All year long, UNC has had a drama-filled season on the field to the point where junior running back Michael Carter has "started to grow gray hairs" from all of the narrow finishes.
However, it was obvious right out of the gate that Saturday's matchup with FCS foe Mercer in the final home game of the season for the Tar Heels was going to be a little bit more relaxing for North Carolina's running back group.
Just 90 seconds into what would end as a 56-7 win for the Tar Heels, senior running back Antonio Williams had acres of open space on the left side of the edge to glide through and ran the ball in for an 11-yard touchdown, his first rushing touchdown of the season.
You would think that erasing that zero from the stats column would come as a massive relief for the senior, but Williams made it clear that there were more important things on his mind in that moment.
“I’ll remember we blew 'em out, I’ll remember it was a great team win," Williams said. "But for me, my entire family was here.”
That's no hyperbole. Williams had 16 friends and family members in attendance for the senior day matchup. As the senior got off the team bus before the game and saw the people closest to him in person, he couldn't help but cry a little bit.
But, even in a game that meant so much to him, the New London, N.C., native didn't hog the spotlight from the rest of the backs after his early score.
On the next UNC drive, first-year quarterback Sam Howell handed the ball off to Carter on the sixth offensive play by the Tar Heels and the running back took full advantage of that opportunity. The junior shrugged off a Mercer defender before bursting through an open gap for a 45-yard touchdown that was assisted by some key blocking from sophomore wide receiver Dyami Brown. It was also Carter's first rushing touchdown of the season.
“The O-line opened up some good blocks, opened up some big holes, the receivers blocked on the perimeter," Carter said. "I know y'all saw Dyami’s block. I probably don’t score without that so credit to him.”
