North Carolina Snaps Their Three Game Losing Streak As They Beat Georgia Tech

After losing three straight games that included losses to Wake Forest, Appalachian State and Clemson North Carolina got back in the win column in Atlanta against Georgia Tech.

- Sam Howell threw four touchdown passes and North Carolina suffered no letdown from last week's narrow loss to the nation's No. 1 team, snapping a three-game losing streak with a 38-22 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/10/5/football-carolina-downs-georgia-tech-on-the-road-38-22.aspx

Howell, a freshman making his sixth career start, completed 33 of 51 passes for a career-high 376 yards as North Carolina piled up a season-high 587 yards of total offense and Javonte Williams ran 17 times for a career-high 138 yards and a TD.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/10/5/football-carolina-downs-georgia-tech-on-the-road-38-22.aspx

The Tar Heels (3-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) won the game convincingly, going up 24-7 early in the final period on Howell's 18-yard TD pass to Dyami Brown in the left corner of the end zone and 31-15 on the next possession when tight end Garrett Watson caught a short pass near the right sideline and scored a 16-yard touchdown. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/10/5/football-carolina-downs-georgia-tech-on-the-road-38-22.aspx

Georgia Tech (1-4, 0-2) has lost three straight with the nation's lowest-scoring offense and had gone seven quarters without a touchdown before cutting the lead to 17-7 in the third quarter. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/10/5/football-carolina-downs-georgia-tech-on-the-road-38-22.aspx

Redshirt freshman James Graham made his first career start for the Yellow Jackets and shared early snaps with running QB Tobias Oliver. The offense took a big blow early in the second when Graham threw a deep interception to Don Chapman at the Tar Heel 32. North Carolina scored its first touchdown on the ensuing drive.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/10/5/football-carolina-downs-georgia-tech-on-the-road-38-22.aspx

North Carolina led 17-0 at halftime on Noah Ruggles' 32-yard field goal, Dazz Newsome's 20-yard touchdown catch and Beau Corrales' 6-yard TD reception. Outside linebacker Tomon Fox had a sack in the second and nose tackle Aaron Crawford had a sack in the third. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/10/5/football-carolina-downs-georgia-tech-on-the-road-38-22.aspx

Meanwhile Georgia Tech suffered their third straight loss.

Georgia Tech exploded for 227 yards of offense and 22 points in the second half but it wasn’t enough to overcome a slow offensive start and an inefficient third-down defense, as the Yellow Jackets dropped a 38-22 decision to North Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

After being limited to 94 yards of offense in a scoreless first half, Georgia Tech put together one of its best offensive halves of the season after the break. In addition to racking up 227 of their 321 total yards, the Yellow Jackets scored touchdowns on three of their first six possessions after the break. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

However, Georgia Tech’s offensive outburst was offset by an inability to get off the field defensively, as North Carolina converted 12-of-20 third- and fourth-down attempts. Five of UNC’s 12 conversions came with nine yards or more to go for a first down. Conversely, Tech converted just 4-of-11 third downs. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Both the Yellow Jackets and the Tar Heels averaged 6.1 yards per play for the game, but UNC’s ability to convert third downs led to the Heels running 44 more plays than the Jackets (97 to 53). “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Making his first-career start, redshirt freshman quarterback James Graham accounted for 219 yards of total offense for Georgia Tech — 171 yards and two touchdowns through the air and 48 yards on the ground. Running back Jordan Mason led the Yellow Jackets with 62 rushing yards on just eight carries (7.8 avg.) and, also making the first start of his career, sophomore wideout Adonicas Sanders led Tech with three receptions for 67 yards.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Mason (2-yard run), Malachi Carter (28-yard reception) and Ahmarean Brown (32-yard reception) scored the Jackets’ three touchdowns.”according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

Defensively, junior linebacker David Curry led Tech with a career-high 16 tackles. As a team, the Jackets accounted for seven tackles for loss. “according to https://ramblinwreck.com/jackets-fall-to-carolina-38-22/

North Carolina will head to Blacksburg next Saturday to play Virginia Tech.