Lucas: WCU Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. Carolina got what it needed out of Saturday's win over Western Carolina. The Tar Heels avoided the rust that comes with a week off, got some snaps for players who have earned playing time over this long season, and didn't appear to suffer any injuries. "I thought it was perfect," Mack Brown told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the game.

2. From the "That's why you go to the game" file, Saturday marked the 1,326th football game in the history of the University of North Carolina. It was the first one ever that the Tar Heels won by a 49-9 score.

3. In less than ideal circumstances--parents weren't allowed on the field for senior day festivities--Carolina football put together the best possible senior day recognition they could have done. As each senior ran on the field, they were greeted by Mack Brown, and then watched a video from their parents and loved ones congratulating them on their achievements.

"Senior day for everybody is really emotional," Brown said. "It's the last time these young people will ever play at Kenan Stadium. That's a great thing that they're graduating but it's a tough thing because they'll never play here again. These guys hung in here with us. They accepted all the changes that we had and stepped up as leaders. They're the reason we're moving forward so quickly in this program. I thought it was a great touch that their parents got to speak to them on the jumbotron."

4. In the future, we'll look back and think Sam Howell had a pretty good game. He finished 20-for-23 for 287 yards and two touchdowns, not a bad afternoon. We might forget that he did it all in just one half. Howell has 64 career touchdown passes in less than two seasons. That ties him with Bryn Renner for the second most in Carolina history.

5. Big senior day for Michael Carter, who tied his career high with three touchdowns while running eight times for 73 yards and also catching one pass for six yards. Carter's on-field exploits have been well documented, but his teammates would tell you he has been equally as important off the field, where his leadership has helped guide Carolina through some rocky times. He'll finish his regular season career in his home state next week at Miami.

"Michael has probably been as important to me personally outside of football as anyone on our team," Brown said. "Because I would go to him and ask him the pulse of the team. Michael was the one i called first. He's one of the hardest workers and one of the most successful seniors we have. He's a guy they all listen to. We'll really miss him on the field, but people can't imagine how much we will miss him off the field."

6. The Tar Heel offense made good use of receiver Dazz Newsome, as the senior caught six passes for 82 yards and a score and also had a 15-yard rush. Newsome now ranks fourth all-time in the Carolina record book in receptions with 180. Hakeem Nicks is third on the list with 181.

7. Even more record book notes: Carolina limited Javonte Williams' workload, but he still managed to find the end zone yet again. That gives him 19 touchdowns this season, tied with Giovani Bernard for the second-most in a season in school history. Don McCauley is the single-season leader with 21 touchdowns.

8. The reason why you play games like this is to give players like Jacolby Criswell some game experience, and let them learn in a less pressurized environment the value of things like ball control. Criswell threw an interception on his first pass of the day and then wasn't secure enough with the ball near the goal line later in the game (Carolina fell on it). Those are the types of learning experiences you can't replicate in practice.

Brown mentioned in the postgame it was the first game in his coaching career in which he hadn't started the second half with the first string quarterback still in the game.

9. Another young player who caught some eyes: running back Elijah Green, a freshman from Georgia who was Carolina's second-leading rusher, carrying six times for 43 yards. Green had a 15-yard burst and a 12-yard run and did not have a negative carry among his six attempts. There's a chance that there could be plenty of playing time at tailback in 2021; Green will certainly be in the mix.

10. Another freshman from Georgia, Kaimon Rucker, was Carolina's leading tackler. Rucker had seven tackles, including two for loss.

11. And so concludes what was hopefully a one-of-a-kind home football season for North Carolina. The Tar Heels managed to play six home games, which, let's be honest, didn't seem very likely back in July. Although the limited capacity wasn't ideal, it was an improvement over the zero capacity that saw the home opening win over Syracuse. A huge group of people made it happen, from inside the football building to the gameday staff to the facilities crew--all deserve credit for managing to make this happen.

12. So what now? Perhaps the most important game of the Mack Brown 2.0 era next week at Miami. With a win, the Tar Heels have a legitimate chance at an Orange Bowl berth. A loss would put Carolina into a complicated mix in a complicated bowl season--with four bowls with ACC ties already canceled for this year. Game time for Miami should be announced tomorrow.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Michael Carter

Jacolby Criswell

Elijah Green

Sam Howell

Dazz Newsome

Kaimon Rucker

Javonte Williams

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