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UNC Football: Carter, Tar Heels roll past WCU on Senior Day

By Zack Pearson

Dec 5, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Michael Carter (8) runs for a touchdown as Western Carolina Catamounts linebacker Trevor Childers (27) defends in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Michael Carter (8) runs for a touchdown as Western Carolina Catamounts linebacker Trevor Childers (27) defends in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UNC Football team routed Western Carolina on Senior Day to close out their home schedule for the 2020 college football season

It will be a Senior Day that Michael Carter and his fellow seniors will never forget as part of the UNC Football program.

North Carolina got off to a fast start against Western Carolina on Saturday, jumping out to a 14-3 lead early on and never looked back. A big first half helped propel the Tar Heels to a 49-9 win as they improved to 7-3 overall with just one game left in the regular season.

After Carter rushed for a 17-yard touchdown on the Tar Heels’ first drive, Western Carolina answered with a field goal on an impressive drive. But that’s the closest they would get all game.

UNC scored the next 42 points in the game jumping out to a 42-3 lead as they rested starters later on. That 42-point outburst included two more touchdowns from Carter on the ground as well as two touchdown passes from Howell. The quarterback hit Antoine Green for a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter for a 14-3 lead, and after Carter and Javonte Williams added touchdown runs to extend the lead, Howell then found Dazz Newsome for a 26-yard touchdown pass with just 49 seconds left in the first half to push UNC’s halftime lead to 42-3.

The Tar Heels’ offensive output was once again led by quarterback Sam Howell who completed 20 of his 23 attempts for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the game. With his performance, Howell ties quarterback Brynn Renner for the second-most passing touchdowns in UNC football history at 64.

Howell is just four touchdowns away from tying the program record of 68 set by Darian Durant.

In the second half, UNC got a touchdown run by freshman D.J. Jones to push their lead to 49-3 in the game. Western Carolina would add a strip sack on Jace Ruder for a score but the extra point was blocked.

Ruder, Jacolby Criswell and Jefferson Boaz all took snaps at quarterback in the second half as Howell sat the entire final two quarters.

Carter rushed for 73 yards on 8 carries but did find the end zone 3 times in the game, while Williams had just 3 attempts for a total of 8 yards, rushing for one touchdown. The duo barely played in the second half as the Tar Heels decided to pull their starters and go to reserves for the final two quarters.

Next up for the Tar Heels is a road showdown at No. 9 Miami. The game will have Orange Bowl implications as Miami enters tonight’s matchup with Duke with just one loss. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 17 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and would need to jump Miami to earn that Orange Bowl bid.

Next. UNC Football sets series with Purdue. dark

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