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

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Sep 3, 2022; Boone, North Carolina, USA; Appalachian State Mountaineers quarterback Chase Brice (7) looks down field for a receiver against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

Chase Brice’s performance was encouraging.

Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark has to be excited about how Chase Brice played this afternoon. Bruce threw for 376 yards and six touchdowns. He threw an interception when the Tar Heels were on their 34-0 scoring run. That pick did not deter Brice; he led them on a 78-yard scoring drive on their next possession.

Brice kept picking the Mountaineers up, keeping UNC from delivering the knockout blow and putting the game away. It would be easy to look at the overthrown pass on the two-point conversion, but that one play cannot take away from how well the Duke transfer played in this game.

The defense was inconsistent in this game

While Clark and his staff have to love how well the offense played in this game, they know there is work to do on the defensive side of the ball. North Carolina’s offense came into this game shorthanded and still racked up nearly 600 yards of offense.

The Mountaineers’ defensive line was pushed around, surrendering 215 rushing yards for a 6.1 yards per carry average. The defense struggled to adjust to North Carolina with it changed offensively. The Mountaineers must play better on defense if they want to contend in the Sun Belt.

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