UNC football beats App State; Mack Brown’s team starts season 2-0
Coverage from game
UNC football beats App State to snap road losing streak and move to 2-0 on season
Atmosphere at App State was electric, but UNC QB Drake Maye had even more juice
Live updates from game
North Carolina makes its first trip to Boone in series history to take on Appalachian State at noon. The Tar Heels look to snap a seven game losing streak away from Kenan Stadium that includes five regular-season road games. The Tar Heels (1-0) started the season with a 56-24 win over Florida A&M last week.
The Mountaineers (0-0) are anticipating their biggest crowd in Kidd Brewer Stadium history in their season opener. The News & Observer’s C.L. Brown and Robert Willett are in place for all the action.
Robinson TD catch: App State 61, UNC 63, 4Q
Kaedin Robinson caught a 26-yard touchdown with nine seconds left setting up another failed two-point conversion attempt for the Mountaineers.
Nesbit return TD: UNC 63, App State 55, 4Q
Bryson Nesbit returned an on-sides kick 43 yards for a touchdown with 28 seconds left.
Davis TD catch: App State 55, UNC 56, 4Q
DeShaun Davis caught a 28-yard pass with 31 seconds left. And the Mountaineers called a timeout to go for two, but Chase Brice’s pass to a wide open Davis was incomplete.
Jones TD catch: UNC 56, App State 49, 4Q
App State got caught blitzing when Drake Maye connected with a wide open D.J. Jones out of the backfield. Jones ran untouched 42 yards for a go-ahead score with 2:53 remaining.
Peoples TD run: App State 49, UNC 49, 4Q
Cam Peoples broke a 38-yard scoring run as the Mountaineers tied the game with 4:00 remaining in the game. App State went 64 yards in just three plays.
Horn TD catch: App State 42, UNC 49, 4Q
App State keeps withing striking distance after a 32-yard touchdown reception by Christian Horn. The Mountaineers drive benefited from two big Carolina penalties. Cam Kelly was called for a late hit when quarterback Chase Brice was deemed to be sliding. Tony Grimes was called for a pass interference.
Hampton TD run: UNC 49, App State 35, 4Q
Caleb Hood’s 71 yard run set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Omarion Hampton as the Heels wasted no time answering App State. Drake Maye added the 2-point conversion with a quarterback keeper.
Gibbs TD catch: UNC 41, App State 35, 4Q
Miller Gibbs scored on a 13-yard reception to pull the Mountaineers within a touchdown with 10:37 left in the game. The Mountaineers scored 14 points within two minutes to make it a one score game with 10:37 remaining.
Bird fumble recovery
Drake Maye fumbled on a designed running play and App State linebacker Tyler Bird recovered to give them the ball at the UNC 28.
Noel TD run: App State 28, UNC 41, 4Q
Nate Noel scored on a 1-yard run ending a drought of four straight scoreless possessions for the Mountaineers. Noel has 112 yards rushing on 12 carries and two scores.
Burnette FG: UNC 41, App State 21, 3Q
Drake Maye just missed tight end Kamari Morales, overthrowing him on what would have been a sure touchdown. It led to Burnette’s second straight field goal, this one from 44 yards out.
Gray interception
UNC linebacker Cedric Gray recorded the first turnover of the game with an interception of Chase Brice. The Heels now have three total takeaways on the season and it sets up the offense in scoring position inside the App State 30.
Burnette FG: UNC 38, App State 21 3Q
Noah Burnette connected on a 47-yard field goal, the first of his career. The key play on the drive was an 18-yard reception by tight end Kamari Morales.
Maye TD run: UNC 35, App State 21 3Q
Quarterback Drake Maye made it 28 unanswered points for Carolina with a 12-yard run on the opening drive of the second half. Maye is now leading the Heels in rushing with 36 yards to go along with his three touchdown passes.
Nesbit TD catch: UNC 28, App State 21 2Q
Tight end Bryson Nesbit gave Carolina its first lead of the game when he hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass with one second left in the half. His score was set up by a 21-yard reception by Kobe Paysour on third down.
Pettaway TD run: UNC 21, App State 21 2Q
George Pettaway shook App State safety Ronald Clarke and went untouched 21 yards for a touchdown run to tie the game at 21.
Paysour TD catch: UNC 14, App State 21, 2Q
Carolina caps off a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 14-yard touchdown reception by Kobe Paysour. It was the first career TD reception for the redshirt freshman. Quarterback Drake Maye is now 10-for-12 for 140 yards and two scores.
Wells TD catch: App State 21, UNC 7, 2Q
Christian Wells caught a 2-yard score in the back of the end zone as the Mountaineers have now scored on their first three possessions. The Heels haven’t stopped them on third down yet, as App State is a perfect 5-for-5.
Pearson TD catch: App State 14, UNC 7, 1Q
Tight end Henry Pearson caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Chase Brice. The score was set up after receiver Dalton Stroman beat UNC corner Lejond Cavazos down the right side of the field for a 41-yard reception.
Jones TD catch: UNC 7, App State 7, 1Q
The Heels answered App State with a 23-yard touchdown reception by J.J. Jones on their opening drive. Jones also caught a 31-yard strike on the drive and may have answered the question early on for UNC of who would replace Josh Downs’ production at receiver.
Noel TD run: App State 7, UNC 0, 1Q
Nate Noel burst up the middle of the line for a 52-yard touchdown run on the Mountaineers opening drive of the game.
Injury updates
The Heels will be without junior receiver Josh Downs, who set program records last season in receptions and yards, against App State. Downs suffered a lower body injury in the fourth quarter of their win over FAMU when he limped off the field after catching a 27-yard touchdown.
Junior cornerback Tony Grimes, who suffered an upper body injury on the second series against FAMU and missed the remainder of the game, will be back in the starting lineup for the Heels.
Pregame reading
How a year in Boone helped Mack Brown and App State program evolve
With UNC coming to town, App State and Boone brace for a Saturday unlike any other
In UNC debut, Drake Maye adds to family legacy, and makes name for himself
UNC looks to end road woes in front of a record-setting App State crowd
Looking to snap road losing streak, stopping the run could be key for UNC at App State
UNC vs App State first look: Top storylines, players to watch, betting odds
