The Wolfpack ran them over, both figuratively and literally, with 388 rushing yards that day — the most UNC allowed the entire season.
Exactly 364 days later, the Tar Heels entered Carter-Finley Stadium with something to prove.
“We know what happened last year, they took it to us for sure,” said sophomore running back Elijah Hood, who ran the ball just once against N.C. State in 2014 for a loss of two yards.
“We knew we had to make a statement and come out here and play a different kind of game. A totally different mindset, (we) had to show that we aren’t the same team as we were last year.”
The Tar Heels promptly scored on the opening drive. And then scored on the next four drives. All in the first quarter.
The score was 35-7, UNC, with 45 minutes still to be played.
Then-No. 11 North Carolina rushed for 214 yards during the first quarter alone. Against N.C. State in 2014, UNC finished with 30 rushing yards, averaging just 1.1 yards per carry. When the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard — which read 45-34 in favor of the Tar Heels — on Saturday, UNC was sitting with 374 yards on the ground. A healthy 9.1 yards per carry.
“Our offensive line was dominant up front when we were running the football,” Coach Larry Fedora said after the game. “I thought our guys on the perimeter did a great job (blocking as well). And then when you got the two backs at the second level, I mean, they made people miss and made big plays out of it.”
