North Carolina vs. Minnesota Postgame Notes
Posted Aug 30, 2024
North Carolina has played its first game against a Power conference team 22 times since Mack Brown’s first season in Chapel Hill in 1988. The Tar Heels are 9-2 in those games with Brown as head coach and 0-11 in those games under all other head coaches. UNC scored its fewest points in a win since defeating Miami, 18-14, on 10/13/2012.
• Mack Brown is 283-149-1 as a head coach. Brown is 108-73-1 as head coach of North Carolina. Brown is the winningest active FBS head coach.
• North Carolina has won three consecutive season openers for the first time since the 2007-2009 seasons (defeated James Madison, McNeese State and The Citadel).
• North Carolina has won three consecutive away games against non-conference opponents (defeated Minnesota on 8/29/24, Georgia State on 9/10/22, App State on 9/3/22) for the first time since defeating East Carolina (9/24/11), Rutgers (9/25/10) and Connecticut (9/12/09).
• North Carolina is 56-46-1 all-time against current Big Ten members.
• UNC scored its fewest points in a season-opening victory since defeating East Carolina, 14-10, on 9/16/1978.
• Mack Brown is 14-3 in season-openers while at Carolina and 30-7 all-time as a head coach.
• UNC held Minnesota to a three-and-out on the first possession of the season, marking the second year in a row UNC has held its season-opening opponent to a three and out on the first possession of the season. The last time the Tar Heels did that was against South Carolina in 2015 and Liberty in 2014.
• North Carolina won for the first time with under 300 offensive yards since defeating Louisville on 10/8/11 with 264 total yards.
• UNC held its opponent scoreless in the first quarter of a season opener for the first time since doing so in 2020 against Syracuse. North Carolina was held scoreless in the first quarter of its season opener for the first time since 2021 against Virginia Tech.
• North Carolina’s 105 passing yards are its fewest in a victory since defeating Duke while throwing for 75 yards on 11/24/2007.
• North Carolina’s 252 yards are its fewest in a win since recording 249 against Duke in a win on 11/24/07.
• North Carolina’s 93 first-half yards are its fewest in the first half of a game since recording 78 in the first half against Pittsburgh on 11/11/21.
• UNC held Minnesota to 116 yards in the first half, which would have been tied for second-fewest by an opponent in the first half during the 2023 season. Last year, North Carolina held Duke to 116 first-half yards and Syracuse to 55 first-half yards.
• UNC held Minnesota to 244 yards, which is the fewest by an opponent since Syracuse had 221 last season on 10/7/23.
• North Carolina trailed after three quarters in a win for the first time since trailing 33-34 at Wake Forest, and winning 36-34, on 11/12/22.
OFFENSE NOTES
• Max Johnson recorded the first touchdown of his Tar Heel career on a three-yard rush in the second quarter. It was Johnson’s sixth rushing touchdown of his career and his second consecutive game with one (did so against Mississippi on 11/4/23).
• Johnson’s run is the first time a Tar Heel quarterback has run for the first touchdown of the season since Mitch Trubisky converted a one-yard touchdown run in the season opener against Georgia on 9/3/16.
• Omarion Hampton finished with 129 rushing yards. He surpassed the 2,000 career yards mark, becoming the 18th Tar Heel to eclipse 2,000 career yards.
• Hampton rushed for over 100 yards for the ninth time in his career. Hampton’s nine career games with over 100 rushing yards is the most by a Tar Heel since Javonte Williams and Michael Carter each finished with nine.
• Hampton’s 129 rushing yards are the most by a Tar Heel in a season opener since Elijah Hood recorded 138 against South Carolina in 2015.
DEFENSE NOTES
• Jahvaree Ritzie recorded his 100th career tackle. He finished with six tackles, including a career-high three sacks.
• Ritzie’s three sacks are the most in a single game by a Tar Heel since Tomon Fox had three against Miami on 9/7/19. Ritzie’s three sacks are tied for third all-time in a single game by a Tar Heel.
• Jakeen Harris finished with 10 tackles, which is a career high.
• Amare Campbell recorded the first forced fumble of his career. Campbell also recorded the second sack of his career.
• Tyrane Stewart, a transfer from East Mississippi State Community College, recorded his first three tackles at the Division I level.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Noah Burnette’s four field goals bring him into a tie for sixth all-time on UNC’s field goal list. Burnette has 38, along with Tripp Pignetti, who played from 1991-1994.
• Burnette’s 52-yard field goal is the longest field goal made by a Tar Heel since Nick Weiler hit a 54-yarder against Florida State on 10/1/16. It was the first made field goal of at least 50 yards by a Tar Heel since Grayson Atkins made a 50-yarder against NC State in 2021.
• Noah Burnette’s four field goals made is tied for the third-most in a game in Carolina history. Burnette also is tied for the most field goals made in a game in Carolina history, with six against Duke in 2023.
• Burnette recorded 13 points, bringing him to 10th all-time on UNC’s all-time points list with 215 in his career.
• Tom Maginness’ first-quarter punt of 55 yards was the second-longest of his career. He punted one 57 yards against Georgia Tech on 10/28/23.
Courtesy UNC Athletics Communications
Bill Belichick has been a student and teacher of the game. A problem-solver known for his above-and-beyond levels of preparation as a master tactician, Belichick...