UNC Football: Tar Heels top Georgia State behind strong second half

The UNC football program bested the Georgia State Panthers behind five Sam Howell touchdowns and a strong second half performance.

After a troubling start that saw the Tar Heels take an 11-point lead into halftime, North Carolina put on a dominant second half performance en route to a 59-17 victory over the Georgia State Panthers at Kenan Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

Sam Howell completed 21-of-29 passes on the night for 352 yards and three touchdowns. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 11 carries and a game-high 104 yards on the ground. He added two scores on the ground for a total of five on the night, including an impressive 62-yard scamper that capped off a three-score third quarter.

Backup quarterback Jacolby Criswell also got in on the action in the fourth quarter after Howell sat down with a commanding lead and time winding down. He hurled the first touchdown of his young career, a 47-yard strike to freshman tight end Bryson Nesbit.

Other North Carolina receivers to get involved in the action on Saturday night include Antoine Green (three catches for 119 yards and a touchdown), Emery Simmons (three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown), Josh Downs (eight catches for 73 yards and a touchdown) and Kamari Morales (four catches for 42 yards). Four other Tar Heels had one catch against the Panthers.

As for the Tar Heels’ ground attack, things certainly could have been better. Outside of Howell’s big rushing performance, North Carolina mustered just 97 yards on the ground. Ty Chandler had a difficult time making much happen behind an offensive line that’s been incredibly suspect to begin the season, but he did manage 58 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

The Tar Heels had 607 yards of total offense to the Panthers’ 271. Georgia State gained 181 yards on the ground, but accumulated just 90 yards through the air. Senior quarterback Cornelius Brown IV had one of the team’s two touchdowns, a 4-yard second quarter run that pulled his team to within striking distance at 21-10. He had just 17 yards on nine carries, though, and 68 passing yards and an interception on a difficult 12-for-26 passing game. Both teams turned the ball over just once on the game, and time of possession was just a 34-second advantage in favor of the Panthers.

The Tar Heels will be back in action next Saturday when they host the 2-0 Virginia Cavaliers in search of their first ACC victory of the young season.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC football program.