North Carolina Drops Their Second Straight As They Get Edged By Appalachian State In Chapel Hill
Last week North Carolina lost to Wake Forest in Winston Salem.
This week they had the same result as they lost to Appalachian State who is a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
Darrynton Evans rushed for three touchdowns, and Nick Hampton blocked a 56-yard field goal attempt on the final play of Appalachian State's 34-31 victory over North Carolina on Saturday in the instate programs' first meeting in nearly 80 years.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/21/football-carolina-comes-up-short-against-app-state-31-34.aspx
Demetrius Taylor returned a fumble 20 yards for a key score, and Zac Thomas added 224 yards passing and another 57 on the ground to help the Mountaineers (3-0) beat a power-conference opponent for the first time since that unforgettable upset of Michigan 12 years ago. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/21/football-carolina-comes-up-short-against-app-state-31-34.aspx
That one ended on a blocked field goal -- and so did this one, with Appalachian State swatting away Noah Ruggles' kick at the buzzer that would have forced overtime.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/21/football-carolina-comes-up-short-against-app-state-31-34.aspx
Evans scored on runs of 5, 2 and 3 yards while Chandler Staton kicked early field goals of 31 and 43 yards for Appalachian State, off to its best start since the 2010 team won its first eight games.
Sam Howell threw three touchdown passes for the Tar Heels (2-2) -- who trailed entering the fourth quarter for the fourth straight game. His 2-yard touchdown run with 3:01 left pulled them within three points. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/21/football-carolina-comes-up-short-against-app-state-31-34.aspx
North Carolina then took over at its 20 with 30 seconds left after forcing a punt, and Howell hit Dazz Newsome twice to set up Ruggles' long field goal. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/21/football-carolina-comes-up-short-against-app-state-31-34.aspx
Howell finished 27 of 41 for 323 yards with touchdowns of 21 yards to Newsome on the first play from scrimmage, 11 yards to Michael Carter and 12 yards to Carl Tucker. The freshman also had three turnovers -- his first two interceptions and a fumble -- that led to 14 points for App State. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/21/football-carolina-comes-up-short-against-app-state-31-34.aspx
Meanwhile, Appalachian State remained undefeated and improved to 3-0 on the season.
What a time for a Black and Gold breakthrough. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
The kick is blocked — again. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Defensive end Demetrius Taylor forced two turnovers to help Appalachian State build a first-half lead on the road, and Darrynton Evans rushed for three touchdowns as the Mountaineers won 34-31 against in-state ACC program North Carolina on Saturday. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
The Tar Heels reached App State's 39-yard line with five seconds left, and Akeem Davis-Gaither pushed through a gap in the line to tip a 56-yard attempt at a field goal as time expired.”according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
"You just look back and see if it made the distance or not," said Davis-Gaither, who turned 22 on Saturday. "Then the celebration was on." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
The second-ever football meeting between the two schools and first since 1940 drew a spirited, sold-out crowd to Kenan Stadium, and the Mountaineers posted their first win against a Power Five conference team since the historic upset of Michigan in 2007, when Corey Lynch's blocked field goal as time expired helped ignite the run to a third straight FCS national title.”according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
It was App State's eighth victory against an ACC program and the first since beating Wake Forest 20-16 in 2000. The 2019 team is now 3-0 in its first season under the direction of head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.”according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
"We talked all week, it wasn't going to be an upset," Drinkwitz said. "We belonged on that football field, and we wanted to prove it. We had a 1-0 mentality, and we knew we were worthy of winning the game. We went out and played the way App State Football is supposed to be played." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Taylor led App State's defense by recording 2.5 sacks, forcing two fumbles, turning a post-sack recovery into a 20-yard fumble return for a touchdown and setting up another touchdown with an interception. Senior linebacker Jordan Fehr matched his career high of 15 tackles, and four young defensive backs performed well under pressure in relief roles throughout the fourth quarter on a hot afternoon in Chapel Hill. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Evans' three rushing touchdowns contributed to his 78 yards on the ground, and Zac Thomas threw for 224 yards. His top receivers were Corey Sutton (seven catches, 58 yards), Thomas Hennigan (six catches, 90 yards) and Malik Williams (six catches, 78 yards). “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
From the "Go Blue" signs in Ann Arbor, to the Carolina Blue seats in Chapel Hill, App State has another signature win against a Power Five opponent. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Each of the last three seasons, the Mountaineers had played a tight game against a P5 program, with close calls in 2016 (20-13 overtime loss at Tennessee), 2017 (20-19 loss to Wake Forest) and 2018 (45-38 overtime loss at Penn State). Finally, in Drinkwitz's third game as a college head coach, seniors such as Fehr were able to celebrate at the end of one. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
"I had a couple moments where I just sat down and cried because it's so much bigger than football," Fehr said before holding two fingers inches apart. "Freshman year, to come this close at Tennessee. Sophomore year, Wake Forest. Last year, Penn State — being this close every time. To be able to finally do it, it means more than anything." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
UNC (2-2) scored with one second left in the first half and again in the third quarter to turn a 27-10 deficit into a 27-24 nailbiter, but the Mountaineers responded immediately to the Tar Heels' long touchdown march with a 75-yard touchdown drive that included Thomas' 31-yard pass to Hennigan and a 43-yard connection with Williams. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Evans' short touchdown run late in the third quarter provided some welcomed separation, Davis-Gaither ended the next series at App State's 27 with his first career interception and the Tar Heels finally pulled within 34-31 on a short touchdown run with 3:01 remaining.”according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Facing a third-and-5 from his own 30, Thomas gained 12 yards on a play-action keeper around the right side to move the chains, and an App State punt gave the Tar Heels one last possession starting from their 20 with 30 seconds left. The 24-yard completion into App State territory set up a long-shot field-goal try, but the Mountaineers enjoyed another Michigan-like finish. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
With three national titles, four straight bowl wins and three consecutive conference titles, App State's championship-winning ways remain a point of pride for college football in the state of North Carolina, and the Mountaineers have improved to 3-0 with back-to-back wins against in-state FBS opponents. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Carolina, we keep callin' you home. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
"This program has definitely had some heartbreaking losses, but Coach Drink coming in here with a new mindset, everybody kind of got a fresh start from everything," Hennigan said. "These seniors have been through it all, countless hours, and it's awesome to get those guys a big win during their last year." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
UNC used a long kickoff return and 21-yard touchdown pass to take a lead 17 seconds into the game, but App State responded with the next 20 points, starting with two Chandler Staton field goals and continuing thanks to Taylor's two takeaways. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Staton converted kicks of 31 and 43 yards before Taylor, who finished with 2.5 sacks, made the first of several big plays early in a UNC drive. He rushed around the end, forced a fumble on a blindside sack of Sam Howell, returned to his feet, scooped the ball up at the 20-yard line and raced into the end zone with 3:39 remaining in the first quarter. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
"I just got off the ball, and my job is to stay outside," Taylor said. "He went down, and nobody was blocking me, so it was just a free run on the quarterback. Blind side, came with my hand down, and he fumbled. I didn't know where the ball was, and I just saw it last minute and got it and ran it in for a touchdown." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Taylor was far from done. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
With App State ahead 13-7 early in the second quarter, he fought off a low block and returned to his feet in time to deflect Howell's hard, short-range pass to the left. Taylor located the ball in time to intercept it and gained 19 yards on a return to the UNC 26. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Three straight completions to Sutton preceded Evans' first touchdown on a 5-yard run.”according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
The Mountaineers' defense later held inside the 10, forcing a short field goal with the help of another Taylor pass deflection, and App State moved back into scoring range thanks to a 12-yard pass to Williams on third down, coupled with a 15-yard targeting penalty. Evans' 31-yard sprint to the 4 set up his second touchdown, a 2-yard run on a third-and-goal option pitch. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
Taking a snap with eight seconds left in the half, UNC cut its deficit to 27-17 heading into the break via Michael Carter's 11-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass from Howell, and the Tar Heels used a 15-play, 98-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter to close the gap to 27-24. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
App State had some type of answer, as the 31-yard pass to Hennigan and 43-yard pass to Williams set up Evans' 2-yard touchdown run that increased the margin back to double figures. UNC advanced to the Appalachian 36 before Davis-Gaither made a diving interception to thwart another scoring threat, and the Mountaineers were able to hold on after Howell's 2-yard keeper for a touchdown with 3:01 left trimmed the edge to 34-31. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
App State survived a frantic finish and turns its attention to next weekend's Sun Belt Conference opener against Coastal Carolina. Drinkwitz reiterated after the game that the Mountaineers' primary goal is winning the Sun Belt championship and a bowl game with class, integrity and academic excellence. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
"That's one thing Coach Drink emphasizes, to be 1-0 for the week," Evans said, "so we're not trying to overlook anyone else that we play."“according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/21/football-app-state-unc-game.aspx
North Carolina will next host the number one ranked team in the country who also happens to be the defending national champions as they host Clemson on Saturday who currently has a record of 4-0 after they routed Charlotte by a score of 52-10 on September 21st.