UNC football falls to N.C. State, 35-30, in Mack Brown's final game at North Carolina

The North Carolina football team (6-6, ACC 3-5) lost to N.C. State (6-6, ACC 3-5) 35-30 in Mack Brown’s final game coaching for the Tar Heels. 

The loss extends UNC’s losing streak against the Wolfpack to four games and allowed N.C. State to reach bowl eligibility. 

North Carolina’s defense allowed N.C. State scored on every possession in the second half, conceding a 44-yard pass play on its final drive to set up a game-winning touchdown for the Wolfpack with 25 seconds left in the game. 

Four punts and two takeaways highlighted a slow start in the first six possessions of the game. North Carolina went three-and-out on its opening three possessions before turning the ball over on its fourth. 

A strip sack by Wolfpack rusher Davin Vann ripped the ball from Tar Heel quarterback Jacolby Criswell and set up N.C. State at UNC’s 11-yard line. A pass interference call on North Carolina then placed the ball on the two-yard line before Hollywood Smothers ran it into the endzone for N.C. State on the following play. 

The touchdown placed the Wolfpack ahead 7-0 after the first quarter, where an unproductive Tar Heel offense recorded 26 total yards on 16 plays from scrimmage. 

A flurry of touches for running back Omarion Hampton carried UNC’s offense to the 31-yard line before a pass interference against the Wolfpack on fourth-and-short walked North Carolina into the red zone. 

Crisswell then found senior wide receiver JJ Jones on a slant for a 17-yard passing touchdown with 7:49 remaining before halftime. Kicker Noah Burnette missed the following PAT, his first of the season, and UNC trailed 7-6.

After forcing an N.C. State punt, North Carolina put together a methodical 67-yard drive down to N.C. State’s 26-yard line before the drive stalled. UNC then attempted a 34-yard field goal, but Burnette’s second missed kick failed to give North Carolina the lead as the Tar Heels trailed 7-6 at the half.  

After the break, a UNC punt handed the ball back to N.C. State where good field position resulted in a 41-yard field goal by the Wolfpack. 

11 seconds later, Hampton broke free for a career-long 75-yard touchdown run to place UNC ahead 13-10. Hampton ran all 75 yards untouched before waltzing into the endzone for his 15th touchdown of the season. 

Another Wolfpack field goal tied the game at 13 a piece with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Tar Heels then responded with a 50-yard deep ball from Criswell to wide receiver Chris Culliver. The sophomore receiver collected the back-shoulder throw along the sideline before diving into the endzone as he lost his balance. 

N.C. State responded quickly, marching down the field in under three minutes to tie the game with a 14-yard touchdown pass by quarterback CJ Bailey. 

After UNC converted a 25-yard field goal, the Wolfpack again marched down the field to find the endzone with a 17-yard passing touchdown to wide receiver KC Concepcion. 

N.C. State continued to add to the scoreboard after forcing a UNC punt and scoring on its fifth straight possession in the second half. A field goal by the Wolfpack put N.C. State ahead 29-23 with 2:37 remaining in the game. 

With the game on the line, three straight Hampton touches — a pair of runs and a shovel pass for 47 yards — allowed UNC to take a 30-29 lead late in the fourth quarter. 

But North Carolina’s inability to stop N.C. State’s offense continued, as the Tar Heels allowed a 44-yard completion to set up the Wolfpack inside the red zone. A touchdown run three plays later iced the game for N.C. State, as UNC failed to score in the final 25 seconds. 

With the defeat, North Carolina concludes its regular season schedule and will await bowl selections for its final game.

@cadeshoemaker23

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