UNC Football: Helmet stickers for win over South Carolina

The UNC Football program opened up the second Mack Brown era in a big way on Saturday as they moved to 1-0 on the year. We are handing out our helmet stickers for the big win.

Still feeling good about the North Carolina Tar Heels win over South Carolina on Saturday in Charlotte? Well, you’re not alone.

Before we turn the page to the Miami Hurricanes, we wanted to look back on the big opening season win vs. the Gamecocks on Saturday. Things started off slow for the Tar Heels in the first half, kicking two field goals and trailing the Gamecocks 13-6 at halftime.

To start the second half, UNC added a field goal but fell behind by 11 in the third quarter. Then the comeback happened.

The Tar Heels rallied to outscored the gamecocks 15-0 in the fourth quarter and steal a season opening win to end their long streak of losing openers to Power 5 teams. It wasn’t just any win though, it was a big one to usher in the second stint of the Mack Brown era and it now has the Tar Heels feeling really good about themselves.

Let’s had out some helmet stickers for Saturday’s big win in Charlotte:

QB Sam Howell

The Tar Heels started true freshman Sam Howell for Saturday’s matchup and things got off to a slow-ish start in that first half. Despite making two red zone trips the Tar Heels ran the ball on 3rd and 8 and 3rd and 7 in the red zone, opting not to let Howell pass it. They settled for field goals and fell behind.

But in the second half, things changed.

The playbook opened up a bit more for Howell and UNC let him throw the ball down the field more often. It worked as Howell found his receivers and made some impressive throws down the field.

He even had this throw which somehow found his receiver:

Howell finished the game with 245 passing yards, two touchdowns and a 62.5 completion percentage in his first start. Not bad at all.

But what may have been his most impressive feat was leading the Tar Heels on touchdown scoring drives of 98 and 95 yards in the second half. Howell should poise as he marched the Tar Heels down the field against a talented SEC defense.

If Saturday’s game was anything close to what we are going to get from Howell this season, then the Tar Heels will be in great shape moving forward.

DB Myles Wolfolk

We got our first look at UNC’s new “Turnover Belt” in the second half of Saturday’s game thanks to junior defensive back Myles Wolkfolk’s interception with 2:47 left at the UNC 10 yard line. But it didn’t take Wolfolk long to bust out the belt again.

With 1:43 left, Wolkfolk picked off quarterback Jake Bentley for the second time in the half, ending another Gamecocks drive that could have given them the lead.

The Tar Heels had a depleted secondary for most of the game and even had a true freshman in Storm Duck getting some serious run. But when it came down to it, the junior stepped up and made not one but two big plays to help seal the win for the Tar Heels.

The running backs

Boy, it’s going to be fun watching this UNC backfield get to work this year.

The Tar Heels have a loaded backfield this year with not one, not two but three running backs that all can carry the rock for big yards. Starter Michael Carter got the tone set early on busting off some big runs and was a factor in the receiving games as well.

But spelling him was Javonte Williams and Antonio Williams, both who had solid games. UNC’s mix back there will be something to watch all season long and it will help take the pressure off Howell at times.

Javonte Williams finished the game with 102 yards on 18 carries while Carter finished with 77 on 16. Antonio Williams had just 4 carries but finished with an impressive 53 yards, averaging 13.3 yards per carry.

Coach Mack Brown

Mack is back!

What a way to usher in the second head coaching stint for Brown. The Tar Heels are 1-0 and even got a vote in the AP Top 25 poll on Tuesday afternoon.

Brown’s first win in this stint came in a big way as it ended a drought of 22 years since the Tar Heels have beaten a Power 5 team in the opener. Year after year we have seen the Tar Heels fail to do that, with disappointing losses to South Carolina, Georgia and Cal twice in the past five years.

But things appear to be changing for the better in Chapel Hill. Mack has these players believing in this team that is young but talented.

Now can he keep that momentum going into the Miami game?