CHARLOTTE — In its first-ever appearance in the ACC Championship game, the No. 8 North Carolina football team trails top-ranked Clemson 21-16 at halftime. Here are three things to note about the game so far.
1. Quarterback play
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has looked like the best player on the field for either team so far. He is 19-for-32 passing for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
But Watson’s biggest impact has come on the ground. The sophomore rushed for 99 yards in the first half on 13 carries. His 33-yard scramble early in the second quarter was pivotal, as the Tigers marched 96 yards for a touchdown.
Watson has accounted for 290 of Clemson’s 309 total yards.
Meanwhile, quarterback Marquise Williams has struggled to get into a rhythm. Despite two touchdown passes, the redshirt senior quarterback is 3-for-12 for 50 yards.
The Tigers’ defense has pressured Williams into multiple incompletions, and he has only been able to gain seven yards on six carries.
2. Fake punt
One of the most important plays of the game came when the Tigers ran a fake punt on 4th-and-15 late in the second quarter. The Tar Heels surrendered only four yards on the play, allowing the UNC offense to take over at the Clemson 34-yard line.
Sophomore running back Elijah Hood rushed for 18 yards on two carries on the drive, setting up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Williams to junior receiver Ryan Switzer. North Carolina took a 16-14 lead on the play.
3. Third downs
The Tar Heels have struggled to find success on third down throughout the game. UNC is 1-for-7 on third downs.
Excluding the drive that concluded in Switzer’s touchdown reception, North Carolina has gone three-and-out on four of its final five drives of the half.
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