Orange Bowl slips away from UNC as Texas A&M football comes alive in the fourth quarter
No. 14 North Carolina fell short of its upset bid in its first-ever Orange Bowl appearance after allowing No. 5 Texas A&M to score 24 fourth-quarter points in a 41-27 loss on Saturday.
The Tar Heels, which had not played in a major bowl since the 1950 Cotton Bowl, began the final period leading 20-17. Even after the Aggies tied it at 20, Carolina (8-4) needed just 11 seconds to retake the lead on a 75-yard touchdown catch by freshman receiver Josh Downs.
The Aggies (9-1) answered on their next drive when quarterback Kellen Mond connected with Ainias Smith for a 50-yard completion. It set up a third-down touchdown scramble by Mond from four yards out.
With the game tied at 27, Carolina had two possessions to try and go back in front, but they couldn’t piece a drive together. Redshirt freshman receiver Khafre Brown dropped a potential big pass play to answer Mond’s score. On its next series, UNC senior receiver Dazz Newsome had about a 40-yard pass sail just past his fingertips and the Heels were left scoreless despite taking over at its own 40 after a 28-yard punt.
Carolina’s defense was beginning to show signs it was wearing down. And on the play that gave the Aggies the lead for good, that fatigue showed. A&M running back Devon Achane broke one tackle and raced for a 75-yard touchdown for a 34-27 lead.
Forced to go for a fourth-and-1 on its own 34 with about 2:30 left in the game, running back Josh Henderson was stuffed for no gain.
A&M tacked on another touchdown to ensure its victory.
Tar Heels look out of sorts against Aggies
Carolina had success all season taking its first drive for touchdowns in nine of its 11 regular-season games. However, the Heels looked all out of sorts against the Aggies.
Running back British Brooks, starting because Michael Carter and Javonte Williams opted out of the game, was dropped for a loss on first down. Tight end Garrett Walston’s short catch was ruled incomplete on replay. Center Brian Anderson was called for a false start penalty.
Then quarterback Sam Howell had only six interceptions this season and had not thrown one since the win over Wake Forest on Nov. 14. He threw his seventh interception on his second pass attempt in the game.
Despite a penalty on A&M for sideline interference, the Aggies still took over in good field position at the UNC 28. Their offense isn’t known for being quick-strike and they took seven plays and faced a fourth-and 1 before Isaiah Spiller ran in his first of two touchdowns with a 9-yard run.
The Heels responded on their ensuing series thanks, in part, to penalties by Leon O’Neal. Brooks had a 17-yard run that tacked on 15 more due to a face mask penalty. O’Neal was also called for unsportsmanlike conduct when he celebrated dropping Howell for a loss a little too much.
But Carolina didn’t get much of anything in its passing game in the opening quarter. It had to settle for a field goal despite reaching the A&M 7.
Newsome helped set up the Heels’ next score. The senior’s 23-yard punt return allowed Carolina to take over at its own 49.
UNC’s Sam Howell calls running plays
Howell did most of his damage during the season in the air. Against the Aggies, he ran more called running plays than he did in any game this season. It came in handy the first play of the second quarter with the Heels facing a fourth-and-3.
Howell ran up the middle for a 15-yard gain, which would eventually lead to another Grayson Atkins field goal and Carolina trailed 7-6.
Newsome helped spark an otherwise stagnant passing game that started the game with the Heels trailing 10-6 in the second quarter. The senior hadn’t caught a pass until the fourth drive of the night for UNC. But he made every catch count.
Newsome twice caught passes to convert third downs. Then he made a diving catch for a 28-yard touchdown in which he initially had the ball stripped out of his hands, but still hauled it back in as he was falling to the ground. The play stood upon official review and UNC had its first lead of the game 13-10.
The Heels had a solid first half defensively. Texas A&M led the SEC with only 15 three-and-out series all season. UNC forced two in the first quarter alone. The Aggies had only allowed four sacks in the regular season. UNC got two on the last drive of the half.
But one of its weaknesses from the regular season popped back up. Carolina had problems allowing opponents to score on the final drive of the half. A&M did so to re-take the lead into halftime.
A&M receiver Chase Lane’s lone catch of the game was a 27-yarder on third down. Hezekiah Jones also had a 23-yarder to set up Spiller’s 3-yard touchdown run and the Aggies led 17-13.
This story was originally published January 2, 2021 at 8:18 PM.