CHAPEL HILL, NC. North Carolina Tar Heels opens the 2022-2023 football campaign against Florida A&M Rattlers in Kean Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. The Tar Heels defeat the Rattlers by the score of 56-24.
North Carolina Tar Heels combine over 608 yards of total offense. North Carolina’s strong passing attack was led by redshirt freshman Drake Maye, who completed 29 out of 37 attempts for 294 yards with 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions as the Tar Heels’ new signal caller. Freshman Omarion Hampton led the Tar Heels’ rushing attack with 14 carries for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. Josh Downs led the Tar Heels with 9 receptions for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns.
After the game, Mack Brown had this to say about the Tar Heels’ new quarterback. “Very proud of Drake (Maye). One of the best first games I’ve ever seen.” Mack Brown continues to say “he was poised. He was accurate. His running ability was good.”
Florida A&M Head Coach Willie Simmons said “we came to win the game. You play these types of games, playing conservative probably won’t do you much good.” “We gamble. I’m not a big gambler. I play a little bit of blackjack at the tables, Simmons said.
North Carolina’s defense came into this game as a question mark in the secondary. The Tar Heels’ pass defense gave up 279 yards and two touchdowns but did come up with one interception by Storm Duck. North Carolina’s run defense did hold Florida A&M’s rushing attack to 56 yards but did give one rushing TD to Jaylen McCloud.
My takeaway is North Carolina has one week to figure out their passing defense before making that trip to Boone, NC to play Appalachian State University.
