University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Andy Mead
Inside The Numbers: Georgia State Game
September 14, 2021 | Football
Inside the Numbers (ITN) returns for the 2021 season and will continue to keep Tar Heel football fans up to date with interesting news and numbers from the gridiron, and will include some of the top social media posts following each game.
OFFENSE EXPLODES AGAINST GEORGIA STATE
• North Carolina posted 607 yards of total offense in the home opener against Georgia State, the 16th highest total in program history.
• Carolina has accumulated 600 or more yards of offense four times in its last 12 games.
• Since Mack Brown's return in 2019, Carolina has posted five of the top-20 single-game total yard figures in school history. That includes a record 778 yards at Miami in 2020.
• Sam Howell accounted for 456 of the 607 yards gained, the sixth most ever in a single game at UNC. He threw for 352 passing yards, his 10th career game with 300 or more yards, and rushed for 104 yards, a career high and the most by a Tar Heel QB since Marquise Williams had 101 against Miami in 2015.
• WR Antoine Green set a new career high with 117 receiving yards on three receptions. He hauled in a contested 57-yard pass midway into the first quarter, the longest pass for Carolina in 2021.
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
• Sam Howell Became just the second UNC QB to ever compile 300+ passing yards and 100+ rushing yards in a game against Georgia State. The other was Marquise Williams against Notre Dame in 2014.
• Howell also joined Williams as the only QBs to pass for three and rush for two scores in a game (Williams vs. Baylor in 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl).
• Howell accumulated 456 total yards (sixth most at UNC) with 352 passing and a career-high 104 rushing yards. He was 21 of 29 for 352 passing yards and scored on the ground from 22 yards and 62 yards, the longest rush of his career, against the Panthers.
• Howell's 62-yard touchdown scamper was the longest run by a UNC QB since Darian Durant's 63-yard score against Clemson on Oct. 25, 2003.
DOWNS DAY(S)
• Sophomore wide receiver Josh Downs has been Sam Howell's favorite target each of the first two weeks of the 2021 season.
• In his first collegiate start at Virginia Tech, Downs caught eight of 11 targets for 123 yards and one dazzling touchdown, a 37-yard screen pass in the third quarter.
• He caught eight more passes on 11 targets for 73 yards against Georgia State and scored his second touchdown in as many games.
• His 16 receptions are the most by a UNC player through two games since Jarwarski Pollock opened the 2003 campaign with 18.
A GAME OF FIRSTS
• Senior Antoine Green and junior Emery Simmons both scored their first touchdowns of the season against Georgia State.
• Graduate student Ty Chandler scored his first rushing touchdown as a Tar Heel on a 2-yard run with 2:46 to play in the third quarter.
• Sophomore QB Jacolby Criswell connected with freshman Bryson Nesbit for a 47-yard touchdown strike with 4:03 to play in the game. It was Criswell's first touchdown pass and Nesbit's first touchdown catch.
• True freshman Power Echols had his first career interception early in the fourth quarter and returned it 17 yards.
• British Brooks notched his first career blocked punt and the first blocked punt by UNC since Bug Howard vs. Virginia Tech in 2015.
NO FLY ZONE
• Carolina ranks second in the ACC by surrendering only 129.5 yards through the air in two games.
• The Tar Heels limited Georgia State to only 90 passing yards on 30 attempts.
VICTORY VIBES
Victory Vibes: Georgia State Edition 🐏#CarolinaFootball 🏈 @Allstate pic.twitter.com/4YU30lyYCr
7️⃣ + 3️⃣ = 💰#CarolinaFootball 🏈 #BeTheOne pic.twitter.com/iez5Zr4dY7
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 12, 2021
Sam Howell bounced back in Week 2
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 12, 2021
🏈 21/29
🏈 352 passing yards
🏈 104 rushing yards
🏈 5 total TDs#CFB pic.twitter.com/AaT6ZGysNS
Highest-Graded QBs of Week 2🚀 pic.twitter.com/Ct6gxI2TCj
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 13, 2021
OFFENSE EXPLODES AGAINST GEORGIA STATE
• North Carolina posted 607 yards of total offense in the home opener against Georgia State, the 16th highest total in program history.
• Carolina has accumulated 600 or more yards of offense four times in its last 12 games.
• Since Mack Brown's return in 2019, Carolina has posted five of the top-20 single-game total yard figures in school history. That includes a record 778 yards at Miami in 2020.
• Sam Howell accounted for 456 of the 607 yards gained, the sixth most ever in a single game at UNC. He threw for 352 passing yards, his 10th career game with 300 or more yards, and rushed for 104 yards, a career high and the most by a Tar Heel QB since Marquise Williams had 101 against Miami in 2015.
• WR Antoine Green set a new career high with 117 receiving yards on three receptions. He hauled in a contested 57-yard pass midway into the first quarter, the longest pass for Carolina in 2021.
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
• Sam Howell Became just the second UNC QB to ever compile 300+ passing yards and 100+ rushing yards in a game against Georgia State. The other was Marquise Williams against Notre Dame in 2014.
• Howell also joined Williams as the only QBs to pass for three and rush for two scores in a game (Williams vs. Baylor in 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl).
• Howell accumulated 456 total yards (sixth most at UNC) with 352 passing and a career-high 104 rushing yards. He was 21 of 29 for 352 passing yards and scored on the ground from 22 yards and 62 yards, the longest rush of his career, against the Panthers.
• Howell's 62-yard touchdown scamper was the longest run by a UNC QB since Darian Durant's 63-yard score against Clemson on Oct. 25, 2003.
DOWNS DAY(S)
• Sophomore wide receiver Josh Downs has been Sam Howell's favorite target each of the first two weeks of the 2021 season.
• In his first collegiate start at Virginia Tech, Downs caught eight of 11 targets for 123 yards and one dazzling touchdown, a 37-yard screen pass in the third quarter.
• He caught eight more passes on 11 targets for 73 yards against Georgia State and scored his second touchdown in as many games.
• His 16 receptions are the most by a UNC player through two games since Jarwarski Pollock opened the 2003 campaign with 18.
A GAME OF FIRSTS
• Senior Antoine Green and junior Emery Simmons both scored their first touchdowns of the season against Georgia State.
• Graduate student Ty Chandler scored his first rushing touchdown as a Tar Heel on a 2-yard run with 2:46 to play in the third quarter.
• Sophomore QB Jacolby Criswell connected with freshman Bryson Nesbit for a 47-yard touchdown strike with 4:03 to play in the game. It was Criswell's first touchdown pass and Nesbit's first touchdown catch.
• True freshman Power Echols had his first career interception early in the fourth quarter and returned it 17 yards.
• British Brooks notched his first career blocked punt and the first blocked punt by UNC since Bug Howard vs. Virginia Tech in 2015.
NO FLY ZONE
• Carolina ranks second in the ACC by surrendering only 129.5 yards through the air in two games.
• The Tar Heels limited Georgia State to only 90 passing yards on 30 attempts.
VICTORY VIBES
Victory Vibes: Georgia State Edition 🐏#CarolinaFootball 🏈 @Allstate pic.twitter.com/4YU30lyYCr
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 14, 2021
Players Mentioned
Running Back
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Running Back
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Quarterback
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Wide Receiver
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Linebacker
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Wide Receiver
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Quarterback
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Tight End
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