UNC football defeats Florida State, 35-11, led by Omarion Hampton's historic afternoon

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The UNC football team (5-4, 2-3 ACC) defeated the Florida State Seminoles (1-8, 1-7 ACC), 35-11, on Saturday afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium. 

Junior running back Omarion Hampton led the charge recording 265 total yards on 35 carries. The running back is the fourth Tar Heel in history to have five touchdowns in a game and first since 1981. During the match, Hampton also passed 3,000 career rushing yards. After a four-game losing skid earlier this season, North Carolina has won the last two consecutive games. 

"I've said since the beginning this would be a team that would finish better than it started because of all the reasons," head coach Mack Brown said. "Nobody wants to really believe it. Nobody wants to hear it, but it's real."

Following a three-and-out performance from both teams on their opening drives, FSU's place-kicker Ryan Fitzgerald put the first points on the board for the Seminoles. Fitzgerald notched a 56-yard field goal. With over nine minutes left in the first quarter, FSU took a 3-0 lead. 

On their next possession, the Tar Heels found themselves at the 1-yard line on fourth down. North Carolina decided to hand off the ball to junior running back Omarion Hampton, but he was snuffed by the Seminoles. 

After a quick out from FSU on its next drive, the Tar Heels worked to make up for the missed opportunity. 

Pushed by a 38-yard rushing attempt by Hampton, UNC inched closer until returning back to FSU's one yard line on third down. This time, Hampton's rush up the middle worked, allowing North Carolina to take a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. 

The Tar Heels continued the scoring trend as the second quarter progressed. 

During the 16-play, eight-minute long possession, Hampton worked to push UNC downfield, accounting for 34 of the 93-yard drive. With three minutes left to play at FSU's 38-yard line, the junior ran for 15 yards to put North Carolina at the Seminoles' 23-yard-line. Following Criswell's 18-yard pass to junior wide receiver Kobe Paysour, Hampton capped off the drive, rushing up the middle to find the end zone.

FSU attempted a comeback before halftime, but sophomore defensive lineman Beau Atkinson refused to let that happen. On back-to-back plays, Atkinson sacked first-year quarterback Luke Kromenhoek — who entered for Glenn in the second quarter — pushing the Seminoles back by 16 total yards.

"This is kind of how it's felt all year during practice for us, but actually coming out here on game and seeing it work out that, it's been pretty cool," Atkinson said. "I feel like we're playing as a full team right now offensively and defensively."

To open the third quarter, UNC worked quickly, and the Tar Heels kept using what was working. With the help of first-year running back Davion Gause and sophomore tight end Jake Johnson, Hampton ended the drive with a 31 yard charge into FSU territory. 

North Carolina took a 21-3 lead with just under 12 minutes to go in the third quarter.

The Seminoles finally broke through midway in the third. Glenn passed 28 yards deep to wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas in the end zone and Florida State notched the two-point conversion to get back into the game. With just over six minutes remaining, FSU made the score 22-11.

But it was a Hampton day. 

On the next possession, Hampton opened the drive with a 43 yard gain and he capped it off with a one yard rush up the middle to end the third quarter for his fourth touchdown of the afternoon. And he did it again on the next drive. This time off a shovel pass for a 49-yard score.

"I can't do it all by myself so it's definitely my O-line," Hampton said. "They went crazy today."

The Seminoles were never able to recover from the Hampton-led offense.

Following a bye-week, the Tar Heels will return to Kenan Stadium on Nov. 16 to take on Wake Forest. 

@_emmahmoon

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com