North Carolina Routes Western Carolina On Senior Day In Chapel Hill

The game on senior day in Chapel Hill at Kenan Memorial Stadium was no contest at all as North Carolina routed Western Carolina who is a member of the Southern Conference.

With the win North Carolina improved to 3-8 on the season while Western Carolina dropped to 7-5 on the season.

North Carolina quarterback Nathan Elliott could feel the momentum, both in a game-changing second quarter Saturday and a possibly redemptive November for the Tar Heels. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

Elliott, a sophomore making his second start, threw four first-half touchdown passes as UNC cruised past Western Carolina 65-10. The victory gives the Tar Heels (3-8) their first win streak of what has been a disappointing season, one that would look far better if UNC could continue the winning next weekend at rival N.C. State. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

Elliott credits the senior class, which played its last game in Kenan Stadium, with keeping the Tar Heels on task despite falling to 1-8 on Oct. 28 with a 24-19 loss to unbeaten Miami. "according tohttp://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

"They have kept this team together this year when we were falling apart," he said. "I cannot thank them enough, and I am glad we were able to send them out the right way." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

North Carolina scored 21 points in a span of 2 minutes, 46 seconds in the second quarter to take control against the outmanned Catamounts. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

After punting on its first possession, UNC scored six touchdowns the next six times it touched the ball, including a 28-yard fumble return by Jonathan Smith for a 28-7 lead. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

Josh Cabrera caught two touchdown passes in the second quarter to stake the Tar Heels to a 42-7 halftime lead. Elliott, who had a first-half streak of 10 10.consecutive completions, finished 18 of 28 passing for 240 yards and no turnovers. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

"You just keep building off it, you could feel the momentum," Elliott said. "We were going out there just expecting to score." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

Michael Carter had 16 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown for the Tar Heels, who outgained the Catamounts 231-32 in the second quarter. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

Western Carolina (7-5), a member of the Football Championship Subdivision, led 7-0 on Connell Young's 1-yard reception but found little success after that in dropping to 0-54 all-time against Football Bowl Subdivision teams. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

THE TAKEAWAY

Western Carolina: The Catamounts had North Carolina grasping at air early behind the nifty moves of quarterback Tyrie Adams. But We stern Carolina couldn't slow the UNC offense and fell to 0-29 all-time against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Detrez Newsome led the Catamounts with 107 yards on 26 carries, putting him over the 1,000-yard mark for the third consecutive season. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

North Carolina: The Tar Heels, who outgained WCU 611-304, were uplifted by the return of senior wide receiver Austin Proehl . Playing for the first time since Sept. 23 against Duke, Proehl had three catches for 52 yards. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

"He got healthy, and the doctors released him," UNC coach Larry Fedora  said. "He's been wanting to play for a while, and each time they were checking him out, they weren't going to release him. So finally on Tuesday we got the word they were going to release him. He wanted to get back out there with his teammates." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

KEY PLAY

The Tar Heels led 21-7 but had trouble early containing Adams, who rushed eight times for 49 yards in the first half. One way to stop a good runner? Make him fumble. Malik Carney  dislodged the ball and Smith picked it up for a score early in the second quarter. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

NO FCS STRUGGLES

North Carolina under Fedora has not allowed lower-division teams much of a chance. The Tar Heels improved to 8-0 in his tenure against FCS teams or those making the transition to FBS, as Old Dominion was doing in 2013. The average score in those games, all at home, is 57-15. UNC has surpassed 50 points in those games six times. North Carolina's last loss to an FCS team was against Furman in 1999. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/18/football-tar-heels-roll-past-catamounts-65-10.aspx

North Carolina will now close out  their season as they visit tobacco road rival NC State Saturday.

Kick-off is set for 3:30pm. The game will be televised on ESPN2 or  ESPNU. "according to http://www.goheels.com/schedule.aspx?path=football