Coming into the 2019 season for North Carolina football, no one had a clue on what to expect. Two weeks prior to the season, the starting QB position wasn’t even settled. Looking back at everything, it is clear that the Heels exceeded all expectations, finishing 6-6 and sneaking into the Military Bowl against the Temple Owls in Annapolis, MD. If I can go to the game, I'll update the list. Either way, the future is surely bright and I’m glad I was able to attend seven of our twelve regular season games with the new Mack Brown led team.
Carolina Football was reenergized with some amazing performances and taking several ranked teams down to the wire. In this article, I will rank all the games I had the pleasure of attending. I went to one neutral site game (vs South Carolina), one away game (@ VT), and every home game except Appalachian State. My criteria for ranking the games comes down to two factors: quality and memorability. Quality doesn’t always mean a high-scoring affair. A 17-14 game can be just as great as a 45-42 game depending on a variety of factors. On the other hand, memorability is just as important. Will I remember this game in five or ten years? Here’s the list and remember GO HEELS!
#7. Mercer Bears @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Predictable blowout for the Heels in a must win situation to keep their bowl hopes alive. Not too much to say here. It was fun-ish standing outside in the pouring rain against an FCS team and leading the game as much as 56 points. For this reason, many gave their tickets away but on Senior Day, we had to show out, no matter the circumstances.
Quality of game: 2
Memorability: 2
Final Score: UNC 56, Mercer 7
#6. Duke Blue Devils @ North Carolina Tar Heels
I don’t care what anyone says. The football version will never hold a candle to Men’s Basketball. The energy simply wasn’t there compared to other games for whatever reason. The weather was pretty dreary so that could’ve had something to do with it. The one thing that was going for them was those amazing jersey combinations. Those are easily my favorite and fit the occasion to break the streak against Duke.
This Battle for the Victory Bell was a low score (7-3) at the half. After a couple of Tar Heels mistakes, they suddenly found themselves in a battle going into the 4th Quarter. Similar to the Virginia Tech game last season where Michael Carter fumbled at the one yard line, Javonte Williams gave fans a case of deja vu. That being said, Duke would drive down the field, aided by a handful of flags, to set up shop at the two-yard line with under 20 seconds to go. Game over, right?
When I first saw it live, I thought the world was over. Or something like that. What I really thought happened was a fumble by the running back that popped straight into the linebacker’s hand. Later, I found out it was a running back pass to Chazz Surratt alertly intercepted. Either way...WHAT A PLAY! A relatively forgettable game turned into an instant classic. North Carolina took home the Victory Bell for the first time in four years and it couldn’t have been taken back on a much better play than I witnessed on that day.
Quality of game: 4
Memorability: 6
Final Score: UNC 20, Duke 17
#5. Virginia Cavaliers @ North Carolina Tar Heels
If UNC had any hope of getting back in the mix for the ACC Coastal Division, this primetime matchup had to be notched in the win column. The "Color Rush" baby blues meant business. The “Oldest Rivalry in the South” was an offensive masterpiece. On the defensive side of the ball...not so much.
Receiver Dyami Brown had a dominating performance, snatching three touchdowns in the contest. His 202 yards receiving on six receptions was a season-high for any UNC receiver this season. Unfortunately for the Heels, Hoos’ QB Bryce Perkins had himself a big day, including a 65 yard TD run to open up the second half. He could not be stopped the entire day and that proved to be the difference in this one.
UNC found themselves down 38-24 toward the end of the third quarter. I sound like a broken record but once again, the offense rallied to get the game to one score. However, the magic just didn’t seem to be there on this night as UVA’s defense tightened up. Two fourth down stops by Virginia sealed the Tar Heels fate, putting them in the driver’s seat to take the ACC Coastal. They still had a chance to win it on the final drive but it was somewhat anticlimactic compared to the other games on this list. That’s why it can’t be any higher.
Quality of game: 9
Memorability: 5
Final Score: Virginia 38, UNC 31
#4. South Carolina vs North Carolina Tar Heels
Where were you during the first win of the new Mack Brown era? I’m glad to say I had the privilege of being in Charlotte for the game. The “Battle for the Carolinas” wasn’t supposed to be this competitive. Coming into this game, there was much uncertainty on what Phil Longo’s new “air raid” offense would look like. Early on, it looked like more of the same for the Tar Heels.
Although UNC’s offense struggled to get much going for three quarters, the electric fourth quarter was only a sign of things to come for this team. Dyami Brown’s #SCTop10 catch in the corner of the endzone helped the Heels trim the lead to three. The next drive contained a play in which I had to look on the replay multiple times.
With 10:00 minutes left, Howell somehow spun out of a sack (Eli Manning Super Bowl esque) and rolled to his right and fired the ball downfield. The defender had a clear interception but somehow, the ball went right through his hands and into the arms of Dazz Newsome for a big completion (<- see video at 2:45).
Beau Corrales would grab a back shoulder fade to give Carolina their first lead of the game. Then, the defense made clutch plays as South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley committed turnovers on three straight possessions, including two consecutive interceptions to safety Myles Wolfolk. The Tar Heels had pulled off the stunner in Charlotte and started off the Mack Brown 2.0 era with a much needed win to ignite the fanbase.
Quality of game: 7
Memorability: 7
Final Score: UNC 24, South Carolina 20
#3. Miami Hurricanes @ North Carolina Tar Heels
First night home game of a new era? Yes please. Although Miami had an underwhelming season, a season opener against an in-conference, historically great team was sure to bring the buzz. I would definitely say this environment may have been the most electric and probably the loudest I’ve heard Kenan in quite sometime...especially the ending result.
Dyami Brown’s 62 yard TD reception ignited a 17-3 first quarter blitz for the home team. Despite the quick start, the Heels offense would nearly vanish, letting Miami take a 25-20 lead with under five minutes left. Later in the drive, UNC’s offense would be faced with a nearly impossible 4th and 17 situation to keep the drive alive. The legend of Sam Howell began to grow, as he stepped up in the pocket and found Rontavious “Toe” Groves for the 20 yard conversion.
This game wouldn’t be complete without a memorable finish. Howell delivered the goods, zipping a pass to the back of the endzone to Dazz Newsome for the go-ahead touchdown with a minute left. Later, Miami kicker Bubba Baxa missed a long field goal to potentially send the game into overtime. UNC improved to 2-0 on the year, a feat no one envisioned just a few days prior.
Quality of game: 8
Memorability: 6
Final Score: UNC 28, Miami 25
#2. North Carolina Tar Heels @ Virginia Tech Hokies
It was splitting hairs between #1 and #2 on this list. I honestly doubt that I will ever witness in person a six overtime game again in my lifetime. I predicted how the game was going to go. I said, we would get an early lead. Secondly, we would follow that up with a second quarter drought to lose the lead. Third, I said we would go to overtime. Six overtimes? Not a single soul would envision that. Not even myself.
UNC started off strong once again with two Dazz Newsome touchdowns with a Jason Strowbridge fumble recovery sandwiched in-between. However, Tech’s offense exploded after this sequence. This game was easily UNC’s worst defensive game of the season. Third down conversions. Big runs allowed. If I was defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, I would’ve likely ripped my hair out. This was a game they needed to win but time after time, they couldn’t close the deal.
With under six minutes left in the game, Longo dialed up a double reverse pass which ended up in the hands of wide-open Antoine Green for a 68 yard TD. At this point, the game should have been wraps. On the ensuing drive, Virginia Tech’s third string quarterback, Quincy Patterson burst straight through the teeth of the defense, gashing them for 53 yard game-tying touchdown to eventually send the game into overtime.
This game certainly wasn’t for the faint of heart. The overtime(s) featured four missed field goals, two receiving TDs, and finally a two-point conversion run (first time with the new OT rules) to win for Tech. The swing of emotions was insane for what felt like an endless game. Sam Howell’s incredible game was wasted by a subpar defensive effort. Ultimately, it was a reality check for fans. This team still has a lot of room to grow.
Quality of game: 8
Memorability: 10
Final Score: Virginia Tech 43, UNC 41
#1. Clemson Tigers @ North Carolina Tar Heels
It’s not often that Carolina took on the best team in the nation. In fact, Kenan Memorial Stadium had never hosted a number one overall team...that was until September 28th, 2019. North Carolina was a four touchdown underdog to the defending national champions. I thought that the way our team was playing, there was no way we would lose by THAT much. Anyone outside of Chapel Hill probably didn’t lose sleep over this matchup.
It was the ultimate “David vs Goliath” story. Clemson had destroyed every team all season long. Why would UNC be any different? A 2-2 team in the ACC Coastal had little business hanging around for more than a quarter against the Tigers. I said before the game that for the Heels to stun Clemson, three things would need to happen. First, the defense would have to play the best game of the season. Check. Second, Clemson’s offense would have to uncharacteristically make mistakes. Trevor Lawrence made some errant throws and Etienne (1 fumble) was neutralized. Check. Third, keep it close going into the fourth quarter. Check.
Sam Howell and the offense came out swinging on the very first drive, launching a deep touchdown to Dyami Brown for the early Carolina lead. Clemson would answer early in the second quarter with a Travis Etienne run. The story of the day was easily the Carolina defense for me. A much maligned unit was playing the best game of the season, considering the opponent. A 28 point underdog was TIED going into the final quarter. I always say that the longer the underdog stays in the game, the more they believe they can come out victorious. The crowd felt it. The players felt it. The nation felt it.
UNC had been down in every contest up to this point. However, Howell engineered two fourth-quarter comebacks against Miami and South Carolina and ran out of time against App St and Wake Forest but still put his team in position for the W. Once again, UNC was down by a touchdown, trying to rally back. Two fourth-down conversions later put the Heels on the doorstep on a tie game at 21 a piece as Javonte Williams punched it in for a touchdown. However, Mack Brown wasn’t playing for “almosts,” he was playing to win.
It came down to this. A two-point conversion. Convert it and steal the biggest college football upset in a decade. Miss it and come up just short. Howell received the snap and sprinted out to the right side. It became apparent that the Tigers were all over the play. In desperation, Howell flicked it out to Dazz Newsome who didn’t quite have the angle to paydirt. The onside kick failed and Clemson was able to escape Chapel Thrill with a win.
To me, it felt like a bowl game or National Championship type game. There is just something special about a college football upset. The Heels came a yard short of such a feat. UNC definitely wanted it more but the talent gap was just a bit too much to overcome. It was a tough result no doubt but Mack Brown’s team showed that they can play against anyone in the country.
The Clemson game encapsulated what North Carolina CAN be. They CAN be winners. They CAN compete for a New Year's Six bowl game. That being said, we aren’t quite there...yet. If we can figure out how to have the “killer instinct” and win the close ones, the next decade of football will be quite the show. Going forward, the sky's the limit for this team. I’m excited to see this team compete for college football’s finest in the near future.
Quality of game: 9
Memorability: 10
Final Score: Clemson 21, UNC 20
Awards
Offensive MVP: Sam Howell, QB
Players like Javonte Williams, Dazz Newsome, and Dyami Brown played fantastic. However, there is no better choice other than true freshman phenom, Sam Howell. He consistently made great decisions and was able to elevate the team when they were in a hole. Down three touchdowns to Appalachian State and Wake Forest? Down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to Pitt on the road? Not a problem for “Fourth Quarter Sam.” It will definitely be a pleasure watching #7 play for the remainder of his college career in the baby blue and white.
Defensive MVP: Chazz Surratt, LB
For a guy playing linebacker for the first time, he certainly looked like he belonged on the big stage. I really think he has the potential to be a starting NFL linebacker, especially with another year under his belt in 2020. He played THAT well. Every game, Surratt’s name was called multiple times, either making a tackle in the backfield, batting down a pass, or intercepting a crucial pass.
Top 5 Plays of the Season
#1. Chazz Surratt GW INT vs Duke
#2. Dazz Newsome GW TD catch vs Miami
#3. Beau Corrales GW TD catch vs South Carolina
#4. Dazz Newsome 34 yard catch vs Duke
#5. Javonte Williams 26 yd TD run (ignites a 35-0 Carolina run)
Comments