Penalties were an absolute killer
We've spoken enough of about North Carolina's defense, or lack thereof. Ultimately, this game came down to one possession, and all of the underlying metrics were close. UNC out-gained NC State 468 yards to 462. They had six tackles for loss apiece. UNC had two fumbles versus the one interception for NC State, but the second fumble was on the last play of the game. So what accounts for the difference in play?
Penalties that killed drives are the most glaring statistic. North Carolina was whistled for nine penalties that set them back 94 yards. In the first quarter, Omarion Hampton had an 18-yard run whittled down due to an illegal block from J.J. Jones. That drive ended in a punt in three more snaps. On UNC's last drive of the first quarter, a promising seven-yard run from Hampton was wiped out for a holding penalty, and UNC punted after a three-and-out.
Hampton is capable of many things, as he showed last night. But asking him to make up yards in a drive when you pile on 15 more yards to the stick is asking an awful lot.