CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In front of a packed Kenan Stadium crowd, North Carolina used a balanced rushing and passing attack to pile on Virginia and defeat the Cavaliers 59-39 on Saturday night. UNC quarterback Sam Howell threw for 307 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 112 yards on 15 carries. Running back Ty Chandler had a breakout game with 198 yards on 20 carries and two scores. Josh Downs was UNC’s top receiver with eight catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tar Heels moved to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in the ACC. They will face Georgia Tech next weekend in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Below are three takeaways from Inside Carolina Postgame Live sponsored by Blue Shark Vodka with hosts Shaun Draughn and Ross Martin. Check out the video below and watch the whole Postgame Live show here.
1. Establishing the Run Game
Draughn: “That was huge tonight and I hope it can continues. Again, having that balanced attack, we showed that we can do it. We have averaged 59.0 points per game in the last two games. I think that balanced attack will do us well. I am so excited about the run game. That is the only thing I keep thinking about, but having those big explosive plays in both the run and pass game, that is a big takeaway for me,
Martin: “It was refreshing to see UNC establish the run game and for Ty Chandler to have a big game.”
2. Defensive Second-Half Adjustments
Martin: “Just making enough plays on defense, the second-half adjustments, holding Virginia to only three points in the third quarter. UNC’s defense came to play. We talked about the sacks from Tomon Fox, Kaimon Rucker — they got pressure when they needed to. They were some issues in the first half in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback, but there were enough plays made, enough adjustments made in the second half by Jay Bateman’s defense to give UNC a cushion, to get the ball back, to force UVa to a field goal.
“I think the defense did what they needed to do with an offense like this — make enough plays and get the ball back.”
3. What does it mean?
Martin: “I was worried about this game. I think Virginia was a very good team and if UNC lost this game It would be doom and gloom (for North Carolina) with two losses to Virginia and Virginia Tech. This was a massive game for the fans and for the direction of this team right now. So to come out and win the way they did with an explosive offense, with establishing this run game, with Josh Downs and Sam Howell, it was huge for the psyche of this team moving forward to the Georgia Tech game, Duke, and then Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame. It sets UNC up for success, maybe they are kind of that team that we thought they were. Maybe a top 15 team that can make some noise and compete for an ACC Championship. The dreams are still alive.
Draughn: “This win solidifies that last week, we did what we should have done last week, but to come and do it against a team that we were kinda worried about? That gives the team confidence moving forward. I think it’s great that we established what we did tonight.
