Holliday: Heels' historic start continues
Posted October 17, 2023 8:10 a.m. EDT
Updated October 17, 2023 8:49 a.m. EDT
North Carolina is 6-0 for the first time since 1997 and has scored 30 or more points in the first six games for the first time since 1914! The Tar Heels will be favored in their next several games but Coach Mack Brown doesn’t want players looking ahead. “Our goal is to be 1-0 next week,” he says.
To Brown’s point, that 1914 team nearly lost in week seven, escaping Vanderbilt 10-9. And ultimately that pre-World War I era team did lose a game against – wait for it – Virginia.
Virginia, of course, is UNC’s next opponent. This Cavalier team has won just once and none of the ACC’s Disney TV partners chose to televise UVa’s visit to UNC. Still, as the late Coach Bill Dooley used to say, the Tar Heels “can’t just roll their headgear on the field and expect to win.”
We have to recognize UNC invested a great deal of emotional energy in the game against mighty Miami (and I mean “mighty” sincerely). How else to explain all the penalties? North Carolina, which in the first five weeks ranked in the top third among least penalized teams in the country, committed nine penalties for 97 yards in the first half alone. The amped up Tar Heels calmed down a bit in the second half but still finished with 14 penalties for 147 yards – and two more were declined!
UNC’s offensive line has improved significantly, especially in the run game, but the Tar Heels looked overwhelmed at times trying to protect Drake Maye. Miami’s front is big, fast and physical. The Hurricanes’ blitz schemes created some confusion about blocking assignments. Maye was sacked five times, pressured countless others, and often seemed to be running for his life.
Maye did throw for 273 yards and four touchdowns. But, he only completed about half his passes and because of Miami’s pressure only connected with six different receivers. Both of those stats are well below Maye’s season average.
The Hurricanes came in with a great plan to contain Drake Maye, but UNC has two other special players they couldn’t account for: Tez Walker and Omarion Hampton. Those two were the difference in the game.
As to Walker, go back to the first scoring drive. The Tar Heels faced a 3rd and 18 – 10 yards added because of a holding penalty against Corey Gaynor – who, ironically played for Miami in 2021. Maye at this juncture needs to find the end zone or the field goal unit will be taking the field on fourth down. He’s pressured, but one receiver gets separation just before the Miami pass rush arrives. And Maye threw a perfect strike to Tez Walker, giving UNC the early lead.
On the Tar Heels’ second drive, Maye navigated 75 yards (this team seems to excel at drives of 75 yards or more) with just one pass! That a five yarder to John Copenhaver. The other 70 yards came on runs. Walker picked up 20 on a reverse-his first carry of the season. And in the second half Tez kept it going. He rescued a floundering UNC drive, going deep on 2nd and 9 at the 44. Walker beat Miami’s secondary and Maye hit him in stride to give Carolina the lead for good.
Walker also caught a 33 yard touchdown pass that came on a 3rd & 20—Miami declined a holding penalty that would have made it 2nd & 30 at the 43. Finally Walker corralled the onside kick after Miami cut UNC’s lead to 10 around the two minute mark.
Hampton didn’t score as many touchdowns as Walker but was no less important. Hampton quickly hit the holes opened by UNC’s offensive line and powered forward for extra yards. His refusal to be brought down led to 11 runs of 7 yards or more, including a 60 yard dash that set up UNC’s final field goal. Hampton also caught two passes for 20 yards, one his first touchdown reception of this season. The sophomore finished with 197 yards on 24 carries against the best run defense in America.
Miami, through its first five games had allowed just 58 yards per game on the ground. UNC gashed the Canes for 235.
The Tar Heel ground game took some of the steam out of the Miami pass rush. UNC was essentially 50-50 run/pass in the first half, and Maye, under siege most of the time completed just 8-19. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey called runs on about 60% of the plays in the second half. Maye, throwing less but with more time connected on 9 of 14 passes after intermission.
UNC’s defense faced a tall order against the ACC leader in total offense. The Tar Heels did allow 482 yards and 31 points, but they held the Hurricanes to 91 yards on the ground. Miami was leading the ACC in rushing through five games at more than 200 yards per outing. Making the Hurricanes one dimensional—especially after defensive coordinator Gene Chizik’s halftime adjustments—played a big part in UNC’s getting control of the game in the third quarter.
The Tar Heels also forced four Miami turnovers, one of which saved a touchdown. Henry Parrish fumbled on first and goal at the one. Cedric Gray recovered for the Heels. Jahvaree Ritzie was the guy who knocked the ball loose, which was a good save by Ritzie since he jumpstarted the Canes long drive with a roughing the passer penalty at the Miami 17.
Miami suffered a second fumble during the brief rain shower that greeted the start of the second half when a low snap from center got away from quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. The Tar Heels did not capitalize on that miscue but did enjoy a rare short field score when Gray intercepted Van Dyke’s pass at the Hurricanes 23.
Gray by the way had ten tackles and a tackle for loss in addition to producing the two turnovers.
Giovanni Biggers intercepted Van Dyke’s final throw to end the game for the fourth and final turnover.
UNC’s special teams play went well. Rookie Tom Maginness punted well in place of veteran Ben Kiernan who is out for the season with a lower body injury. Place kicker Noah Burnette was perfect on two field goals.
Mack Brown doesn’t want his players looking ahead, but we in the media certainly can and will!
Virginia: The Cavaliers have trouble scoring and they rank last in the ACC in rushing. The Cavaliers give up 32 points per game and that also is just 14th best.
Georgia Tech: This will be UNC’s first road game in five weeks, and the Tar Heels have a very checkered past in Atlanta. Georgia Tech has won four of the last five in this series, including 45-22 in Sam Howell’s final season. Last year at Kenan Stadium then new coach Brent Key limited the Tar Heels to 17 points by forcing Maye to stay in the pocket, taking away the run-pass options which were a big part of UNC’s offense in 2022. That Georgia Tech upset started UNC’s season ending slide, which should keep the Tar Heels focused during the last week of October.
Campbell: Mike Minter has an up-and-coming program but the Camels have no chance against Mack Brown’s top ten team.
Duke: This is a very intriguing matchup, especially if star quarterback Riley Leonard is back playing during the second week of November. The Blue Devils’ defense is terrific – just ask NC State. Offensively Duke has playmakers in the backfield and on the wings. The Devils will be motivated after UNC’s “win by an inch” last season in Durham.
Clemson: The Tigers are formidable at Death Valley, even if their offense is not as explosive as in years past. This could be UNC’s toughest hurdle, although no team the Tar Heels face in their final six games is as talented as Miami.
NC State: The Wolfpack of course has really struggled offensively this season. Still, this is a rivalry game, and the Pack is hard to beat at “the Carter.” Dave Doeren’s team and the rabid Wolfpack fans will do everything they can to spoil UNC’s dream season.
I would expect UNC to win at least four of these games, and the Tar Heels certainly could run the table. There are just two undefeated teams in the ACC now after Louisville’s loss at Pitt. There are only eight undefeated teams remaining across the country.
Injuries play a part in who keeps winning, but physical and mental preparation matter even more. That’s why Brown wants his players to block out the noise and just focus on going 1-0 each week.
