UNC football holds off App State in 2OT. Three takeaways from the Tar Heels’ 40-34 win
After a deluge of rain in the Triangle on Saturday morning and early afternoon, North Carolina took the field with dry conditions and a pleasant 70-degree temperature later in the day at Kenan Stadium.
That lasted only about a half, but those who stuck through some later inclement weather — and that was almost everyone — were treated to some extra football.
In UNC’s home-opener, the Tar Heels missed a field goal as time expired in regulation, but on the back of workhorse Omarion Hampton rumbled for a touchdown in each of the two overtimes Saturday to hold off Appalachian State, 40-34, in the second consecutive thriller between the clubs in the past two seasons.
Hampton finished with 26 carries for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Drake Maye went 21-for-30 for 208 yards. He didn’t have a passing TD, but his one rushing TD was the winner in the second overtime.
Here are three more takeaways from Saturday’s game:
Maye is Maye
It was the kind of play NFL types like to see when eyeing the college guys and especially QBs. After UNC fell behind ASU, 24-20, in the fourth quarter, Maye teamed up with J.J. Jones on a 57-yard pass play that set up a go-ahead touchdown.
The protection was good and Jones was open crossing over the middle deep. Maye’s throw had plenty of Joe Burrow-like zip and crispness to it. Hampton, having a career day with 234 yards rushing and three scores, took it from there, bulling his way to the end zone from seven yards on the next play.
Maye will not have wide receiver Tez Walker this season. Wideout Nate McCollum has been slowed by an injury but did dress Saturday. Running back British Brooks was not available because of a lower body injury.
But Maye is Maye. After a very pedestrian first half — 43 yards passing — Maye properly used the weapons available to him in the second half and overtimes and got the win. That’s all he wanted.
App State finds a QB
Mountaineers coach Shawn Clark noted this week that quarterback Joey Aguilar was one of those cool California guys who liked to sling the ball around and didn’t get rattled.
That sounded a little like coachspeak. Aguilar, a junior college transfer from Diablo Valley College in Northern California, would be making his first start Saturday against the 17th-ranked Heels, on the road. It would be against a team that sacked South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler nine times a week ago.
But Aguilar’s quick release on his throws didn’t allow the Heels to get close enough in the pocket for much of the game. Agile at 6-4 and 220 pounds, Aguilar also had some timely runs for the Mountaineers. He’s a good one.
UNC defense gets job done
App State didn’t score 61 points this time. The Mountaineers moved the ball and scored points and had some explosive plays, but the UNC defense made just enough plays that counted.
One of the biggest: Don Chapman’s pick of an Aguilar pass in the third quarter. LInebacker Ced Gray pressured Aguilar as he rolled out of the pocket and Chatman stepped in near the left sideline for the interception.
The sacks weren’t there this night but UNC’s defense did enough to win it, stopping App State in the second overtime.
This story was originally published September 9, 2023 at 4:45 PM with the headline "UNC football holds off App State in 2OT. Three takeaways from the Tar Heels’ 40-34 win."
