University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, September 14
Chapel Hill
6 PM
North Carolina
3-0 , 0-0
45
vs
10
NC Central
1-2 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
N.C. Central
7
3
0
0
10
North Carolina
0
17
0
28
45
Omarion Hampton
Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH
Hampton Leads Tar Heels To 45-10 Win Over NCCU
September 14, 2024 | Football
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— Omarion Hampton had a huge day as North Carolina spotted North Carolina Central an early lead before pulling away to beat the Eagles, 45-10, on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium.
The Tar Heels improved to 3-0 with the victory, while the Eagles fell to 1-2. Carolina has started the season at least 3-0 in four of the last five years.
NCCU led, 7-0, in the opening minutes before the Tar Heels outscored NCCU, 45-3, the rest of the way to cruise to the win.
Hampton dominated on the ground for the second time in the first three games this season, punishing NCCU with 12 carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. As the game proceeded after the Eagles took their early lead, he wore down the Central defense with bruising runs, including a 53-yard dash to put him over 100 yards midway through the second quarter.
Hampton, who ran for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns while earning All-America honors in 2023, found the end zone for the first time this season. He finished with 210 rushing yards on 25 carries (a whopping 8.4 per attempt) with three TDs.
Jacolby Criswell came off the bench to complete 14 of 23 passes for 161 yards and a score. Eight different Tar Heel receivers caught passes in a balanced offensive attack.
"We decided during the week that we were going to put Jacolby in during the third series regardless," said UNC head coach Mack Brown afterward. "He threw the ball because we wanted to play both of them. Then he took it right down and scored and we weren't going to take him out. We're just trying to play more people because when you see a chance to play, you practice better."
The Tar Heels piled up 513 total yards while holding NCCU to 167. Those are the fewest total yards by an opponent since The Citadel gained 153 on 9/5/2009. It is the first time UNC held an opponent under 200 yards since Idaho had 189 on 9/29/2012.
Rushing yards were 330-76 in Carolina's favor, while passing yards were 183-91.
How It Happened
First Half
• NCCU opened the scoring with a touchdown when J'Mari Taylor ran it in from five yards out with 7:32 left in the first quarter, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
• Carolina's offense was a bit sluggish in the early going and punted on its first two series, but momentum swung after a big special teams play in the final minute of the opening quarter.
• After the Eagles forced the Tar Heels to punt out of their own end zone, Christian Hamilton recovered a muffed punt at the NCCU 41-yard line with 53 seconds remaining in the first. Hamilton both caused the muff and recovered the ball on the play.
• Four plays later, Hampton tied the score on an 11-yard run up the middle in the opening seconds of the second quarter.
• After a timely stop by the Tar Heel defense, Hampton put Carolina ahead, 14-7, on a two-yard dive that capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive.
• UNC added a field goal to make it 17-7 after a drive that included a 53-yard dash by Hampton.
• The Eagles connected on a field goal as time expired in the second quarter to close their deficit to 17-10 at the break.
• Carolina pounded out 137 rushing yards but threw for only 42 in the first half. NCCU dominated time of possession, 18:56 to 11:04 in the opening 30 minutes.
Second Half
• Central stymied UNC on its opening drive of the second half, stopping the Tar Heels on downs on their first offensive attempt after halftime.
• Criswell connected with Hamilton on a 29-yard completion to move into NCCU territory to close a scoreless third quarter.
• In a one-possession game, Carolina upped its lead to 24-10 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter on a beautiful, 23-yard pass from Criswell to John Copenhaver.
• Less than four minutes later, Hampton scored his third TD of the game to make it 31-10 with 10:42 remaining.
• Freshman running back Davion Gause, who ran for 105 yards off the bench in last week's win over Charlotte, scored from a yard out to make the score 38-10 UNC.
• Charleston French raced for a 45-yard TD to finish the scoring and make it 45-10 Carolina.
Up Next
Carolina will play the last of three consecutive games at Kenan Stadium when it hosts James Madison next Saturday Sept. 21 at noon. The ACC Network will carry the game live.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Tar Heels improved to 3-0 with the victory, while the Eagles fell to 1-2. Carolina has started the season at least 3-0 in four of the last five years.
NCCU led, 7-0, in the opening minutes before the Tar Heels outscored NCCU, 45-3, the rest of the way to cruise to the win.
Hampton dominated on the ground for the second time in the first three games this season, punishing NCCU with 12 carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. As the game proceeded after the Eagles took their early lead, he wore down the Central defense with bruising runs, including a 53-yard dash to put him over 100 yards midway through the second quarter.
Hampton, who ran for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns while earning All-America honors in 2023, found the end zone for the first time this season. He finished with 210 rushing yards on 25 carries (a whopping 8.4 per attempt) with three TDs.
Jacolby Criswell came off the bench to complete 14 of 23 passes for 161 yards and a score. Eight different Tar Heel receivers caught passes in a balanced offensive attack.
"We decided during the week that we were going to put Jacolby in during the third series regardless," said UNC head coach Mack Brown afterward. "He threw the ball because we wanted to play both of them. Then he took it right down and scored and we weren't going to take him out. We're just trying to play more people because when you see a chance to play, you practice better."
The Tar Heels piled up 513 total yards while holding NCCU to 167. Those are the fewest total yards by an opponent since The Citadel gained 153 on 9/5/2009. It is the first time UNC held an opponent under 200 yards since Idaho had 189 on 9/29/2012.
Rushing yards were 330-76 in Carolina's favor, while passing yards were 183-91.
How It Happened
First Half
• NCCU opened the scoring with a touchdown when J'Mari Taylor ran it in from five yards out with 7:32 left in the first quarter, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
• Carolina's offense was a bit sluggish in the early going and punted on its first two series, but momentum swung after a big special teams play in the final minute of the opening quarter.
• After the Eagles forced the Tar Heels to punt out of their own end zone, Christian Hamilton recovered a muffed punt at the NCCU 41-yard line with 53 seconds remaining in the first. Hamilton both caused the muff and recovered the ball on the play.
• Four plays later, Hampton tied the score on an 11-yard run up the middle in the opening seconds of the second quarter.
• After a timely stop by the Tar Heel defense, Hampton put Carolina ahead, 14-7, on a two-yard dive that capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive.
• UNC added a field goal to make it 17-7 after a drive that included a 53-yard dash by Hampton.
• The Eagles connected on a field goal as time expired in the second quarter to close their deficit to 17-10 at the break.
• Carolina pounded out 137 rushing yards but threw for only 42 in the first half. NCCU dominated time of possession, 18:56 to 11:04 in the opening 30 minutes.
Second Half
• Central stymied UNC on its opening drive of the second half, stopping the Tar Heels on downs on their first offensive attempt after halftime.
• Criswell connected with Hamilton on a 29-yard completion to move into NCCU territory to close a scoreless third quarter.
• In a one-possession game, Carolina upped its lead to 24-10 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter on a beautiful, 23-yard pass from Criswell to John Copenhaver.
• Less than four minutes later, Hampton scored his third TD of the game to make it 31-10 with 10:42 remaining.
• Freshman running back Davion Gause, who ran for 105 yards off the bench in last week's win over Charlotte, scored from a yard out to make the score 38-10 UNC.
• Charleston French raced for a 45-yard TD to finish the scoring and make it 45-10 Carolina.
Up Next
Carolina will play the last of three consecutive games at Kenan Stadium when it hosts James Madison next Saturday Sept. 21 at noon. The ACC Network will carry the game live.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
NCC
UNC
Total Yards
167
513
Pass Yards
91
183
Rushing Yards
76
330
Penalty Yards
89
102
1st Downs
16
26
3rd Downs
3
6
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
33:41
26:19
1st Quarter
NCC 7, UNC 0
NCC - Taylor,J'Mari 5 yd run (Velarde,Juan kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:28
2nd Quarter
NCC 7, UNC 7
UNC - Hampton,Omarion 11 yd run (Boyd,Liam kick), 4 plays, 41 yards, TOP 01:15
NCC 7, UNC 14
UNC - Hampton,Omarion 2 yd run (Boyd,Liam kick), 10 plays, 67 yards, TOP 03:35
NCC 7, UNC 17
UNC - Boyd,Liam 36 yd field goal 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 02:17
NCC 10, UNC 17
NCC - Velarde,Juan 35 yd field goal 14 plays, 47 yards, TOP 05:51
4th Quarter
NCC 10, UNC 24
UNC - Copenhaver,John 23 yd pass from Criswell,Jacolby (Boyd,Liam kick) 5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 01:41
NCC 10, UNC 31
UNC - Hampton,Omarion 4 yd run (Boyd,Liam kick), 5 plays, 30 yards, TOP 01:59
NCC 10, UNC 38
UNC - Gause,Davion 1 yd run (Boyd,Liam kick), 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 02:34
NCC 10, UNC 45
UNC - French,Charleston 45 yd run (Boyd,Liam kick), 4 plays, 71 yards, TOP 01:28
Game Leaders
CMP
14
TD
1
YDS
161
INT
0
CMP
2
TD
0
YDS
22
INT
0
Players Mentioned
Tight End
/ FootballQuarterback
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Running Back
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