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UNC vs. Western Carolina Postgame Notes


North Carolina improved to 7-3 this season, including 5-1 at Kenan Stadium. is 258-131-1 overall, including 83-55-1 in 12 seasons as head coach of the Tar Heels. UNC is 3-0 vs. Western Carolina with wins in 2017, 2018 and 2020. UNC is 4-0 against in-state opponents this season with wins over NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, and WCU.

• Carolina scored a total of 260 points in six games at Kenan Stadium this season, an average of 43.3 points (31 vs. Syracuse, 56 vs. Virginia Tech, 48 vs. NC State, 59 vs. Wake Forest, 17 vs. Notre Dame and 49 vs. Western Carolina).

• The Tar Heels gained 540 yards, the seventh time in the last eight games UNC gained at least 500 yards of total offense.

• North Carolina scored 42 points in the first half to match the most points in a half this season (42 in the first half at Duke).

• UNC scored 21 points in both the first and second quarters to match its most points in a quarter this season (fourth quarter vs. Syracuse, first quarter vs. Virginia Tech, third quarter vs. NC State, first and second quarters at Duke and first and second quarters vs. Western Carolina).

• rushed for three touchdowns in the first half. He also rushed for three scores in 2019 vs. Mercer.

• Carter rushed for 73 yards and added six yards on a reception for 79 all-purpose yards. He passed and for fifth place all-time in UNC rushing yards (they were tied with 3,074). Carter has 3,096 career rushing yards. He also passed for eighth place in UNC in all-purpose yards with 4,393 (Blount had 4,391).

• had his 16th rushing touchdown of the season in the first half, also the 26th of his career. The 16 rushing TDs are the fifth most in a season by a Tar Heel and the 26 are 10th most all-time by a Tar Heel.

• Williams has 19 total touchdowns this season, which leads the country (16 by rush, three by reception).

• Dazz Newcome had six receptions. He passed for fourth place in UNC history with 180 career receptions (Pollock had 177).

• Howell was 20 for 23 for 287 yards and two scores in the first half. He did play in the second half.

• Howell tossed two touchdown passes to tie for career touchdown passes by a Tar Heel with 62. Darien Durant holds the record with 68 (in four seasons).

• Howell has thrown a touchdown pass in all 23 of his games as a Tar Heel, which ties the longest active streak in the country with Shane Buechele (SMU) and Dillon Gabriel (UCF), neither of whom play this week.

• Howell has thrown multiple TD passes in 20 of 23 collegiate games.

• Howell’s 62 career touchdown passes are the third most in ACC history by a sophomore quarterback. He trails only Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (66) and Florida State’s Jameis Winston (64).

• Howell’s 30-yard run in the first quarter was the longest rush of his career.

• ’s 22-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his first reception of the season.

• Freshman running back scored his first career touchdown on a 2-yard run in the third quarter.

Courtesy UNC Athletics Communications

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UNC vs. Western Carolina Postgame Notes