North Carolina football: 3 takeaways from dominant win over Pitt

After playing back-to-back home games, North Carolina football traveled to Pittsburgh for an ACC matchup against the Panthers.

This story is no different from last Saturday. Another stellar performance by the Tar Heels. A school that is mostly known for its success in basketball, but the football team is coming to its own. They took care of business against Pittsburgh on Saturday night by the final score of 41-24.

A collective team effort from the coaching staff to the players. This is North Carolina’s first 4-0 start since the 1997 season.

Here are three takeaways from the win.

1. Tar Heels’ second-half momentum

Pittsburgh played well in the first quarter. Urgency and playmaking worked in their favorite. However, in the second quarter, the Tar Heels looked more poise and in control. They scored 21 points in the second quarter. Tar Heels had a great quarter of impressive offensive executive and hardcore defense.

2. Drake Maye’s tenacity

Last Saturday against Minnesota, wide receiver Nate McCollum was the star of the game. Quarterback Drake Maye threw for 414 yards and two touchdowns, which set a new season-high mark for the star gunslinger. But I feel that he played his best game against Pittsburgh than he did against Minnesota.

Maye looked fearless out there. He completed 22-of-30 passes and three for 296 yards to go along with three touchdowns (two of them were rushing touchdowns).

One of the touchdowns is one of the best plays in college football this weekend. With a minute left to go in the second quarter, Maye was running to his left and when the defender came towards him, he threw the ball with his left hand to Kobe Paysour for a 7-yard touchdown. It reminds me of Patrick Mahomes when he made that heads-up play.

Maye is looking like an early Heisman Trophy candidate.

3. Pitt committing turnovers and lackluster offensive line

The Panthers and Minnesota Golden Gophers share something in common after their losses against North Carolina. They missed out on some good opportunities. The Panthers committed several turnovers in the second half which was a huge difference maker in this game.

Panthers quarterback Phil Jurkovec played a solid game but he kept getting pummeled by the Tar Heels’ defense. The offensive lineman need to do a better job to protect their quarterback. It needs a lot more work. No matter how good a quarterback can be, if he doesn’t have a strong offensive lineman, then he can make severe trips to the injury list.

Tar Heels had other guys that stepped up and contributed to their victory. Running back Omarion Hampton ran for 66 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver J.J. Jones caught six reception passes for 117 yards. Defensive back Alijah Huzzie had two interceptions and returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown.

UNC remains undefeated. Panthers fall to 1-3. Tar Heels will have a bye week next weekend. As for the Panthers, they will be on the road in another ACC matchup against Virginia Tech.