App State pushed North Carolina to its limit.
Another classic between these two schools resulted in a Tar Heel win. The last three games of this series have all been very close, with each game being won by six points or less. Last night’s game went to double overtime, where North Carolina stood tough on the final possession. This will be a weekly series for as long as we are at the game!
Pregame
There was a buzz beforehand, with this being North Carolina’s home opener. The fans were ready to go, and even though it was raining, a majority of the fans were in their seats before kickoff. The student section was completely full, and they were loud. Before Mack Brown came back, the crowd would not have shown up like this on a day with soggy weather. The crowd was at least 80% North Carolina fans, which is much better than what it was in 2019 when the Mountaineers visited.
Gametime
The weather did have a bit of an impact. Energy was low for a lot of the game. The crowd, outside of the student section, did not seem very into the game until the fourth quarter. The Heels got off to a slow start with some questionable decisions on offense. Going wildcat formation and taking the ball out of your Heisman quarterback’s hands resulted in two failed attempts to get a first down. Not only did that leave points on the board, but it also gave momentum to App State. The two teams went back and forth throughout the game. In the fourth, the two hit each other with all they had, trading the lead. After App State tied it with under two minutes to go, the Tar Heels drove the field, setting up kicker Ryan Coe for a game-winner. He was iced by both the opponent and the officials for nearly 10 minutes. That resulted in a missed kick as time expired, sending the game to overtime. App State scored quickly in the first extra period, but UNC did not back down, doing the same. When the second overtime started, North Carolina got down the field before Drake Maye pulled an option handoff and ran it in. When App State got the ball with a chance to win, the Tar Heels defense stood tall, closing the door on the Mountaineers and pulling out the win.
Following the Game
Following the game, emotions were high. Being 2-0 is exactly where you want to be at this point. However, there is still uncertainty. The defense did not get to the quarterback like they did against South Carolina. The offense made multiple mistakes, leading to it being a close game. Drake Maye did not throw for a touchdown, which is a rarity. There is a lot to be answered, and you could tell the fans felt that way leaving Kenan Memorial Stadium.
We will know who this team is after they face off with Minnesota next week.
