CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Josh Downs was never worried.
If Saturday’s final outcome was any indication — when the star junior wideout torched Virginia for a career-high 15 catches and 166 yards in the North Carolina football team’s 31-28 victory — he never had a reason to be.
As UNC faced a 21-17 deficit midway through the third quarter, Downs approached head coach Mack Brown on the sideline. He’d already caught nine passes for 99 yards, but quarterback redshirt first-year Drake Maye had been struggling to find anyone else downfield.
“We’re good, coach,” the junior receiver told Brown. “Don’t worry, I got you right here.”
The Tar Heels needed a touchdown. But more specifically, they needed Downs.
On the ensuing drive, Maye found his favorite target for a 15-yard completion to convert a third down. The next play, it was Downs again for 11 yards. Four plays later, Maye lofted the ball to Downs deep into the left corner of the end zone to put UNC up 24-21, and the Tar Heels never trailed again.
According to Maye, the play was not even intended for Downs. But that’s just a testament to the unspoken connection they share.
“If I’m thinking of something, (Drake’s) already thinking of it, and he’s probably ahead of me,” Downs said.
While it is important to note Downs’ statistical dominance, it is equally key to acknowledge the pressure he thrived under. North Carolina converted seven of its 14 third-down attempts, and Downs executed the play on five of them.