UNC football captures second victory against Western Carolina

The North Carolina football team (2-8, 1-6 ACC) picked up its second win of the season against Western Carolina (3-8, 1-7 Southern), handing the Catamounts their eighth straight loss and avoiding a seventh straight loss of its own in the 49-26 victory.

What happened?

On the first snap of the game, Western Carolina’s quarterback Tyrie Adams fumbled the snap and nearly didn’t recover the ball as a charging Malik Carney came in to tackle the Catamount quarterback. After a false start penalty, WCU mustered an incomplete pass and a two-yard rush before punting into the hands of UNC’s Dazz Newsome.

Newsome returned the ball to the 11-yard line, quickly putting UNC in position to get the scoring started.

But just over two minutes of game time later, UNC was down 7-0.

A Nathan Elliott interception was returned 70 yards to the Western Carolina 25, and three plays later Adams rushed for a one-yard touchdown to give the Catamounts the lead. 

UNC scored 21 unanswered points on a Nathan Elliott completion to Thomas Jackson and rushes by Javonte Williams and Jordon Brown. Rontavius Groves scored his first career touchdown on a 54-yard pass from Elliott, but three field goals from WCU’s Will Horton allowed the Catamounts to stay within two scores.

After stopping WCU on fourth down, UNC ended the first half on an exciting note as quarterback Manny Miles took his first snap of the season and completed his first career touchdown pass. It was a 38-yard heave into traffic that was tapped around before ending up in the hands of Jake Bargas.

The second half saw the Tar Heels extend their lead, though the Catamounts did not go down without a fight. A field goal and a touchdown for Western Carolina were not enough to overcome two more Williams touchdowns as UNC picked up the victory in Chapel Hill.

Who stood out?

True first-year running back Javonte Williams had the best game of his collegiate career. The Wallace, N.C., native ran for 93 yards and three touchdowns on 17 attempts — all career highs. 

Williams scored his first touchdown of the game and second of the season in the late first quarter. After sophomore defensive end Tomon Fox recovered a Western Carolina fumble, the Tar Heels began their drive inside the red zone. 

Back-to-back rushes for 10 and two yards by sophomore running back Michael Carter set up the Tar Heels at the one-yard line. Williams took the next handoff and punched in North Carolina’s second touchdown of the game for its first lead of the game. 

Then, late in the third quarter Elliott threw a pass over the middle to Williams, who brought the ball down to the Western Carolina 10-yard line for a 35-yard reception. After two Brown runs, UNC found itself at the two-yard line on third down. 

Williams was the one who finished the play again — this time with a two-yard run up the middle for a touchdown. His score gave North Carolina a 42-19 lead with 6:51 left in the third quarter.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back scored for a third time in the fourth quarter. This came on a drive where he ran for a total of 33 yards. On another third down deep in the redzone, Williams rushed up the middle for a two-yard touchdown run for the Tar Heels’ final score of the game. 

Williams’ final rushing touchdown was the nail in the coffin in UNC’s 49-26 win and was the first time a Tar Heel had three rushing touchdowns in a game since Elijah Hood did it in 2016 against Georgia Tech. 

When was it decided?

Miles’ touchdown heave gave the Tar Heels a comfortable 35-16 halftime lead, but after a missed field goal by Freeman Jones in the first drive of the second half, Western Carolina began a march down the field. Adams completed a 64 yard pass to put the Catamounts on the Tar Heels’ 8-yard line.

The UNC defense stood strong, holding the Catamounts to a field goal on the drive. From there, UNC began to re-establish themselves on offense. Williams scored his second and third touchdowns of the game, giving UNC a 30 point lead that was more than enough for the Tar Heels to close out the victory, their first double-digit win since beating Western 65-10 a season ago. 

Why does it matter?

UNC is playing for pride at this point, picking up its second win of the season in its second to last game. With both victories coming in Kenan Stadium, the Tar Heels have a chance to finish the season with a winning record at home next week. A season ago they were 1-6 at home, with the one victory coming against the Catamounts.

Where do they play next?

The Tar Heels will host N.C. State for a 12:20 kickoff next Saturday in their season finale.

@james_tatter

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com