UNC leads JMU 35-21: Some takeaways from the first half

In a shootout-style first half, the North Carolina football team leads JMU 35-21. Here are some takeaways from the half.

Missing defense

Nazair Jones is not playing today due to an injury, and it is obvious that the UNC defense is feeling his absence. JMU had 222 yards and three touchdowns in just the first quarter. And JMU running back Khalid Abdullah averaged 6.8 yards per carry in the half.

Malik Carney came up with a crucial sack for UNC, forcing JMU to punt in the first drive of the game that did not result in a touchdown. That gave UNC the opportunity to jump ahead of the Dukes, as the Tar Heels scored on the next offensive drive.

First-year Dominique Ross built on Carney's previous success, chasing down JMU quarterback Bryan Schor to come up with his first career sack. The play forced JMU to make a field goal attempt, which fell wide right.

The absence of Jones makes the defensive effort much more challenging. But if UNC can build on its second-quarter successes, the Tar Heels will likely build a heftier lead over the Dukes.

Behold, the cannon

Mitch Trubisky had some fun with the deep ball. First, he threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to roommate Ryan Switzer off of a flea-flicker play, and followed that up with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins. Before today, his longest career pass was 64 yards in 2015.

But it wasn't just the two bombs. Trubisky tied his career-high of 312 passing yards and had three touchdown passes in the half. UNC scored a touchdown on every possession, and the team's longest drive was 4:32.

As UNC struggled to make stops against the Dukes, it was crucial that North Carolina match JMU blow-for-blow, and Trubisky led the offense to do just that, as the offense averaged 10.4 yards.

While the Tar Heel defense continues to work to establish a rhythm, Trubisky and his wide receiving corps must keep making explosive plays to put pressure on the Dukes.

Where is the discipline?

UNC had three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the first quarter alone — and two of those calls were against Jalen Dalton. Those penalties cost UNC 45 yards. North Carolina gave up three more penalties for 25 yards in the second quarter, including a sideline warning and another unsportsmanlike conduct call.

If the Tar Heels hope to walk away with a victory, they have to exercise discipline on the field. As the fate of UNC's defensive performance remains up in the air, it is crucial that North Carolina doesn't give up any yardage to the Dukes over preventable penalties.

@rblakerich_

sports@dailytarheel.com