Lucas: Rapid Reactions

Michael Carter
University of North Carolina Football v North Carolina State
Kenan Stadium
Chapel Hill, NC
Saturday, October 24, 2020

Michael Carter scores a touchdown

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

October 24, 2020 | Football, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas

Quick takeaways from Carolina's battle with NC State.

By: Adam Lucas

By Adam Lucas

1. Impressive performance by North Carolina for the second straight season against NC State, as the Tar Heels won a 48-21 decision over the Wolfpack that didn't really seem as close as the score indicated. Coupled with last year's 41-10 win in Raleigh, there's not much doubt about the dominant program between these two at the moment. The Tar Heels controlled the game in virtually every possible category (578-392 total offense, 39:08-20:52 time of possession, 84-63 total plays, 34-23 first downs).

"I'm really proud of the guys to bounce back," Mack Brown told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game. "This game is about emotion, and it's a great teacher of life lessons to our guys. They have to get ready to play every week at the highest level of passion they can. When they do that, we're pretty good. And this team can get a lot better."

2. This was thought to be a battle between two of the running back tandems in the league, if not the country. Although that individual showdown never materialized because NC State's Ricky Person Jr. unfortunately had to leave the game with an injury in the first half, Carolina's tailbacks were exactly as advertised. Javonte Williams piled up 160 yards on 16 carries, and Michael Carter notched 106 yards on 17 carries. Overall, the Tar Heels amassed 354 yards on the ground and averaged 6.1 yards per carry.

3. Williams was sensational, headlining the physical running attack and scoring three touchdowns. That's the second straight season the Wallace, NC, native has scored three TDs against the Wolfpack, meaning he has outscored the entire NC State team 36-31 over the last two seasons. That's an incredible figure. If you're looking for a scary Halloween costume to wear on Hillsborough Street, try dressing up as Williams, Luke Maye, or Marcus Paige.

4. The ground production doesn't mean Carolina did it exclusively with the run. Sam Howell was 18-for-29 for for 252 yards and a touchdown. What he's likely to want to be happiest about, however, were a pair of thunderous blocks in front of Tar Heel running backs. Williams, Howell, Carter and British Brooks all had pancake-type blocks or runs during the course of the game. Strength coach Brian Hess and his entire staff have made a noticeable impact in the way Carolina plays, and the Tar Heels outgained State on the ground, 326-34. Carolina's offense--which also converted seven of 12 third downs--has gained at least 550 yards in three straight games

5. With State facing some quarterback issues, the Carolina run defense figured to get plenty of action. They were up to the challenge, limiting the Pack to 1.8 yards per carry. The margin likely forced Dave Doeren to throw the ball more than he ideally might have preferred, and Bam Knight received just nine carries and was held to 41 yards.

6. The best news from a defense that had been thirsty for turnovers in the first four games: Carolina forced four miscues, grabbing three interceptions and falling on what felt like a back-breaking fumble. Chazz Surratt, who led the team in tackles with eight, had an interception and forced that fumble on a sack.

7. Roy Williams' success against NC State gets plenty of well-deserved attention. Keep in mind that after losing his first five against the Wolfpack, Mack Brown has now won seven in a row against State as the Tar Heel head coach.

8. Howell's mobility was an asset. His touchdown run came on a Jason Stanicek-esque run around the edge.

9. Carolina played without cornerback Patrice Rene and receiver Beau Corrales, who was coming off one of the best games of his career last week at Florida State. Rene's absence exacerbated the depth problems in the secondary, where the Tar Heels were already without Storm Duck and Myles Wolfolk. Rene's nearly 6-foot-3 stature also would have been an asset against the Pack's taller receivers. Don Chapman, who had an interception, saw some snaps at cornerback as the Tar Heels continue to shuffle their defensive backs. Emery Simmons was a major asset in Corrales' absence, catching five of his eight targets for 38 yards.

10. Dyami Brown had a career high seven catches for 105 yards.

11. For the second straight week, it felt like there was a momentum-turning drive before halftime. After State put together a long drive to cut it to 14-7 with 54 seconds remaining, the Tar Heels came right back--perhaps making the crowd a little nervous with some timeout usage (or lack thereof)--to get in position for a Grayson Atkins field goal that made it 17-7 at the break. Still, Brown is concerned about his defense's propensity to allow scores late in the first half.

"I was so disappointed in our defense right before the half," Brown said. "We give up so many touchdowns right before the half, and that's a critical time in winning football games. We have to go back and look at that. It's been that way for two years."

12. This is why Brown is a football coach and the rest of us sit in the stands. After Atkins clanged a 22-yard field goal attempt in the first half, most of the seven percent Kenan Stadium crowd would have sent Rameses out to attempt the next kick rather than Atkins. But Brown stayed with the Furman transfer, and Atkins made a big 40-yard field goal at halftime, then also converted a 34-yard field goal in the second half. "He missed the first two at Furman last year, and then made 11 in a row," Brown said. "He has a really strong leg and gets the ball up really high. I think he will get his confidence and it will be a special year for him before we get through." Brown clearly believes in Atkins, and it paid off on Saturday.

13. Expect Brown to have his team's full attention this week. "We have to keep getting better," the head coach said. "We can't have a setback like we did last week. We're not at the point in our program that we can play without full energy, emotion and passion to have a chance to win."

14. Carolina's 89 points in the last two games against NC State are the most the Tar Heels have ever scored against the Wolfpack in two straight games. The combined score in those two games is Carolina 89, State 31. The yardage in those two games is Carolina 1,158 to NC State's 681.