UNC football defensive keys to the game vs. Appalachian State Posted Sep 8, 2023 UNC Football fans could not be more enthusiastic about the season following the Tar Heels' week-one defensive performance against South Carolina. However, there is still room for improvement. Here are a few keys for North Carolina's defense to repeat their week one performance. 1. Don't take a game off. 2. Continue to pressure the quarterback. (USA Today)