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UNC Football: Tar Heels rally to beat South Carolina in opener

By Zack Pearson

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 31: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a score against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the Belk College Kickoff game at Bank of America Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 31: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a score against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the Belk College Kickoff game at Bank of America Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Tar Heels rally to stun South Carolina in Week 1 on Saturday, picking up a big win to start the 2019 college football season

Mack Brown is back, folks.

The head coach began his second stint as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels and he opened it up with a huge comeback win on Saturday. The Tar Heels rallied from an 11-point deficit in the second half to stun the Gamecocks 24-20 in Charlotte, ending their streak of 10-straight losses to Power 5 schools in the season opener.

UNC’s comeback was powered by true freshman Sam Howell who led back-to-back scoring drives of 95-plus yards on 7 plays each for touchdowns in the second half. The first drive started at their own 2-yard line and ended with a 22 yard touchdown pass to Dyami Brown on a spectacular grab.

A two-point conversion cut South Carolina’s lead down to just three at 20-17. After a stand by the defense, UNC then went on a 95-yard scoring drive capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Howell to Beau Corrales.

From there, the defense stepped up big time.

South Carolina would have four possessions to try and score a touchdown to take the lead in the final 10 minutes but UNC’s defense stood its ground and forced two turnovers on those three drives.

The first drive ended on a sack from Aaron Crawford, forcing the Gamecocks to go three-and-out and punt the football back to UNC with 6:57 left. Then on the next Gamecocks drive, safety Myles Wolfolk picked off Jake Bentley to end the drive.

Wolfolk would pick Bentley off one more time with just 1:43 left all but sealing it for the Tar Heels.

With possession, UNC ran the clock down to 11 seconds when they kneeled on fourth down at their own 47 yard line, giving the Gamecocks one more play. But the Tar Heels defense came up big again with a sack from Chazz Surratt and Tomari Fox to end it.

Following the game, Brown spoke with ESPN reporters and choked up about his team’s performance, getting him the big win. It was a special moment and one the head coach will remember forever.

Howell finished the game 15-of-24 for 245 yards, two touchdowns and a fumble. After a slow start in the first half, the freshman rebounded to deliver a big second half performance and lead the Tar Heels to the win.

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UNC will host Miami next Saturday night in the home opener at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

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