 in his last four games.
11. The Tar Heel defense was unable to force a turnover. The Cavaliers fumbled the ball twice but fell on it both times, including Perkins recovering his own miscue early in the fourth quarter in what could have been a momentum turning play.
12. One note to remember: Bronco Mendenhall is in his fourth season at Virginia. He basically has the team he wants to have on the field. In his first year at Carolina, Mack Brown is right there with the Cavaliers. It's not out of the realm of possibility that these two could again meet with Coastal implications in future seasons.
13. For now, the Tar Heels will need some help in the Coastal. They'll get ten days to get ready for Pitt and hopefully get some good news on the injury front. The goal is pretty simple: win at least two of the final three games to qualify for the postseason.
1. A down to the wire, last team to have the ball wins, back and forth night at Kenan Stadium--which is to say, a typical 2019 Carolina football game. One bad stretch in the middle of the game decided the outcome and Virginia took a 38-31 win over the Tar Heels.
2. It looked like Carolina had control when Dyami Brown caught a 34-yard scoring pass with 2:06 left in the first half to give the Tar Heels a 17-10 lead. But Virginia ripped down the field in less than two minutes to tie the score before half, and that started a disastrous stretch. By the time it was over, the Cavaliers scored 28 points in 14:06. They managed just ten points in the other 45:54 of the game, but that 14:06 was decisive, as they were able to build a 38-24 advantage and hang on.
3. Dyami Brown had one of the best days ever by a UNC receiver, becoming just the seventh Tar Heel to crack the 200-yard receiving mark and needing just six catches to do it. He also grabbed three touchdown passes to highlight his career-best day.
4. Jonathan Kim did a very credible job neutralizing Virginia's Joe Reed on kickoffs. Reed is one of the best in the country at that skill, but a variety of long kicks and squib kicks limited Reed to just a total of three returns and a 19-yard average.
5. Bad outcomes on fourth down also were decisive. It started early, when Virginia had a fourth-and-three on the UNC 32 and lined up for a field goal, then shifted into punt formation, and then ultimately threw a first-down pass. That would lead to a one-yard scoring run for Bryce Perkins--who was sensational in the game. A stop there would have changed the game.
6. Carolina failed on two other key fourth downs offensively. Mack Brown has said he wants to be more aggressive on fourth down and proved it by going for fourth and three on the Cavalier 20 in the first half (even after Noah Ruggles had knocked in a field goal from a similar distance earlier in the game). Sam Howell's pass fell incomplete on fourth down after the Tar Heels had tried Javonte Williams in the wildcat on third down.Â
7. And, of course, Carolina also fell short on two key fourth downs late in the game. The first was a fourth and goal pass to Beau Corrales, who had a rough game, that fell incomplete in the end zone. And the final was the Tar Heels' last gasp, a fourth and seven pass with a minute left that was a little high but not hauled in by Brown. Even with the defensive struggles, the Tar Heels had some chances, but would have had to play an almost perfect offensive game to win it.
8. And they nearly did, honestly. Howell threw for 353 yards and four scores. Williams had 98 yards rushing on 16 carries and Michael Carter added 87 yards on 14 carries. In all, the Tar Heels had 539 yards of total offense...and still lost the game, a bitter reminder of some recent seasons when big offensive numbers were eclipsed by defensive struggles. Whatever Howell's incredible numbers end up being for his freshman season, ten years from now when you're telling the story you'll likely add, "And he could have thrown for even more if there hadn't been a few drops!"
9. What is and isn't pass interference in college football has become a mystery only that day's officiating crew knows for sure. Regulating that particular call needs to be an offseason point of emphasis.
10. One week after Jason Strowbridge was very disruptive against Duke, the Wahoo offensive line did a good job of containing him. He had just one tackle and was unable to find Perkins in the UVA backfield (zero quarterback hurries). Chazz Surratt, as usual, was the defensive leader, this time with 15 tackles--giving him 56 in his last four games.
11. The Tar Heel defense was unable to force a turnover. The Cavaliers fumbled the ball twice but fell on it both times, including Perkins recovering his own miscue early in the fourth quarter in what could have been a momentum turning play.
12. One note to remember: Bronco Mendenhall is in his fourth season at Virginia. He basically has the team he wants to have on the field. In his first year at Carolina, Mack Brown is right there with the Cavaliers. It's not out of the realm of possibility that these two could again meet with Coastal implications in future seasons.
13. For now, the Tar Heels will need some help in the Coastal. They'll get ten days to get ready for Pitt and hopefully get some good news on the injury front. The goal is pretty simple: win at least two of the final three games to qualify for the postseason.
Players Mentioned
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Quarterback
/ Football
Place-Kicker
/ Football
Place-Kicker
/ Football
Defensive Line
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Running Back
/ FootballUNC Volleyball: Carolina Sweeps #11 Florida
Wednesday, September 10
FB: Players Pre-Richmond Press Conference, 9/9/25
Tuesday, September 09
Bill Belichick Coach's Corner - Episode 3 - September 9, 2025
Tuesday, September 09
2025 UNC Women's Soccer - Chasing Ourselves - Ep. 1: Inspiration
Tuesday, September 09