Bryn Renner’s breakout game fuels Homecoming win over Wake Forest

Saturday was supposed to be Tanner Price’s big day, not Bryn Renner’s.

Only one quarterback in the ACC averaged more passing yards a game than Wake Forest’s Price, and only one team gave up more passing yards a game than North Carolina. It just made sense.

Instead, Renner turned in his first career 300-yard passing game in UNC’s 49-24 win, and Price threw three interceptions, the same number of picks he had thrown all season.

“Bryn, he was all upset that we lost to Clemson last weekend, and coming into this week preparing for Wake Forest, he was very focused,” UNC wide receiver Dwight Jones said. “It carried over to the game today, and he played very well.

“It was one of his top games.”

And it may be his best, but not because he threw for 300 yards or because he threw three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Instead, Renner simply made the right passes when he needed to, and often times those plays sustained Tar Heel drives.

Perhaps the most important of Renner’s 21 completions was a 20-yarder to Nelson Hurst in the second quarter. After UNC took an early 14-0 lead, the Demon Deacons continued to cut into that lead, while the Tar Heels floundered on four straight drives, producing 18 total yards in that span.

But before the second half, UNC strung together a long scoring drive, and that drive wouldn’t have been possible without Renner’s 20-yard completion to Hurst on 3rd-and-12.

“We had a great drive before the end of the half,” Renner said. “I think that was huge to get a touchdown on the board right before half and then get the ball back.”

Renner had a strong first half. Then he had a stronger second half, particularly in the third quarter. Renner completed 8-of-10 passes for 158 yards. He had 300 yards passing after that third quarter and only threw one pass in the fourth quarter — a 38-yard touchdown pass to Erik Highsmith.

“He was efficient. He didn’t turn it over,” UNC interim coach Everett Withers said. “He had his best passing game since he’s been here.”

Renner completed 75 percent of his passes in the game and threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns.

And Price? The southpaw finished the game 17-for-29 with three interceptions. Two of them were deflected passes, but his last, and his worst, was thrown right at UNC linebacker Zach Brown.

“I felt like this week our secondary and linebackers had the best week of practice, just knowing what was coming at them,” Withers said.

It was all part of a very complete effort by UNC. The Tar Heels played good defense, ran the ball and threw it. Those first two things UNC typically does well. The third they did better than ever this season.

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