UNC Football: Tar Heels use dominant run game to destroy Hurricanes

The North Carolina Tar Heels absolutely destroyed the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday.

Coming into the Tar Heels game against the Hurricane on Saturday, most people probably expected a lot of points. Those people would not have been disappointed, but they might be surprised that one team had so many more than the other. UNC football never looked so beautiful as North Carolina defeated Miami 62-26.

Maybe the best aspect of the game was how the Tar Heels simply dominated the Hurricanes defense from the opening drive by overpowering Miami by running the ball. Quarterback Sam Howell was fine – he did make a great touchdown throw side-armed for a touchdown, though –  but nearly anyone else could have played quarterback for the Tar Heels, handed the ball off and watched as whatever running back got the ball run for a huge gain.

North Carolina didn’t have a drive that resulted in zero points until late in the third quarter when kicker Grayson Atkins missed a makeable field goal.

But no worries as on the next drive North Carolina scored on third and goal when receiver Rontavius Groves threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Howell to make it 48-18. Don’t worry. I didn’t mistype that. That was just the kind of game it was for North Carolina – a receiver completed a touchdown pass to a receiver.

Before the end of the third quarter, both Michael Carter and Javonte Williams had over 200 yards rushing. Carter finished with 308 yards rushing. 308. Williams finished with 236 yards. This means North Carolina’s two main tailbacks alone accounted for more than 500 yards rushing. This was a thrashing that Tar Heel fans should not soon forget. Or maybe should just get used to.

See, this game was not all about the offensive greatness of UNC football. North Carolina’s defense was tremendous for most of the game. In fact, the best thing about this game is that it showed that next year North Carolina’s oft-maligned defense could be really good.

Sure, the Tar Heels did give up some points in the, mostly meaningless, second half. But when the game was still in doubt the Tar Heels defense was very good. The defense is so young that there were going to be growing pains this season. But on Saturday we saw how players like Ja’Qurious Conley (who seemed to injury late in the game) are going to be difference makers in their collegiate careers. Maybe even enough so to put North Carolina into national title competition.

This game, however, was a complete domination by the Tar Heels. North Carolina is now 8-3 and likely headed to the Orange Bowl on January 2nd.

They out-gained Miami 767 yards to 314. It was the best North Carolina has looked against a top-ten ranked team since…well, maybe ever. And 2021 is looking very bright for Tar Heels football.

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