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UNC Football: Tar Heels fall short vs Notre Dame

By Zack Pearson

Nov 27, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs for a touchdown ias Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Drew White (40) and cornerback Nick McCloud (4) defendn the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs for a touchdown ias Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Drew White (40) and cornerback Nick McCloud (4) defendn the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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"The UNC Football program fell short in their prime time showdown with No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday"

For the second straight year the UNC Football team had a chance to make a statement at home against a Top 5 team. But for the second-straight year they fell short.

While Mack Brown’s team is making progress, they are still coming up short in big games and Friday’s 31-17 loss to Notre Dame was the latest example.

The Tar Heels got the scoring started on their first offensive possession as Howell hit receiver Emory Simmons for a touchdown in the corner of the end zone on third down. Notre Dame would answer with a touchdown drive of their own to tie it at 7.

The two teams then exchanged touchdown drives on the next two possessions to even it it up at 14 all. After a few defensive stands by both teams, UNC was able to take a lot off the clock in the second quarter and get a field goal before the half.

But Notre Dame answered back with a field goal of their own aided by a questionable holding call on their final drive of the first half. The two teams went into the break tied at 17.

In the second half, it was all Notre Dame.

The Irish forced a UNC punt on their first offensive possession and then marched down the field aided by a bad offsides call with Notre Dame facing a fourth and one inside their own 25 yard line. The penalty kept the drive alive and the Irish eventually found themselves in the end zone to take a 24-17 lead. They would add another touchdown late in the game to seal it as UNC’s offense couldn’t get going.

The Tar Heels were held to 298 total yards, which was 275 fewer than their season average going into the game. Notre Dame did a heck of a job slowing down Howell and UNC’s offense forcing four punts and a turnover on downs in the second half. It was the worst second half of the year for UNC.

Howell finished with 211 passing yards and 1 touchdown as he couldn’t get in sync in that second half. Credit to Notre Dame’s defense which is one of the best in the country.

These are the types of games UNC will have to go through to get to where they want to be. It hurts but they fought hard and soon enough will close these games out.

Next up is a 0-2 Western Carolina team in Chapel Hill next weekend.

For more on the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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