Ball Durham
Fansided

Mack Brown and Sam Howell rejuvenating North Carolina Tar Heel football

By Kevin Connelly

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches him team play against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 21-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches him team play against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Clemson won 21-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Duke Football team will be taking on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday afternoon who have been rejuvenated by head coach Mack Brown and quarterback Sam Howell.

Expectations were low coming into the season for the North Carolina Tar Heels, but head coach Mack Brown and freshman quarterback Sam Howell have brought life back into the program that was a distant afterthought.

North Carolina was able to win its first two games of the season over South Carolina and the Miami Hurricanes, but the Tar Heels then hit a rough patch.

More from Ball Durham

Losses to Wake Forest and Clemson were sandwiched with a home loss to Appalachian State, the early down-point in the Tar Heels’ season.

However, the loss to Clemson was by one point and North Carolina may have completed the upset if the team was able to convert a two-point conversion with under a minute to go.

The Heels responded with a thumping of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets but are coming off of a crushing loss in six overtimes to the Virginia Tech Hokies last Saturday afternoon.

At 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, North Carolina still has dreams of becoming bowl eligible but a win against Duke on Saturday is a must if that dream wants to be accomplished.

Sam Howell is completing 61.1% of his passes with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.

Howell also has two dynamic weapons in the backfield to turn to in running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter.

Williams has 529 yards and three touchdowns this season while Carter has rushed for 478 yards, but has yet to find the end zone.

Running backs aren’t the only great skill position players on the Tar Heel roster as wide receivers Dazz Newsome, Dyami Brown, and Beau Corrales all have had monster seasons.

Newsome and Brown both have five receiving touchdowns while Newsome has 38 receptions for 479 yards and Brown has 26 catches for 477 receiving yards.

Corrales is right behind Newsome and Brown in terms of touchdowns as Correles has found the end zone four times in addition to his 23 receptions for 261 yards.

light. Trending. Game by game predictions for 2019 Duke Football season

It will be a heavy weight fight for four quarters on Saturday afternoon with kickoff set for 4:00pm EST in Chapel Hill between the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels with both teams desperately needing the win.

Home/Duke Football