The North Carolina Tar Heels were expected to dominate NC Central from the very beginning of their Saturday night matchup, but it took them almost the entire game to do so.
After three quarters, UNC was only ahead of the Eagles by a score of 17-10. Omarion Hampton scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, and the Tar Heel defense kept NCCU from scoring again after their initial drive. However, North Carolina struggled to choose between quarterbacks Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell.
The game took a turn in the final 15 minutes, with the Tar Heels scoring 28 points in the fourth quarter to secure a 45-10 victory. By the end of the game, the Tar Heels amassed 513 total offensive yards.
Hampton built on his strong first half during UNC’s impressive fourth quarter by adding another touchdown, finishing the game with 210 rushing yards. This marked Hampton’s second career game with over 200 rushing yards, having previously recorded 234 yards and three touchdowns in a double-overtime win against App State last year.
The Tar Heel defense excelled in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. Kaleb Cost highlighted their strong performance with an impressive interception that set up Hampton’s third touchdown.
After allowing NC Central to score 10 points in the first half, North Carolina held them scoreless in the second half, responding with 21 unanswered points.
Next week, UNC will host James Madison at Kenan Stadium, concluding their three-game homestand.
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