Tag: College football

UNC rallies for huge win over Pitt to take control of Coastal race

CHAPEL HILL — No matter how many mistakes Carolina’s defense makes, redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye always seems to find a way. It sure helps to have two dynamic wide receivers in senior Antoine Green and junior Josh Downs. Once again, the No. 21 Tar Heels’ defense made enough big second-half plays to keep the momentum going on what is developing into a season that might be special.

Heels move up in AP poll, benefit in Coastal race from Pitt’s loss

North Carolina’s football team, which moved up one spot to No. 21 in the AP Top 25, didn’t play this weekend but the Tar Heels’ potential path to the ACC championship game got a bit easier. Louisville provided help by winning 24–10 at home Saturday against Pittsburgh, which gives the Tar Heels (6–1, 3–0 ACC) a two-game lead in the loss column over their closest competitors in the race to be the final ACC Coastal Division champion.

Brown used an offense that’s better than the defense, but says the defense is ‘catching up’

Coach Mack Brown has grown accustomed during his second stint as Carolina’s coach to having an offense that’s much better than his defense. That hasn’t changed through the Tar Heels’ 5–1 start, particularly considering that the offense has talented, skilled players such as quarterback Drake Maye and receivers Josh Downs and Antoine Green.

UNC’s defense makes enough big plays as Heels alone atop Coastal with win

After its best performance of the season a week earlier, Carolina’s defense went through its share of struggles Saturday at Miami. But that unit made enough big plays to keep the Tar Heels in control on a day that Caleb Hood emerged as their main running back. With Carolina’s 27–24 win in Miami Gardens, Fla., the Tar Heels (5–1) are alone atop of the ACC Coastal Division at 2–0 and learned how to win when quarterback Drake Maye wasn’t always on top of his game.

Irish’s offense goes from struggling to dominating UNC’s beleaguered defense

CHAPEL HILL — On a day that started with Carolina’s defense looking like it had finally gotten its act together, the Tar Heels quickly helped a previously inept Notre Dame offense have its best game of the season. UNC was manhandled on the line after holding the Irish to 40 first-quarter yards, and the number of blown coverage by the defense easily outnumbered the big plays it made.

Maye, RBs impress as much as defense disappoints in UNC win

CHAPEL HILL — Drake Maye quickly threw away any concerns about Carolina’s quarterback situation after Sam Howell’s departure, and the Tar Heels’ young running backs looked impressive. Still, other worries from last season popped up against a short-handed FCS team Saturday. While Maye looked poised and polished, his offensive line wasn’t much better than the one Howell played with at times. Although the defense made some big plays, it couldn’t contain the passing game of a Florida A&M team missing three starters and many top reserves much of the night.

Maye to start for UNC at QB in opener but Criswell will also play

Ultimately, the legacy quarterback who flipped his original commitment from powerhouse Alabama won Carolina’s starting quarterback battle. Redshirt Drake Maye, the brother of former basketball star Luke Maye (2015–19) and the son of former quarterback Mark Maye (1983–88), will start Saturday’s 8:15 p.m. season opener against Florida A&M (ACC Network), getting the nod in a close competition with Jacolby Criswell.