UNC football beats Florida A&M, 56-24, in opener; QB Drake Maye throws 5 TDs in debut
Coverage from game
- QB Drake Maye shines in debut as UNC football opens season with 56-24 win over FAMU
- Game that should’ve been all that’s right about college sports becomes all that’s wrong
Coverage during game
North Carolina begins its football season in the game that almost wasn’t against Florida A&M at Kenan Stadium.
The Rattlers internally discussed canceling the game when they learned 20 players were deemed ineligible and could not make the trip from Tallahassee, Fla. They made it to Chapel Hill by 6 p.m. on Friday, but may enter the game shorthanded at a couple of positions starting with the offensive line.
The Tar Heels have many questions to answer with an offense that will introduce an entirely new group of skill players and a defense guided by the return of Gene Chizik as its coordinator. The News & Observer’s C.L. Brown, Luke DeCock and Robert Willett are at Kenan Stadium for all the action.
Check back here for updates during the game.
Hampton TD run: UNC 56, FAMU 24, 4Q
Omarion Hampton surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark with his second touchdown run of the game. Hampton’s 25-yard score gives him 14 carries for 101 yards with 8:14 left in the game.
Downs TD catch: UNC 49, FAMU 24, 4Q
Josh Downs caught his second touchdown pass of the game — and second that came after a FAMU turnover. DeAndre Boykins recovered a fumble at the FAMU 27 and Maye connected with Downs on the very next play.
Pettaway TD run: UNC 42, FAMU 24, 4Q
Freshman running back George Pettaway left four would-be tacklers in his wake as he juked his way to a 29-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the fourth quarter.
Davis TD catch: FAMU 24, UNC 35, 3Q
Trevonte Davis caught a 22-yard score from Moussa and the Rattlers stay within striking distance of Carolina with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter. FAMU’s five-play, 60-yard drive came after it stopped UNC on a fourth down.
Romo-Martinez FG: FAMU 17, UNC 35, 3Q
Jose Romo-Martinez kicked a 35-yard field goal as the Rattlers drive stalled at the UNC 18. Xavier Smith’s 23-yard reception on a third down was the key play to move FAMU into scoring position.
Hampton TD run: UNC 35, FAMU 14, 3Q
Carolina took its opening drive of the second half for a score highlighted by Drake Maye doing a John Elway impression leaping for the end zone from the 4-yard line and getting knocked feet over head out of bounds. Freshman Omarion Hampton ran the ball in from the 1 on the ensuing play for his first career touchdown.
Downs TD catch: UNC 28, FAMU 14, 2Q
Josh Downs thought he had a touchdown reception when FAMU was awarded a timeout before the play actually started. He thought he had one again when he was open, but Drake Maye delivered a low pass that he caught but was ruled down because his knee touched the ground. The third time was the charm for Downs, who grabbed a 2-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left in the first half.
Duck INT
UNC cornerback Storm Duck picked off a pass FAMU quarterback Jeremy Moussa tried to drop over his head for receiver David Manigo. Duck, who recorded his first interception since the Military Bowl in 2019, returned the pick 14 yards to set up a scoring opportunity at the FAMU 21 with 31 seconds left in the half.
McCloud TD run: FAMU 14, UNC 21, 2Q.
FAMU used a 12-play drive complete with a pair of fourth down conversions to pull within a touchdown of Carolina. Running back Jaylen McCloud capped off the drive with a 5-yard scoring run and all of a sudden, the Rattlers don’t look so undermanned.
Blackwell TD catch: UNC 21, FAMU 7, 2Q.
Carolina had its drive stall inside the FAMU 10 yard line, but on fourth down, Maye kept the play alive and found receiver Gavin Blackwell for a 6-yard score. Running back Omarion Hampton helped power the 83-yard scoring drive with two runs of more than 10 yards.
Nesbit TD catch: UNC 14, FAMU 7, 1Q.
Drake Maye went 3-for-3 on the possession capped off with a second touchdown pass to a tight end. This time, Bryson Nesbit made his first catch of the game for a 23-yard touchdown. The seven-play drive took just 2:52 to go 75 yards.
Davis TD catch: FAMU 7, UNC 7, 1Q.
The Rattlers answer Carolina’s scoring drive by using no huddle and tempo to keep the Heels off balance. Quarterback Jeremy Moussa connected with running back A.J. Davis for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
Morrales TD catch: UNC 7, FAMU 0, 1Q
Quarterback Drake Maye led the Tar Heels on a 78-yard touchdown drive, powered by his 42-yard scramble on a third-and-9. That run set up a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kamari Morales.
Grimes injury
UNC starting cornerback Tony Grimes is out for the remainder of the game with an upper body injury. Grimes tackled FAMU running back Terrell Jennings for a 4-yard gain on a third-and-1 in the first quarter. The pair appeared to have a helmet-to-helmet collision when Jennings lowered his head just as Grimes was going low to make the tackle. Grimes was taken to the locker room with 7:57 left in the quarter.
Redshirt freshman Donte Balfour replaced Grimes in the lineup.
Pregame reading
UNC opener will be played as scheduled despite Florida A&M eligibility issues
UNC opener will be more than a game — it’ll be a celebration of HBCUs
‘Ultra competitive’ Drake Maye credits his upbringing for winning UNC QB battle
UNC feeling mandate to ‘win more games’ in Year 4 of Mack Brown’s second tenure
UNC cornerback Storm Duck enters season with renewed health, restored confidence
One of most versatile players on UNC roster, tight end Bryson Nesbit ready to make impact
Expecting fewer defensive busts, UNC players buying into Gene Chizik’s simplified scheme
These six first-year players could make an impact for UNC this season
Fourth season of Mack Brown’s second UNC stint will tell tale of his return
Three things to watch as UNC takes on Florida A&M in Week 0 opener
This story was originally published August 27, 2022 at 7:39 PM.
