So Kenny broke free of N.C. State's Ngozi Collins and tripped him up for a takedown. It was enough to award Kenny a decision in the heavyweight match and tie the overall score.
And after Kenny's victory, the Tar Heels wasted little time disposing of the Wolfpack.
North Carolina cruised with five consecutive decisions en route to a 21-9 win against the Wolfpack on Wednesday night at Carmichael Auditorium.
"Last weekend we went to Virginia Duals and just mopped up," Kenny said. "We were really tough. I thought coming in that we would really kick their butt."
N.C. State was picked as the ACC preseason favorite, and North Carolina (4-2, 1-0 in the ACC), a perennial conference champion, was picked third. In addition, the winning team has won by four points or less in the last five matches.
The match began with the 197-pound bout between UNC's Dustin Heist and the Wolfpack's Jason Gore. Gore was penalized for fleeing the mat late in the third period to tie it at 3-3 but scored a takedown and held on for a 5-4 victory.
UNC coach Bill Lam said he put Heist in a tough position because starter Austin Wall, still nursing an injury, missed Wednesday's match.
"I put a lot on Dustin because Austin is just not back in shape yet," Lam said. "But I was proud of Dustin's effort."
State gained two three-point decisions afterward to put the match at 18-9, but the Wolfpack would win no more.
