North Carolina football: 3 takeaways from thrilling win over App State

North Carolina football survives a high-scoring game against the Mountaineers. What did we learn from the Tar Heels’ high-scoring win?

In a game dubbed “The Return of the Mack,” the North Carolina Tar Heels escape Boone, North Carolina, with a 63-61 win. North Carolina head coach Mack Brown’s first head coaching job was at Appalachian State in 1983. Brown returned to App State to rousing applause at the beginning of the game.

The game looked like the Mountaineers were going to run away with the game, jumping to a 21-7 lead. The Tar Heels scored 34 unanswered points to take what seemed to be an insurmountable lead at 41-21. App State then scored two touchdowns to get within one score. After North Carolina took a 49-35 lead, the Mountaineers tied the game at 49.

Appalachian State had two opportunities to take the lead. They scored to get within one point of the Tar Heels, but quarterback Chase Brice overthrew receiver DaShaun Davis on the conversion. App State scored again after a 48-yard kick return by Bryson Nesbitt gave them a short field. Bryce threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Kaedin Robinson.

Brice attempted to run the conversion but fumbled on the attempt. Mack Brown smiled after the game heaping praise on both quarterbacks, saying how well each performed in a close, high-scoring game.

Here are three more takeaways from North Carolina’s win.