North Carolina Opens The Season In Charlotte Against South Carolina

2018 didn’t go the way North Carolina wanted it as they finished with a record of 2-9 while they were 1-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and at the end of the season they fired Larry Fedora because of their record.

Turn the page to 2019 they have a new head coach in Mack Brown who already has had a stint as a head coach at North Carolina from 1988 -1997. “according to https://goheels.com/coaches.aspx?rc=3337&path=football

On Saturday Mack Brown will look to start turning things around at North Carolina as they take on South Carolina in Charlotte.

As stated above,

North Carolina finished last season with a record of 2-9 and ended their season with a loss to tobacco rival NC State in Chapel Hill in overtime.

Reggie Gallaspy II scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in overtime, his school-record-tying fifth TD, and North Carolina State beat North Carolina 34-28 on Saturday in a rivalry game marred by a fight in the end zone after it ended. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/11/24/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wolfpack-in-ot-28-34.aspx

Gallaspy II rushed for a career-high 129 yards and scored on runs of 1, 4 and 34 yards before scoring the tying TD from 5 yards out in regulation. Quarterback Ryan Finley was 16 of 28 for 200 yards for the Wolfpack (8-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference). “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/11/24/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wolfpack-in-ot-28-34.aspx

Freshman Cade Fortin, whose only snap since Oct. 13 was a last-second heave two weeks ago against Duke, put North Carolina up 28-21 with a 1-yard touchdown run with 9:29 left. He finished 19 of 40 for 276 yards with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Beau Corrales. Javonte Williams had an 8-yard TD run and Freeman Jones kicked two field goals for the Tar Heels (2-9, 1-7). “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/11/24/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wolfpack-in-ot-28-34.aspx

But Jones was wide left on a 37-yarder in overtime. NC State then ran the ball on seven straight plays, capped by Gallaspy's plunge into the end zone that ended it. Some pushing and shoving in the end zone after the winning score led to a quick but intense melee in which players from both teams were seen throwing punches. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/11/24/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wolfpack-in-ot-28-34.aspx

As for how South Carolina who is a member of Southeastern Conference finished the 2018 season,

They finished with a record of 7-6 and went to the Belk Bowl where they lost to Virginia who like North Carolina is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Bryce Perkins threw three touchdown passes to Olamide Zaccheaus, Virginia's defense dominated and the Cavaliers beat South Carolina 28-0 in the Belk Bowl on Saturday for their first bowl win since 2005. “according to https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2018/12/29/football-perkins-zaccheaus-lead-virginia-over-south-carolina-28-0.aspx

Perkins completed 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards and ran for 81 yards as the Cavaliers (8-5) ended the ACC's longest bowl drought. Zaccheaus, named the game's Most Outstanding Player, had 12 catches for 100 yards. Jordan Ellis ran for 106 yards and a touchdown, helping Virginia hold the ball for more than 42 minutes. “according to https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2018/12/29/football-perkins-zaccheaus-lead-virginia-over-south-carolina-28-0.aspx

The Gamecocks were shut out for the first time since 2006, when they lost 18-0 to Georgia. “according to https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2018/12/29/football-perkins-zaccheaus-lead-virginia-over-south-carolina-28-0.aspx

The Cavaliers' 14th-ranked pass defense put the clamps on a hot South Carolina offense that had averaged 38.2 points per game over the past five games. Jake Bentley had thrown for 16 touchdowns during that span, including a 510-yard, five-TD performance against No. 2 Clemson, but struggled without wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who elected to bypass the bowl game to begin preparing for the NFL draft. “according to https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2018/12/29/football-perkins-zaccheaus-lead-virginia-over-south-carolina-28-0.aspx

Bentley was limited to 218 yards on 17-of-39 passing and was intercepted twice. South Carolina was 2 of 13 on third down conversions and 2 of 5 on fourth downs. “according to https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2018/12/29/football-perkins-zaccheaus-lead-virginia-over-south-carolina-28-0.aspx

The Cavaliers controlled the ball for more than 20 minutes of the first half and built a 14-0 lead at halftime. Perkins found Zaccheaus on a fourth-and-2 in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard score, and Jordan Ellis added a 9-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0. “according to https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2018/12/29/football-perkins-zaccheaus-lead-virginia-over-south-carolina-28-0.aspx

Perkins found Zaccheaus twice in the second half for TDs of 10 and 12 yards. “according to https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2018/12/29/football-perkins-zaccheaus-lead-virginia-over-south-carolina-28-0.aspx

Kick-off is set for 3:30pm from Bank Of America Stadium that is home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers who are a member of the NFC South. The game will be televised on ESPN.