Tag: NC Central football

Tar Heels name Players of the Game for Week 3 blowout of NC Central

Check out who North Carolina dubbed its Players of the Game for its Week 3 win over NC Central.

The North Carolina Tar Heels remained 3-0 on their young football season after Saturday’s victory, scoring 28 fourth quarter points to pull away from NC Central in a 45-10 thumping.

UNC’s defense allowed the visiting Eagles to score a touchdown on their opening driving, as the Eagles marched 75 yards down the field in 12 plays. After that defensive lapse, North Carolina recovered and limited NCCU to 167 total yards.

The Tar Heels’ offense started slow, as predicted, then scored their first points on Omarion Hampton’s first second quarter rushing touchdown. UNC freshman wide receiver Christian Hamilton recovered a muffed punt, then Hampton found paydirt four plays later.

North Carolina starting defensive tackle Kevin Hester Jr. recorded four tackles, as he was part of a defense that generated 67 total tackles and six tackles for loss. Kaleb Cost was the Tar Heels’ greatest defensive factor, recording a team-high eight tackles and two deflected passes, a half-sack and an acrobatic, fourth-quarter interception.

With the major roles they all played on Saturday, it’s no surprise that Hampton, Hamilton, Hester and Cost were UNC’s Players of the Game.

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North Carolina has one more non-conference game this coming Saturday, hosting the James Madison Dukes at 12 p.m. ET, then heads to archrival Duke on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. to open ACC play.

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Omarion Hampton earns weekly ACC honors after monster outing in UNC’s win over NCCU

Omarion Hampton found himself amongst the ACC’s top producers with Saturday’s performance.

The North Carolina Tar Heels played NC Central way closer than they should’ve in Saturday’s victory.

UNC only led the visiting Eagles by seven heading into the final quarter, then exploded for 28 fourth-quarter points. North Carolina was harmed by 16 penalties – 10 of which came in the first half.

While the Tar Heels’ offense struggled for the first three quarters, there was one Tar Heel who compiled the best game of his young 2024 season: Omarion Hampton, the best running back in college football.

Hampton played so well Saturday that, on Monday afternoon, he was named the ACC Running Back of the Week.

After NC Central scored halfway through the opening quarter, Hampton opened the second quarter scoring with his first of three touchdowns: an 11-yard run. Four-and-a-half minutes later, Hampton scored UNC’s eventual game-winning points on a 2-yard run, making the score 14-7.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, then Hampton added his third touchdown – on a 4-yard run – just five minutes into the final frame.

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When the clock hit zero, Hampton finished his night with 210 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. This was Hampton’s second career 200-yard game, as he did the same against App State last year.

What will Hampton do for an encore against JMU this weekend?

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Omarion Hampton scores three times, tallies second career 200-yard game in win over NCCU

UNC star running back Omarion Hampton made 200 yards look like easy work against NC Central.

Through three games in the 2024 college football season, we’ve seen the North Carolina Tar Heels’ offense struggle at times.

Max Johnson, Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell have all appeared in games, with Johnson starting the opener at Minnesota and Harrell starting the past two. Criswell entered tonight’s game against NC Central during UNC’s third drive, but stayed in because he played so well (started 5-for-5).

North Carolina continues to score, despite its offense struggles. in large part thanks to star running back Omarion Hampton.

Hampton ran for over 100 yards at Minnesota, then missed the second half against Charlotte with an injury he could’ve returned from.

Tonight against NC Central, Hampton found the end zone three times and ran for 210 yards on 25 carries. It was Hampton’s second career 200-yard game, as he previously ran for 234 yards in the Tar Heels’ double-overtime win over App State last season.

“It felt good being there for my team,” Hampton said in regards to leading UNC’s offense. “And then my O-line especially they did good tonight, just them having my back. And then just practicing all week getting ready and prepared for this game. We know what we have to do when it comes down to close games. We know when we have to get the first down. I know what I have to do.”

If you look at ESPN’s current rushing leaders, Hampton should now be second nationally with 416 rushing yards.

What can Hampton do next Saturday against James Madison, which allows an average of 120 rushing yards to opponents?

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Mack Brown highlights penalties as a reason for UNC’s sluggish start

Penalties kept Saturday’s UNC-NC Central game much closer than it should’ve been.

It took three quarters for the North Carolina Tar Heels to break away from NC Central, but it finally happened.

After taking a 7-point lead into the fourth quarter, UNC exploded for 28 fourth quarter points en route to a 45-10 win over the visiting Eagles.

As I predicted earlier in the week, North Carolina got off to a slow start. NC Central marched down the field on its first possession, draining the clock on a 12-play, 75-yard drive, capping it off with J’Mari Taylor’s 5-yard touchdown run.

The Tar Heels could’ve easily escaped the Eagles’ first drive not allowing any points, but two penalties extended the Eagles’ drive and led to their lone touchdown.

Penalties ended up playing a major role in the game overall, as UNC finished with 16 penalties for 102 yards. This was more than the previous two weeks combined, when North Carolina committed a total of 11 penalties.

Head coach Mack Brown wasn’t pleased with his players’ lack of discipline, especially early.

“NC Central came in thinking they couldn’t block us and then wanting to keep the ball,” Brown told media during the postgame press conference. “And it worked, partially because of the inflicted wounds that we had through penalties. We can’t have 10 (first-half) penalties. We’ve been so good in the first two weeks not to have penalties – and here we are, we look up and we’ve got 10 at halftime and 16 for the game. A couple of times, I thought we lost our composure. We can’t have that.”

The Tar Heels cleaned up their act in the second half, committing just six penalties. Mack noted that momentum started shifting towards UNC after the second quarter goal-line stand, when defense held NCCU to just a field goal as time expired.

“We talked about what wins and loses football games at halftime – and that this game would’ve been probably out of reach if we hadn’t had the penalties, but we did,” Brown said. “And you need to grow up, quit having a lack of discipline and a lack of composure. And we just told them the truth and said the start of the blowout was the goal-line stand.”

North Carolina gets a significantly-tougher test next weekend, when Sun Belt power James Madison comes to town. The Dukes (2-0), who beat Charlotte and Gardner-Webb in their first two games before a bye week this weekend, haven’t played the Tar Heels since 2016.

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Offensive explosion helps UNC pull away from NCCU in fourth quarter and stay undefeated

The Tar Heels needed a big fourth quarter to pull away from NC Central in Saturday night’s victory.

The North Carolina Tar Heels should’ve dominated NC Central from opening kickoff on Saturday night, but instead, it took nearly the whole game.

UNC led the Eagles just 17-10 after three quarters. Omarion Hampton scored a couple of second quarter touchdowns, while the Tar Heel defense continued to keep NCCU out of the end zone after its first drive, but North Carolina couldn’t decide between Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell at quarterback.

Saturday’s game changed quickly in the final 15 minutes, with the Tar Heels scoring 28 fourth quarter points en route to a 45-10 victory. The Tar Heels ended their night with 513 offensive yards.

Hampton continued his strong first half in UNC’s dominant fourth quarter, scoring another touchdown and finishing his night with 210 rushing yards. Tonight was Hampton’s second career 200-yard outing, as he tallied 234 yards and three scores in North Carolina’s double-overtime win against App State last year.

The Tar Heel defense played well in the second half as a whole, but particularly the fourth quarter. Kaleb Cost cemented UNC’s rock-solid defense, making an acrobatic interception to set up Hampton’s third touchdown.

After allowing NC Central to score 10 first half points, North Carolina didn’t allow a single second-half point. All 21 of the Tar Heels’ second-half points were unanswered.

UNC welcomes James Madison to Kenan Stadium next week, ending its 3-game homestand.

While tonight wasn’t pretty throughout, the fourth quarter showed just how dangerous North Carolina can be when it’s clicking.

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Omarion Hampton’s huge first half helps UNC build 7-point halftime lead

Omarion Hampton’s two touchdowns gave UNC a 7-point lead over NC Central entering halftime.

The first half of Saturday’s UNC-NC Central game was anything BUT easy for the Tar Heels.

To start the first quarter, Central scored on its first drive of the game, marching 75 yards in 12 plays. Eagles running back J’Mari Taylor capped off the clock-draining drive with 5-yard touchdown run.

North Carolina was shutout in the first quarter, due to a strong NCCU defense and inability to convert first downs consistently. Just like last week, though, the Tar Heels’ defense shifted momentum, forcing a muffed punt near the end of the first quarter.

Star running back Omarion Hampton, who hadn’t scored a touchdown in UNC’s first two games, opened UNC’s scoring just 22 second into the second quarter. Hampton capped off a 4-play, 41-yard drive on an 11-yard touchdown run.

Just under five minutes later, Hampton scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run. North Carolina leaned on its running game once again in the first half – and it paid off.

While Hampton should continue his strong performance for the Tar Heels in the second half, Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell need to step up at quarterback. If UNC can keep its opponents guessing on what kind of plays it runs, UNC’s offense can be significantly more dangerous.

But in the sense of this article, there’s no point in fixing something that works really well. Hampton is who works really well.

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Starting kicker Noah Burnette ruled out vs. NC Central

UNC football starting kicker Noah Burnette has been ruled out of the Week 3 game.

A major reason behind the North Carolina Tar Heels’ 2-0 start to the college football season is star kicker Noah Burnette, who was a perfect 5-for-5 on kicks in UNC’s season-opening victory at Minnesota.

Burnette was near-automatic in North Carolina’s win over Charlotte last week, converting all four extra points and a 44-yard field goal, but he also missed his first kick of the year.

In today’s Week 3 matchup against NC Central, though, it doesn’t look like Burnette will be available.

Instead, the Tar Heels will likely roll with Liam Boyd, the Clemson transfer who arrived in Chapel Hill before the 2023 season.

Boyd relieved Burnette late last week, converting his first collegiate kick after Davion Gause’s fourth-quarter touchdown run. Boyd is a Tar Heel State product originally, hailing from Asheville High School. Boyd converted 11-of-13 field goals during his senior season, including a 50-year, while also playing soccer his first three years.

North Carolina should be able to score touchdowns at ease today, but if drives stall, Boyd has to be on his game. NC Central is 1-1, winning its season-opener at Alabama State, but losing to Elon by 22 last week.

Keep an eye out on Boyd and if he plays a major role in the Tar Heels’ Week 3 outcome.

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NC Central 41, Jackson State 34 in OT, Celebration Bowl What Happened, What It All Means

NC Central 41, Jackson State 34 OT: Cricket Celebration Bowl what happened, player of the game, and what it all means

NC Central beat Jackson State to win the Cricket Celebration Bowl. What happened, who was the player of the game, and what does it all mean?

NC Central 41, Jackson State 34 OT, Cricket Celebration Bowl What Happened, Player of the Game, What It All Means

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Cricket Celebration Bowl What Happened

– In a thrilling finish, NC Central took the overtime lead on QB Davius Richard’s one-yard pounding TD, and Shedeur Sanders failed to connect on his fourth down throw into the end zone on Jackson State’s turn.

Richard hit Latrell Collier for a touchdown pass for a late 34-27 Eagle lead, but Sanders drove the Tigers 81 yards with his 19-yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter – and the extra point – forcing overtime. Sanders finished with 329 passing yards and four scores, and he ran for a touchdown.

– It was everything you want a bowl game to be. The intensity was there from the start on both sides, there were wild momentum swings, just one turnover, and a ton of energy and emotion. You’re not going to see a harder-played bowl game until the College Football Playoff.

– Jackson State got out to a slow start and rallied back, but its struggles to tackle proved costly. NC Central kept on pounding away, dominated the clock, and ended up being the more physical team, at least on the offensive side. Jackson State was hardly soft, but NC Central was able to bash.

Cricket Celebration Bowl Player of the Game

Davius Richard, QB NC Central 
Richard completed 15-of-20 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, led the team with 94 rushing yards and a touchdown, and caught a pass for 31 yards.

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Cricket Celebration Bowl Fun Stats

– Time of Possession: NC Central 38:09 – Jackson State 21:51

– 4th Downs: Both teams converted both of their tries

– Rushing Yards: NC Central 254 – Jackson State 64

Cricket Celebration Bowl What It All Means

No, this doesn’t mean that much going forward for the Deion Sanders era at Colorado. With that said, it’s not a great look that this is the second Celebration Bowl in a row that his team didn’t rise up and produce.

Last year his Tigers were boatraced by South Carolina State, and this time around the perfect season was stopped by an Eagle team that brought its A game from the start.

Was it a lack of focus with all that’s going on with his new gig? That might be a stretch, and it might not be fair – give NC Central credit for getting it done. That was a fight to the very end.

6-1. That’s what the MEAC is now in the Celebration Bowl against the SWAC, with the only loss by NC Central in 2016. Head coach Trei Oliver had his team ready, but this was hardly a crazy upset. The Eagles cranked up the offense all year long, it had talent, and it had a quarterback in Richard who could be the calmest guy in the room and get the job done.

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