UNC 45, NC CENTRAL 10
SEPT. 14, 2024
KENAN STADIUM, CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
Mack Brown is 285-149-1 as UNC’s head coach. He has the most wins of any coach in UNC history
and has the most wins of any active FBS head coach.
North Carolina is 3-0 for the third consecutive season. The last time UNC went 3-0 in three
consecutive seasons was from 1979-1981. This is the 19th time Carolina has started 3-0 since
beginning ACC play in 1953.
UNC held NC Central to 167 yards. 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.
UNC has held its first three opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards. The last time UNC held
three consecutive opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards was 2010, when the Tar Heels held
Clemson to 91 yards, ECU to 46 and Rutgers to 87.
Carolina scored 28 points in the fourth quarter. It was the first time UNC scored four touchdowns
and 28 points in a quarter since scoring 28 against Wake Forest in the fourth quarter in 2020.
This was the first time UNC played NC Central in football.
UNC is 73-8 overall when scoring 30 or more points under Mack Brown.
UNC has limited its opponents to 43 first downs through three games. That is the fewest number of
first downs in the first three games by UNC opponents since 2008 when the Tar Heels held Florida
State to 20, Virginia Tech to 11 and Duke to 11 for a total of 42.
North Carolina held its first three opponents to 20 points or less. The last time Carolina allowed 20
or fewer points in three consecutive regular season victories was in 2016, when the Tar Heels held
Georgia Tech to 20, Virginia to 14 and Miami to 13.
UNC is 23-7 when a player rushes for 100 yards since Mack Brown returned as head coach in 2019.
A Tar Heel has rushed for 100 yards in each of the first three games for the first time since 1992.
Kaleb Cost had his first career interception in the fourth quarter, which was the UNC’s first in eight
games. That was the Tar Heels’ longest streak without an interception since a 10-game stretch in
2016.
UNC trailed, 7-0, at the end of the first quarter. UNC last trailed an FCS opponent at the end of the
first quarter on 9/17/2016, when JMU led, 21-14.
Offense:
- Omarion Hampton rushed for 210 yards, the second-highest total of his career. He gained a
career-high 234 yards against App State on 9/7/2023.
- Hampton is the seventh Tar Heel with multiple games with more than 200 rushing yards.
(The others include three by Mike Voight and Amos Lawrence and two by Tyrone Anthony,
Michael Carter, Ethan Horton and Derrick Fenner).
- Hampton rushed for three touchdowns, his first of the season. It was the second time
Hampton had three rushing touchdowns in a game (also vs. App State on 9/7/2023).
- It was Hampton’s first game with multiple rushing touchdowns since scoring two
against Clemson on 11/18/23.
- Hampton has nine multiple-touchdown games as a Tar Heel.
- It was Hampton’s 11th game with at least 100 rushing yards. He is tied with Elijah Hood for
the 10th-most 100-yard rushing games in UNC history.
- Hampton is 15th in UNC career rushing. He passed both Javonte Williams and T.J. Logan in
tonight’s game. Hampton has 2,321 yards (Logan gained 2,165 and Williams had 2,297).
- Jacolby Criswell threw his second touchdown pass as a Tar Heel and the fifth touchdown
pass of his career. Criswell’s touchdown was his first as a Tar Heel since throwing one
against Georgia State on 9/11/2021.
- Criswell’s 162 passing yards were a career. His previous high as a Tar Heel were 125 yards
against Wofford on 11/20/2021.
- Criswell is the first non-starting quarterback to pass for at least 100 yards since Nathan
Elliot had 147 against Virginia Tech on 10/13/2018.
- Criswell is the first non-starting quarterback to pass for at least 100 yards and win since
Mitch Trubisky had 312 against Delaware on 9/26/2015.
- Tight end John Copenhaver made a career-high six receptions. He caught his sixth career
touchdown and his first of the season.
- Charleston French scored the first touchdown of his career on a 45-yard run in the fourth
quarter.
Defense:
- Desmond Evans had his first sack of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Kaleb Cost had a career-high eight tackles, besting his previous career high of five tackles
set against West Virginia in the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Cost also had his first career pass
breakup and first career interception.
- Cost and Power Echols combined for a sack in the second quarter.
- Beau Atkinson (five), Jakeen Harris (four), Jaybron Harvey (four) and Travis Shaw (three)
recorded career highs in tackles.
- Des Evans recorded a career high three tackles for losses, including a sack.
Special Teams:
- Liam Boyd made his first field goal attempt (36 yards).
