North Carolina Football: 3 takeaways from blowout win over NC State
By Dante Pryor
North Carolina football excelled on the ground on route to a 48-21 victory against interstate rival NC State. What’d we learn?
The running game and the defense were the North Carolina Tar Heels’ stories handily defeating their interstate rivals, the North Carolina State Wolfpack, at Keenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After their first loss of the season, the ‘Heels responded with a dominant win led by their running game.
Running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter combined for 266 of North Carolina’s 326 rushing yards. This was the first time since 1993 both the Tar Heels and Wolfpack played each other ranked in the top 25. The Wolfpack was down by 10 points early in the third quarter; the running game gave the Tar Heels control of the game.
Despite their loss last week against the Seminoles, the Tar Heels still managed 326 yards on the ground. This afternoon’s game was the second straight season UNC defeated the Wolfpack by a lopsided score. The ‘Heels defeated the ‘Pack 41-10 last season.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday afternoon’s game.
3. If you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any
Legendary head coach Steve Spurrier once said, “If you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any.” That rang true today for the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
Starting quarterback Devin Leary took control of the starting quarterback spot in the win against Pitt. Unfortunately for NC State, Leary was out, and the Wolfpack started Bailey Hockman.
Hockman played three series in the game before head coach Dave Doeren pulled Hockman in favor of freshman Ben Finley, younger brother of former UNC quarterback Ryan Finley. Doeren ultimately went back to Hockman after Finely threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on a sack. Hockman played better the second time in the game, but the Wolfpack went back to Finely, who played better.
The back and forth did not allow the offense to get in a rhythm, and the running game — a staple of the Wolfpack offense — suffered as a result. The Wolfpack have to figure out the quarterback position while they wait for Leary to get healthy.