UNC Football: Huzzie’s big day leads Tar Heels to conference win

Alijah Huzzie played a major role on both special teams and defense en route to the UNC football program’s first conference win of the 2023 season.

For the first time since 1997, the UNC football program has started the regular season with a perfect 4-0 record.

The Tar Heels started conference play with a bang as they defeated Pittsburgh on the road on Saturday night at Heinz Field.

Although the final score indicates a blowout, it certainly wasn’t early on. Pittsburgh scored on its opening possession right away, eating up eight minutes of the game clock to begin the first quarter. The Tar Heels would respond right away with a score of their own but found themselves trailing 14-7 after the Panthers scored on the ensuing drive.

From there, it was simply all North Carolina.

Before the first half came to an end, the Tar Heels outscored the Panthers 21-3. Drake Maye started the rally with a one-yard score, followed by a 52-yard punt return by Alijah Huzzie (the program’s first punt return score since 2018). Maye capped off the half by connecting with Kobe Paysour with a left-handed (yes, left-handed) touchdown pass) to give the Tar Heels an 11-point lead heading into the locker rooms.

The second half essentially started the same way as the Tar Heels second quarter rally did, as Maye scored his second rushing touchdown to cap off an eight-play, 75-yard drive that essentially put the game out of reach.

Huzzie was the clear star of the show for North Carolina, as he not only had the punt return for a score but also recorded two interceptions. He also returned another punt for good yardage that gave the Tar Heels offense some great field position to work with.

As Wes Durham said on the ACC Network’s broadcast, Huzzie did everything but “hand out soft drinks” in this one.

North Carolina’s defense struggled early but stepped it up as the game went on.

Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec left the game late in the second quarter after taking a hit from Tayon Halloway (one which resulted in a targeting call along with an ejection).

Backup quarterback Christian Veilleux struggled to get in a rhythm, as the Tar Heels defense made life difficult for the Panthers’ offense over the final two-quarters of play.

Offensively, JJ Jones recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game, as Maye finished the night just short of the 300-yard passing mark. Maye did take a big hit on a trick play during the second quarter but was able to return to the game after missing just one play.

It wasn’t perfect, but the UNC football program got the job done. They’ll be off next week before hosting Syracuse in another ACC contest two weeks from today.

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