The Heels Are Bowling!

The North Carolina Tar Heels (6-4, 3-3 ACC) took to their home field on Saturday night for the first time since October 12th. That fateful afternoon, they suffered a disappointing loss to Georgia Tech which was soon put into perspective by the heartbreaking news that beloved teammate Tylee Craft had passed away due to cancer. A month removed from that gut punch – with a memorial to Craft painted on each side of the field – Carolina has honored his memory by turning the season around and earning a bowl game. UNC battled through mistakes and the hungry Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-6, 2-4 ACC) – who are fighting an uphill battle to seek bowl eligibility themselves – to win their third straight game in conference play.

It wasn’t as dominant a performance as the Heels had mustered in their recent road wins at Virginia and Florida State. The win was, however, a vindication that Carolina can put together enough to succeed against a formidable adversary. Where UVA and FSU folded, Wake punched back. UNC won a low-scoring first half by seven. Early in the third quarter, that lead disappeared. They regained the upper hand with a touchdown just a few minutes later, which they never relinquished. But the lead hardly felt ironclad: twice they went up 14 only to find themselves back in a one possession game. It would have been nice to see them deliver the knockout blow. At the same time, the manner in which the Tar Heels prevailed demonstrated great resilience on both sides of the ball.

It was very competitive, but not quite as high-scoring as predicted. The result still managed to fit both team profiles to a tee: 716 yards of total offense, a decisive turnover battle (to include a Power Echols pick six), a career high in rushing yardage for Omarion Hampton which moved him up to no. 2 in total FBS rushing yards on the season. Add in Mack Brown chewing out the officials, a successful Carolina fake punt, and a nerve-wracking Wake onside kick with over a minute to go… It proved to be a night to remember, ultimately for the right reasons.

Quarter-by-Quarter

A rousing pregame introduction that included a parachute team landing in the middle of Kenan Stadium for Military Appreciation Day gave way to an anticlimactic pair of three-and-out drives to start the game. UNC’s second drive of the game brought the fireworks though. After three Hampton carries – none for fewer than six yards – and a pair of incompletions, Carolina had moved the chains once but found itself with a 4th & 4 from their own 41. The punt unit trotted out onto the field. But it was a FAKE. Workhorse senior TE John Copenhaver received the snap and bolted to the 47 for a 1st down. The next play was a sack, the first of five that Jacolby Criswell would take. But that setback was followed by two thrilling gains on the ground by Hampton, for 20 and 27 yards, respectively. Another short gain by Hampton setup the Tar Heels for 2nd & goal at the Wake 3 yard line. A dropback pass was called by OC Chip Lindsey. Wake, clearly expecting a Hampton carry, stacked the box and broke through for a sack that moved Carolina back to the 9. Coach Brown admitted in his postgame presser that he, like many Tar Heels in attendance, temporarily lost his cool with Lindsey on the sideline for trying anything other than the play that had worked all drive long: a Hampton run up the gut. Forced into an obvious pass attempt, Criswell would be sacked again on 3rd down for a loss of 8. Senior K Noah Burnette set up for a 34-yard field goal try which bounced thunderously off the left upright, no good. Wake move up the field briskly on the following drive on short gains and two pass interference calls, one of which was picky and the other entirely phantom. Unlike Texas or LSU fans, the Tar Heel faithful did not throw trash onto the field. UNC’s secondary responded admirably and defended the red zone on the next three downs, holding the Deacs to a 33-yard field goal. The next Tar Heel drive began with a simple run play that resulting in offsetting fouls – holding on UNC and a personal foul after the whistle by Wake. 1st & 10 from the UNC 30 resulted in a 10-yard gain on the ground by Hampton. Hampton then went up the middle for 9 and to the left for 8 before being spelled by RB Davion Gause. Gause gained 9 yards over two plays to bring Carolina to the Wake 34. Hampton went back in for 3rd & 1 and rushed for no gain to end the quarter. Q1: UNC 0, Wake 3

The second quarter commenced with the Tar Heel coaching staff making the easiest decision ever on 4th & 1: Hampton up the middle. He converted and then went right for 26 on the following play to make it 1st & goal at the Wake 7. Hampton picked up short gains on the next two plays before a pass was called on 3rd down. With no open receivers, Criswell hesitated a moment before dashing and leaping for the 4-yard touchdown himself. More comfortable in the pocket than on his feet, it was his third rushing touchdown of the season. Wake began the next drive with a deep shot from QB Hank Bachmeier that was brilliantly broken up in tight coverage by UNC CB Marcus Allen, all of which was negated by an ineligible Demon Deacon downfield. Bachmeier completed a short pass on 1st & 15. On the next two downs, he was forced to scramble under Carolina pressure for negligible gains before Wake had to punt. The Tar Heels, led by a Copenhaver reception and a few Gause carries, drove from their 26 to midfield, then stalled and punted. Wake was pinned at their own 15, but managed to fight through Carolina pressure for some big gains. RB Demond Claiborne barreled straight ahead for a 22. Several snaps later, Bachmeier saved the drive with a 13-yard 3rd down scramble. Wake got down to the UNC 31 when Bachmeier and WR Deuce Alexander failed to connect on 3rd & 6. It got worse for the Deacs, as they committed a holding penalty on the play, which Carolina accepted to push them out of field goal range. When 3rd was replayed, Alexander reeled in the ball for a 4-yard pickup. Wake went for it on 4th down and Bachmeier sought Alexander again, but the pass fell incomplete and UNC took over on downs. Carolina started their drive with a failed deep shot and a holding call that gave them 1st & 20 from the 27. Jacolby Criswell hit true freshman WR Jordan Shipp to gain back the penalty yardage. Then he hit Hampton, then Shipp again to make it into Wake territory. Hampton caught another short ball before the Demon Deacons called a timeout with 31 seconds remaining in the half. WR Nate McCollum grabbed a pass from Criswell at the Wake 21 which he turned into 6 yards more after the catch. On 1st down Tar Heel lineman Willie Lampkin got tagged with his second holding penalty of the drive. Copenhaver secured an 18-yard gain through the air to make it 2nd & 2 at the Wake 7. With only five seconds remaining before halftime, Burnette was sent out to attempt a 24-yard field goal, which he made to stretch the Carolina lead. Q2: UNC 10, Wake 0 (UNC leads 10-3)

Out of the half, Wake tied up the ballgame. Hank Bachmeier rushed for 3 on the first play from scrimmage, but came out of the game with a shoulder injury. Backup senior QB Michael Kern would serve out the rest of the game under center for the Demon Deacons. Kern made a big splash immediately upon taking the field, as WR Donavon Greene turned a short completion into a gain of 28. A pass for 11 to Claiborne followed to give Wake 1st down at the UNC 33. Several short gains and one legitimate UNC pass interference call later, Wake was on the UNC 2 with 1st & goal. On his third touch of the drive, Claiborne took the ball downhill for the score. Carolina’s next possession began as you might expect: a short pickup by Hampton and a pass to Copenhaver that came close to moving the chains. On 3rd down, Hampton provided another highlight for any NFL scouts present with a 38-yard dash up the middle while making two men miss. He followed it up immediately with gains of 10 and 3 to put the Tar Heels on the Wake 15 for 2nd & 7. It would become one of Criswell’s finest plays in Carolina blue. The senior QB went through his reads, rolled to the right, and floated a great ball to the right rear of the end zone which JJ Jones snared in style to put UNC up 17-10. On the extra point, Burnette was run into by an opposing player, but the kick was good and the Heels declined the penalty. Wake RB Tate Carney carried for a short pickup to start the next drive. Kern then hit Greene for a 14-yard gain to move the chains to the Wake 43. Carolina stuffed Carney on the next play as he tried to break left for the edge. Then, Kern overthrew Greene over the middle. On 3rd & 10, four Heels rushed while Power Echols spied at the line of scrimmage. Kern tried again for the middle, but it was picked by a pouncing Echols, who took the right edge and went the distance – all 42 yards of it – for a touchdown. After the pick six, Wake Forest leaned on Claiborne with some success but had to punt after a Kern incompletion on 3rd & 12 at their own 40. The Heels started at their own 15, seemingly ready to put the game away. Hampton lost yardage on 1st down and on 2nd, total disaster struck. In the backfield, Criswell inadvertently bumped Hampton while going into his throwing motion and lost the ball. On the very next play, Kern pitched left to Claiborne, who scurried in for the 7-yard touchdown. Carolina’s next drive was a three-and-out. The Deacs fair caught it at their 42. After a Claiborne rush, Kern attempted a pass under pressure that was intercepted by Marcus Allen. Unfortunately, Carolina, up 24-17, did nothing with it. A UNC punt was followed just as quickly by a Wake punt. The Heels had the ball to end the quarter, which they concluded with a 20-yard reception by JJ Jones and a short gain by Hampton to get near midfield. Q3: UNC 14, Wake 14 (UNC leads 24-17)

The final frame began with a calamity. What was ruled a backwards pass from Criswell was tipped by senior Wake DE Jasheen Davis – who had a highly disruptive 2.5 sack night – and Hampton was forced to gather the ball for a 17-yard loss. The call was reviewed and stood. Criswell, with room to run left, picked up 6 on 3rd & 28. A Tom Maginness punt started Wake on their own 35-yard line. The Deacs ran for short gains and had some success in the short range passing game. On Carolina’s side of the field, Wake Forest would be forced back across the 50 when freshman receiver Micah Mays Jr. was flagged for a face mask. The Demon Deacons sputtered and punted, as did Carolina on their ensuing eight-play drive. Wake, down only a touchdown, set out again from their own 15. Claiborne bulled ahead to give them 2nd & 5. Michael Kern dropped back to launch a pass. The Carolina D line only brought four, but Joshua Harris and Beau Atkinson smashed through, forcing a Kern fumble which was recovered at the Wake 18 by Travis Shaw. The Heels ran five plays, every one a Hampton carry. On 2nd & goal, Hampton hurdled the line and bulldozed tacklers the rest of the way for a tough 6-yard touchdown rush. The Tar Heels led 31-17 as Wake began at their own 25 with 2:26 remaining in regulation. After setting themselves back with a false start, Kern moved the chains with three short tosses to Greene. Junior Wake WR Horatio Fields caught one around the right sideline and fought for an extra yard to move the Deacs up to their 47. Senior WR Taylor Morin, who would finish as Wake Forest’s leading receiver, lined up in the slot and reeled in a ball at the UNC 25 which he took to the 13 for 1st down. Marcus Allen broke up a pass to Greene. Kern then floated one incomplete over the middle of the end zone. On 3rd & 10, Fields snared a ball that should have been a score, but CB Alijah Huzzie tackled decisively to force him out of bounds at the 1-yard line. On the next snap, Greene was flagged for interfering with Marcus Allen in the end zone as both went for the ball. It was a valiant effort by the Carolina defense, but Wake ended up scoring courtesy of a Morin reception in stride in the left corner of the end zone. Looking at a one-score game with 1:15 left on the clock, the Demon Deacons attempted an onside kick. It bounced off a Tar Heel and nearly worked, but Kaimon Rucker fought at the bottom of the pile and recovered to save the day. Needing to kill 1:12 to win, Hampton was predictably charged with carrying the ball. On 2nd & 7, his facemask was tugged by Wake’s Nick Andersen, salting the game away. Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson called his final timeout, but Carolina went victory formation twice to burn the last 1:03 and prevail. Q4: UNC 7, Wake 7 (UNC wins 31-24)

The Bottom Line

Carolina edged Wake in yardage, 362-354, and in 1st downs, 21-19. But the Heels spent ten more minutes with the ball and critically won the turnover battle, 3-1. Each team was comparable on 3rd down, in team completion percentage, and penalties (way too many on both teams). Those two interceptions thrown by Wake’s Michael Kern, along with the effectiveness of Omarion Hampton on the ground, and some timely plays by the Tar Heel defense are what made the difference. Jacolby Criswell played an ok game, complimentary to the 244 yards supplied on the ground by Hampton.

Fumbling at your own 7-yard line is the sort of thing that should cost you a game. Fortunately for the Tar Heels, Wake made mistakes of its own. But far beyond that, Carolina has grown and learned how to better deal with adversity. The Heels never buckled, in spite of Wake tying the game after the half and cutting Carolina’s lead from 14 to seven twice. UNC has looked better in its previous two games than they did Saturday. There were more mistakes by Carolina, yes, but in large part this game looked different because Virginia and FSU are terrible. Wake isn’t great, but they’d be a bowl team if their schedule had broken just a hair lighter. It’s outstanding that the Tar Heels were able to pass this test because their last two games – and almost certainly their bowl opponent – will compete as well or better than the Demon Deacons. The two programs Carolina regained its confidence against on the road are the worst the Heels should play until next Fall.

Wake Forest is looking at a treacherous path forward. Next weekend, they go to no. 8 Miami before returning to Winston-Salem to close the season against Duke. Undoubtedly, the Demon Deacons will be underdogs in both games. Carolina, on the other hand is now only concerned with what quality of bowl they’ll get sent to and what the results of the final three games might mean for the coaching staff in Chapel Hill. The Heels pay a visit to 5-5 Boston College before taking on NC State in Kenan.

Up Next

UNC travels to Chestnut Hill, MA to face Boston College Saturday (11/23) at noon. The Heels are slightly favored. Wake Forest also has a noon road game on Saturday, in Coral Gables, FL against no. 8 Miami – the nation’s top offense – to whom they opened as 24-point underdogs.