North Carolina Finishes The Season On High Note With Win Over Temple At The Military Bowl In Annapolis Maryland

North Carolina who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference left Annapolis Maryland with a win in the Military Bowl to finish their season on a high note.

Freshman Sam Howell threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in addition to catching a TD pass, and North Carolina blew out Temple 55-13 in the Military Bowl on Friday to cap a satisfying return season for coach Mack Brown. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

Howell completed 25 of 34 passes and ran for 53 yards on three carries to help the Tar Heels (7-6) secure their first bowl victory since 2013. North Carolina was 4-6 before winning its last two regular-season games to qualify for a bowl bid.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

Closing out a sensational debut season at the college level, Howell threw a pair of touchdown passes before halftime to stake the Tar Heels to a 20-6 lead. UNC pulled away early in the third quarter by scoring two touchdowns in a 12-second span, the last on a 20-yard interception return by Storm Duck.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

Howell completed the third-quarter blitz by catching a 2-yard TD pass from wide receiver Rontavius Groves at the end of a razzle-dazzle reverse to make it 41-6.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

Howell threw 38 touchdown passes this season, most by a true freshman in FBS history. His 3,641 yards passing are an Atlantic Coast Conference record for a freshman who has not redshirted.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

North Carolina missed a 50-yard field goal on its first possession, then covered 63 yards on two plays for a 7-0 lead. Howell ran for 24 yards before connecting with Dyami Brown in the left corner for a 39-yard score.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

It was 10-0 before the Owls used a 60-yard pass from Anthony Russo to Jadan Blue to set up a short touchdown run. The conversion was blocked.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

The Tar Heels then moved 75 yards on eight plays, going up 17-6 when Dazz Newsome got behind safety Amir Tyler on a 16-yard touchdown catch. Officials initially ruled Newsome made the catch out of bounds, but a replay determined he had his right foot in the end zone while gaining possession of the ball. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

Newsome made an even better catch early in the fourth quarter, snaring the ball in the left back corner of the end zone behind two defenders and getting one foot in before tumbling backward at the end of a 29-yard score.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/12/27/football-tar-heels-best-owls-in-military-bowl-55-13.aspx

While North Carolina finished the 2019 season on a high note Temple who is a member of the American Athletic Conference meanwhile was on the other end of the spectrum as they suffered a loss to closeout their season.

The Owls finished the season 8-5 for the second year in a row and the Tar Heels finished the season 7-6. WR Jadan Blue finished the game with eight catches for 92 yards. RB Re'Mahn Davis had a receiving and a rushing touchdown. SAF Benny Walls led the team with 12 tackles. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx
 
How It Happened
>Temple stalled a productive first drive and was forced to punt. North Carolina got the ball and drove into Temple territory. After forcing a third-and-long, the Owls shut down the Tar Heels and forced a missed 51-yard field goal. On North Carolina's next drive, QB Sam Howell threw a 39-yard touchdown pass for the first score of the game, 7-0 North Carolina.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx

>The ensuing Temple drivhttps://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspxe ended in a missed 42-yard field goal. The first quarter ended 7-0 in favor of North Carolina.”according to

>In the first drive of the second quarter, the Owls held the Tar Heels to a 26-yard field goal. They extended their lead to 10-0 with 10 minutes left in the first half. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx

>On the next drive, QB Anthony Russo returned to lead the offense. On the second play of the drive, Russo connected with WR Jadan Blue for a 60-yard reception that brought the Owls inside the red zone. RB Re'Mahn Davis finished the drive off with a 4-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked and the Tar Heels would maintain a 10-6 lead. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx

>North Carolina would counter the score with another touchdown of its own. Howell threw a 16-yard back shoulder ball into the end zone that was tipped by SAF Amir Tyler and hauled in by a North Carolina receiver for the score. The Tar Heels added another field goal before halftime and took a 20-6 lead into the half. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx

>In the first drive of the second half, North Carolina drove down the field 83-yards to make the score 27-6. The Tar Heels then picked off Russo and returned it 20-yards for a touchdown on the next drive to lengthen the lead to 34-6.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx

>North Carolina scored again on its next possession. A trick play from the two-yard line led to the score and a 41-6 lead. The Owls got on the board again with five minutes to play in the third. SAF Benny Walls forced and recovered a fumble that set up Temple at the 50 yardline. Just four plays later, Davis caught a screen pass from QB Todd Centeio that he took 45-yards down the field for his second touchdown of the day. North Carolina took a 41-13 lead into the final 15 minutes of play. “according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx

>North Carolina scored on the opening drive of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 48-13. The Tar Heels added another touchdown to make it 55-13 with two minutes to play in the game.”according to https://owlsports.com/news/2019/12/27/football-falls-to-north-carolina-in-the-military-bowl.aspx

North Carolina and Temple will now start preparing for their 2020 seasons.