Tag: British Brooks

UNC Football: Five things to watch against Minnesota

UNC will host Minnesota Saturday for the two school’s first-ever matchup. Carolina sports a high-octane offense, Minnesota has defense.

The first two weeks of UNC’s football season have been a lot of what fans expected – high-octane offense and an unpredictable defense.

Carolina averages 482 yards per game, second in the ACC to only Florida State, but is tied with Clemson for ninth in the country at 243.5 rushing yards per game. UNC’s been fortunate to have 100-yard rushers in each of its first two games – British Brooks in the 31-17 win over South Carolina, then Omarion Hampton in the 40-34 comeback vs. App State.

The Tar Heels’ defense generated nine sacks against South Carolina, then failed to register a single one against App State. The Gamecocks racked up 351 yards against UNC, the effect of which was negated due to UNC’s sack total, while App State nearly reached the 500-yard mark.

Carolina faces a brand-new opponent on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m., welcoming undefeated Minnesota to the friendly confines of Kenan Stadium. The Golden Gophers will be significantly tougher to score against, as they allow under 250 yards per game to opponents.

With a brand new opponent who should prove to be UNC’s toughest test of 2023 so far, let’s take a look at five things to watch out for:

UNC Football: Offensive Keys to the Game against Minnesota

UNC aims to go 3-0 in its football season on Saturday, when it takes on Minnesota at home. Check out the five offensive keys to the game.

A dominant ground game and rare defensive stop had the UNC football team celebrating on Saturday, Sept. 9 in front of its home fans, as it came-from-behind and took down App State, 40-34, in yet another offensive thriller.

This game looked very reminiscent of last year’s – teams moving the ball at will and struggling to get defensive stops. Offensive production came from virtually anyone in the second half, with UNC and App State combining for 54 second-half points.

During the 2022 battle in Boone, the Tar Heels and Mountaineers combined for 62 fourth-quarter points.

Omarion Hampton was college football’s top running back in Week 2, running for an insane 234 yards and 3 touchdowns on 26 carries. He practically picked up a first down, averaging nine yards per carry.

Hampton sits fifth among FBS leaders in total rushing yards (271), so it’d be hard not to start him against Minnesota on Saturday.

Drake Maye threw for over 200 yards, but he was, once again, largely held in check for a Heisman Trophy contender’s standards.

What does UNC need to do better offensively so it can move to 3-0? Or will the Tar Heels follow the same offensive blueprint from the win against App State?

5 things to watch for in UNC home opener against App State

UNC hosts App State in its football home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9. Here are five things to watch for.

If you count “Week Zero,” we’re already two weeks into the college football season.

Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday, we were talking about how the first game was just days away?

There’s a full season of games ahead – and we haven’t even gotten into the thick of conference play. Week 2 matchups, which officially kick off tonight with Louisville hosting Murray State, are highlighted by the Alabama-Texas rematch at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9.

UNC played in Charlotte Week 1 against South Carolina, but now get to return home and entertain the Tar Heel faithful on Saturday against App State. The Tar Heels racked up 168 rushing yards and generated nine sacks – more than half of their 2022 total – against the Gamecocks. Carolina was just 3-3 in Kenan Stadium last year, but 11-2 the previous two seasons combined.

App State beat Gardner-Webb by three touchdowns in Boone last weekend, but struggled to do so, requiring a second-half comeback. Joey Aguilar came off the bench to throw four touchdowns in relief of starting quarterback Ryan Burger, who exited the game with a hand injury.

Carolina beat the Mountaineers in a 63-61 shootout on the field at Kidd-Brewer Stadium last year, with the two teams combining for 62 fourth-quarter points.

Will we see another high-scoring clash in Chapel Hill, a one-sided affair or something else on Saturday?

UNC Football: Offensive Keys to the Game against App State

This article details what UNC needs to do offensively against App State in order to start 2023 with two consecutive wins.

It’s been a pretty good week for the UNC football team, mainly because of how it played in Week 1 against South Carolina.

The Tar Heels rode a strong ground game and an uncharacteristically strong defense to a 31-17 victory over neighboring rival South Carolina. UNC’s defense recorded nine sacks – more than half of its 2022 total (17) – while holding the Gamecocks to three second-half points.

Tar Heels starting running back British Brooks, in his first game since 2021, led all players with 103 rushing yards. UNC’s experienced ground game generated a total of 168 rushing yards, meaning quarterback Drake Maye didn’t need to be at his best.

As a result of all this, Carolina moved up to 17th in the latest AP Poll.

UNC’s schedule doesn’t get an easier, as they face a tough App State squad on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 5:15 p.m. in Kenan Stadium.

When the Heels and Mountaineers met last year in Boone, chaos ensued. UNC appeared on the brink of pulling away with a victory, scoring 34 unanswered points, only for App State to come crawling back and tie things up in the fourth quarter.

Both schools combined for 62 fourth-quarter points, yet it was the visiting Tar Heels who pulled out a 63-61 victory.

Heading into Saturday’s matchup, let’s take a deeper dive into what UNC needs to do for a second-consecutive win against their rivals in the Appalachian Mountains:

Brooks and Rucker take home ACC POTW honors for UNC

British Brooks and Kaimon Rucker, instrumental to UNC’s season-opening win against South Carolina, earned ACC Player of the Week honors.

There are few other feelings in sports that match starting a season 1-0.

Those teams get to claim they’re “undefeated” for at least one more week. Some of these 1-0 schools might enjoy that mark for the entire season, while others might fall back to .500 the following week.

UNC is one of the lucky schools who gets to stay undefeated heading into its Week 2 clash, as the Tar Heels rode a strong, second-half defensive performance to a 31-17 victory over South Carolina.

UNC generated nine sacks – more than half of its 2022 total (17). The ground game racked up 168 yards and two scores, while Drake Maye threw for over 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Because of their respective roles in the Tar Heels’ win, British Brooks and Kaimon Rucker earned ACC Player of the Week honors.

Brooks, named ACC Running Back of the Week, led the Heels’ ground game with a game-high 103 rushing yards on 15 carries. This game was an emotional return for Brooks, who played his first game since 2021.

Rucker, tabbed defensive lineman of the week, led all players with 5.5 tackles for loss and tied for a game-high two sacks.

Both Brooks and Rucker helped UNC start 1-0 for the second consecutive season. They’re now preparing for their first home game of 2023, as the Tar Heels prepare to host App State on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 5:15 p.m.

There was some history made when the two in-state rivals matched up last year, with Carolina prevailing in a high-scoring affair.

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Brooks leads four Tar Heels with Player of the Game honors in win vs. Gamecocks

British Brooks, Kaimon Rucker, Ryan Coe and Ben Kiernan all earned Player of the Game honors for their role in UNC’s Saturday victory.

It’s been an amazing Labor Day weekend for the UNC football program and its fans.

That all started Saturday night, when an experienced but revamped Tar Heel squad stifled South Carolina, 31-17, in the season opener for both teams under the bright lights of Bank of America Stadium.

There were so many positives from UNC, particularly with the defensive unit that was one of college football’s worst in 2022. The Tar Heels’ defensive generated nine sacks – more than half the 2022 total (17) – and held the Gamecocks to just three second half points.

UNC running back British Brooks, playing in his first game since 2021, showed no signs of rust. He gained a game-high 103 rushing yards on 15 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. This earned him the Tar Heels’ Offensive Player of the Game.

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There were so many Tar Heels who could’ve earned Defensive Player of the Game, but that honor went to starting Jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker. It’s easy to see why Rucker was picked – he led all UNC defensive players with six solo tackles, including a game-high 5.5 for loss, plus tied for the team lead with two sacks.

The Tar Heels’ special team were pretty solid, too, which earned new transfer kicker Ryan Coe and longtime punter Ben Kiernan Special Teams Player of the Game honors. Coe kicked a 37-yard field goal and was a perfect 4/4 on extra points, while Kiernan punted twice for 85 yards.

UNC has another tough test coming up on Saturday, Sept. 9, as it welcomes App State to Kenan Stadium for its home opener. We all remember what happened last time these two squads played…

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British Brooks shines in emotional return from injury

UNC’s British Brooks shares an on-field moment with Mack Brown after rushing for 100+ yards in his return game from injury.

Last season, North Carolina running back [autotag]British Brooks[/autotag] was posed for a big year, being named a starter for the 2022-2023 season. Sadly, that big year would have to pause after it was announced that Brooks would miss the entire year after tearing a knee ligament.

Many wondered if we would see Brooks again in Carolina Blue next year. Thankfully, he did, returning to UNC for one final year, and is already off to a great start. The Tar Heel led North Carolina’s ground game in UNC’s season-opening win against South Carolina, accounting for 103 yards on 15 carries.

It was a sight to see as Brooks’s vision, speed, and power were fully displayed.

After the game ended, Brooks could be seen on the field with Mack Brown as the two embraced the moment.

Brown discussed Brooks’s exceptional return while meeting with the press following the win.

“He was just so proud that he made it back,” Brown said. “That young guy did an unbelievable job of getting healthy and played so well tonight.”

Brown said this when asked about the special moment they shared on the field following the win.

“I said I am so proud of you (Brooks). A lot of people can’t do what you just did. What a great message to DeAndre Boykins and some of those who are hurt now. You took an awful situation and turned it into a positive by coming back and being able to play to help your team win.”

Brooks, a native from Gastonia, North Carolina, rushed for 100 yards for the second time in his career a year. Having his return game in his backyard is as memorable as it gets.

What UNC head coach Mack Brown said after win over South Carolina

UNC football head coach Mack Brown, who earned his 100th victory on Saturday, Sept. 2 against South Carolina, spoke to the media after.

If you’re a UNC football fan, you have a ton to be proud of right now.

The Tar Heels put on one of their best defensive performances in recent memory – against an SEC opponent, nonetheless, sacking South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler nine times (more than half of 2022 total) and holding the Gamecocks to just a field goal in the second half, in a 31-17 victory.

The ground game, led by 103 yards from British Brooks in his first game action since 2021, generated 168 yards total and two scores. Wide receiver Kobe Paysour and John Copenhaver stepped up tremendously in the absence of Devontez Walker and Nate McCollum, combining for 10 catches, 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Even with two interceptions, Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye still completed 24 passes for 269 yards and two scores.

All this should have UNC stay put at 21st in the AP Poll come Week 2, It might be good enough to climb the ranks a bit, which would help their College Football Playoff chances.

Carolina’s performance had head coach Mack Brown smiling from ear-to-ear. Check out what he had to say after the season-opening triumph:

Tar Heels hold Gamecocks to three second-half points in season-opening victory

UNC rode a strong ground game, significantly improved defense and two Drake Maye touchdown passes to a 31-17 win over South Carolina.

UNC football fans waited seemingly forever for a performance like tonight’s.

The Tar Heels showed tremendous effort on both sides of the football, limited the big plays they gave up and created some of their own.

That all led to a 31-17 victory over the University of South Carolina, on Saturday night, under the bright lights of Bank of America Stadium in uptown Charlotte.

This was UNC’s first win in the series since 2019, its fourth win in 11 tries against the Gamecocks, plus its second consecutive season starting with a victory.

How did the Heels do it tonight?

They went into halftime with a slight, 17-14 advantage, then came out looking like a whole new team.

UNC was up in South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler’s grill all night, sacking him nine times and forcing him to make a plethora of bad throws. The ground game, led by British Brooks gaining 103 yards in his first game action since 2021, found the end zone twice and racked up 168 yards. Despite his two interceptions, Drake Maye enjoyed a solid showing, completing 24/32 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

The Tar Heels’ first score of the game came on the first of Omarion Hampton’s two, goal-line touchdown runs just over five minutes into the game, then the last score came on John Copenhaver’s SportsCenter Top 10-worthy TD reception with six minutes remaining in the third quarter.

If there was one glaring takeaway from tonight’s win, it was undoubtedly the defense – for several reasons.

The Heels’ nine sacks was more than half their 2022 total – 17. Kaimon Rucker and Amari Gainer, the Florida State transfer, led the way with two apiece.

UNC’s defense held the Gamecocks to three – yes, you read that correctly – three second-half points. This was even with Spencer Rattler, the 2021 Preseason Heisman Trophy favorite at Oklahoma, under center.

In comparison – the 2022 Tar Heel defense allowed the sixth-most yards in the entire FBS.

Next up for UNC is its Kenan Stadium opener, as it hosts App State on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 5:15 p.m. This is a rematch of last year’s historic Labor Day weekend matchup, when the Heels and Mountaineers combined for 62 fourth-quarter points.

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5 things to watch for in UNC Football opener against South Carolina

UNC’s first football clash of the year is Saturday, Sept. 2 against South Carolina. Look out for the following five keys in the matchup.

Week 1 – a fresh start for college football teams across the country.

People get to see new stars and familiar faces for their favorite teams. Heisman Trophy campaigns get underway. Upsets are bound to happen, while title favorites begin their quests – will anyone be able to stop Georgia this year?

The University of North Carolina football team is one of many who gets to press “reset” – and it is very thankful to do so.

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The Tar Heels were a fringe College Football Playoff team last year, starting 9-1 with wins over schools like App State, Pitt and Wake Forest, whom they clinched the ACC Coastal Division against.

No one could have possibly seen what was coming next. UNC lost four consecutive games to end the season, including the first of four against a struggling Georgia Tech squad that, eventually, missed out on bowl action. Drake Maye threw for a career-high 448 yards against Wake Forest, then failed to eclipse 300 in the Heels’ final four contests.

With Maye, a deadly tight end trio, the entire running back room returning and a dangerous linebacking corps, as part of a hopefully-improved defense, the Heels need to beat South Carolina Saturday if they want any shot at the College Football playoff.

Before the Saturday matchup, we look at five things to watch in this ACC-SEC clash.