PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Michael Carter keyed the success North Carolina had rushing the ball with 148 of the team total of 315 yards in the loss Duke. In recording the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career, the sophomore’s two-year total went to 1,109 yards in his 18 career games with 550 coming in seven games this season. He also had eight catches for 32 yards against Duke.
–WR Dazz Newsome recorded the longest rushing touchdown against the Blue Devils with an 84-yard touchdown run that goes down as the sixth-longest in Tar Heels’ program history. That’s more yardage than the 66 he gained on six receptions in the game and gives him 98 yards on nine rushes for the season.
–DE Malik Carney leads the Tar Heels in sacks with 5.5 and tackles for loss with 10 despite missing three games to a suspension related to the selling of school-issued shoes. He didn’t have a sack in the loss to Duke but was credited with a tackle for loss and forcing a fumble that he recovered to stop a Blue Devil excursion into North Carolina territory.
–LB Cole Holcomb once again led the North Carolina defense with a game-high 12 tackles. That gives the former walk-on 316 tackles in his career.
SERIES HISTORY: North Carolina leads Western Carolina 1-0. North Carolina won the only meeting 65-10 in 2017.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “The biggest thing was the penalties. You convert a couple of those third downs and they get called back, or you convert a big play right there before half and you get it called back, stuff like that is so frustrating.” — QB Nathan Elliott, after the Tar Heels were penalized 10 times for 115 yards in the loss to Duke.
