University of North Carolina
Postgame Notes • August 31, 2019
North Carolina 24, South Carolina 20
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Series Record: Tar Heels lead, 35-19-4. UNC beat South Carolina for the first time in four meetings since 1991.
Season Openers: UNC is 83-42-4, including 36-31 since the ACC was formed in 1953.
Mack Brown is 25-6 all-time in season openers, including 9-2 as UNC’s head coach.
• UNC is 1-0 to start a season for the first time since beating Liberty, 56-29, on Aug. 30, 2014.
• Mack Brown is 245-122-1 all-time, including 70-46-1 as head coach of the Tar Heels. Brown’s 245 wins are the most by an active coach in college football and his 70 wins at UNC are now just two behind tying the school record (72 by Dick Crum 1978-87).
• This was UNC’s first victory over a Power 5 opponent to open the season since 1997 when head coach Mack Brown led the Tar Heels past Indiana in Chapel Hill. UNC lost its next 11 season openers against Power 5 opponents until today’s win over the Gamecocks.
• The Tar Heels trailed by 11 points (20-9) heading into the fourth quarter, but out-scored the Gamecocks, 15-0 in the final period. This was the first time UNC won when trailing after three quarters since a Sept. 24, 2016, home win over Pittsburgh. The Panthers led 33-23, but UNC rallied for a 37-36 win.
• UNC trailed by double digits twice today, trailing 13-3 in the second quarter and 20-9 heading into the fourth. UNC took its first lead of the season at 24-20 with 8:26 to play in the fourth quarter.
• The Tar Heels out-gained the Gamecocks, 483-270. That included a 285-101 edge in total yards in the second half. UNC allowed just 4.4 yards per play for the game (7.1 in the first quarter and 3.3 over the next three quarters).
• South Carolina gained 133 of its 270 yards on its first two series (58 and 75), but the Tar Heels allowed only 137 yards over the next 11 series.
• UNC rushed for 238 yards and threw for 245.
• Eleven true freshmen played (10 in the first half): QB Sam Howell, LB Khadry Jackson, DB Cam’Ron Kelly, DB Don Chapman, WR Emery Simmons, DB Obi Egbuna, LB Eugene Asante, DB Storm Duck, DL Tomari Fox, DS Drew Little and P Ben Kiernan.
• Sam Howell became the first true freshman in UNC history to start at quarterback in a season opener. He led the Tar Heels on a 70-yard scoring drive that resulted in a field goal on his first collegiate series. He finished 15 of 24 with 245 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
• Howell threw his first career touchdown pass on a 22-yard strike to sophomore Dyami Brown 33 seconds into the fourth quarter.
• It was Brown’s second career TD reception (he had one against Pitt at Kenan Stadium last season).
• Howell scored on a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter. It was his first career 2-point attempt and collegiate points.
• Howell is the first Tar Heel to throw two touchdowns in a season opener since Marquise Williams threw for a pair against Liberty in 2014
• UNC had consecutive drives in the fourth quarter in which the Tar Heels scored touchdowns on drives in excess of 90 yards. Howell to Brown capped a 98-yard drive and Howell to Corrales finished a 95-yard drive that gave UNC a 24-20 advantage.
• WR Beau Corrales made his sixth career TD catch, a 17-yard reception with 8:26 to play in the fourth quarter. He had three TD catches in 2017 and two in 2018.
• Sophomore RB Javonte Williams rushed for a career-high 102 yards on 18 carries (5.7 per play). That’s his first career 100-yard performance. His previous best was 93 yards vs. Western Carolina last year.
• Junior RB Michael Carter added 77 yards on the ground and senior RB Antonio Williams gained 53 yards on just four carries.
• Noah Ruggles made a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter. It was the sophomore’s first career field goal attempt and make. He also converted a 24-yarder in the second quarter and a 22-yarder in the third. Three of his six kickoffs went for touchbacks.
• True freshman Ben Kiernan averaged 41.6 yards on five punts with a long of 48 yards.
• Junior Chazz Surratt started at linebacker. He started in seven games at quarterback in 2017 and played in one game at QB last season. Surratt led UNC with 12 tackles, including his first career sack, and broke up a pass.
• DB Myles Wolfolk made his first interception of the season (and UNC’s first) with 2:48 to play in the fourth quarter (on a 3rd and 8 play).
• Wolfolk made his second interception of the game with 1:48 to play in the fourth. That pick came on a 3rd and 10 play from the UNC 26-yard line. He came into the game with two career INTs, both in 2017 (one against NC State and the other vs. Old Dominion).
• The Tar Heel defense stopped the Gamecocks on nine of 12 third-down chances.
UNC’s Game Captains: Michael Carter, Myles Dorn, Tomon Fox and Charlie Heck
UNC won the toss and deferred to the second half
Postgame Notes • August 31, 2019
North Carolina 24, South Carolina 20
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Series Record: Tar Heels lead, 35-19-4. UNC beat South Carolina for the first time in four meetings since 1991.
Season Openers: UNC is 83-42-4, including 36-31 since the ACC was formed in 1953.
Mack Brown is 25-6 all-time in season openers, including 9-2 as UNC’s head coach.
• UNC is 1-0 to start a season for the first time since beating Liberty, 56-29, on Aug. 30, 2014.
• Mack Brown is 245-122-1 all-time, including 70-46-1 as head coach of the Tar Heels. Brown’s 245 wins are the most by an active coach in college football and his 70 wins at UNC are now just two behind tying the school record (72 by Dick Crum 1978-87).
• This was UNC’s first victory over a Power 5 opponent to open the season since 1997 when head coach Mack Brown led the Tar Heels past Indiana in Chapel Hill. UNC lost its next 11 season openers against Power 5 opponents until today’s win over the Gamecocks.
• The Tar Heels trailed by 11 points (20-9) heading into the fourth quarter, but out-scored the Gamecocks, 15-0 in the final period. This was the first time UNC won when trailing after three quarters since a Sept. 24, 2016, home win over Pittsburgh. The Panthers led 33-23, but UNC rallied for a 37-36 win.
• UNC trailed by double digits twice today, trailing 13-3 in the second quarter and 20-9 heading into the fourth. UNC took its first lead of the season at 24-20 with 8:26 to play in the fourth quarter.
• The Tar Heels out-gained the Gamecocks, 483-270. That included a 285-101 edge in total yards in the second half. UNC allowed just 4.4 yards per play for the game (7.1 in the first quarter and 3.3 over the next three quarters).
• South Carolina gained 133 of its 270 yards on its first two series (58 and 75), but the Tar Heels allowed only 137 yards over the next 11 series.
• UNC rushed for 238 yards and threw for 245.
• Eleven true freshmen played (10 in the first half): QB Sam Howell, LB Khadry Jackson, DB Cam’Ron Kelly, DB Don Chapman, WR Emery Simmons, DB Obi Egbuna, LB Eugene Asante, DB Storm Duck, DL Tomari Fox, DS Drew Little and P Ben Kiernan.
• Sam Howell became the first true freshman in UNC history to start at quarterback in a season opener. He led the Tar Heels on a 70-yard scoring drive that resulted in a field goal on his first collegiate series. He finished 15 of 24 with 245 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
• Howell threw his first career touchdown pass on a 22-yard strike to sophomore Dyami Brown 33 seconds into the fourth quarter.
• It was Brown’s second career TD reception (he had one against Pitt at Kenan Stadium last season).
• Howell scored on a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter. It was his first career 2-point attempt and collegiate points.
• Howell is the first Tar Heel to throw two touchdowns in a season opener since Marquise Williams threw for a pair against Liberty in 2014
• UNC had consecutive drives in the fourth quarter in which the Tar Heels scored touchdowns on drives in excess of 90 yards. Howell to Brown capped a 98-yard drive and Howell to Corrales finished a 95-yard drive that gave UNC a 24-20 advantage.
• WR Beau Corrales made his sixth career TD catch, a 17-yard reception with 8:26 to play in the fourth quarter. He had three TD catches in 2017 and two in 2018.
• Sophomore RB Javonte Williams rushed for a career-high 102 yards on 18 carries (5.7 per play). That’s his first career 100-yard performance. His previous best was 93 yards vs. Western Carolina last year.
• Junior RB Michael Carter added 77 yards on the ground and senior RB Antonio Williams gained 53 yards on just four carries.
• Noah Ruggles made a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter. It was the sophomore’s first career field goal attempt and make. He also converted a 24-yarder in the second quarter and a 22-yarder in the third. Three of his six kickoffs went for touchbacks.
• True freshman Ben Kiernan averaged 41.6 yards on five punts with a long of 48 yards.
• Junior Chazz Surratt started at linebacker. He started in seven games at quarterback in 2017 and played in one game at QB last season. Surratt led UNC with 12 tackles, including his first career sack, and broke up a pass.
• DB Myles Wolfolk made his first interception of the season (and UNC’s first) with 2:48 to play in the fourth quarter (on a 3rd and 8 play).
• Wolfolk made his second interception of the game with 1:48 to play in the fourth. That pick came on a 3rd and 10 play from the UNC 26-yard line. He came into the game with two career INTs, both in 2017 (one against NC State and the other vs. Old Dominion).
• The Tar Heel defense stopped the Gamecocks on nine of 12 third-down chances.
UNC’s Game Captains: Michael Carter, Myles Dorn, Tomon Fox and Charlie Heck
UNC won the toss and deferred to the second half
