UNC vs. Western Carolina - Player of the Game: Michael Carter

Four years ago in his North Carolina debut, we gave Michael Carter our player of the game award. He went for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in a losing effort against Cal in Chapel Hill. Now in his final ever home game, let’s give it to him again.

The Tar Heels beat Western Carolina 49-9 in the final home game of the season, and the senior running back had himself a day.

On his Senior Day, Carter ran for 73 yards on eight carries, while recording one catch for six more yards. He scored three touchdowns, all in the first half, helping UNC basically put the game away. He didn’t get any more carries in the second half, but his job was done. His 73 first half yards was just five behind what the entire Western Carolina team had put up in the first two quarters.

Carter wasn’t the only senior who you could give player of the game to. In his final home game, Dazz Newsome had six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.

As far as non-seniors good, Sam Howell was quite efficient in his one half of football. The Tar Heels’ quarterback was 20-23 for 287 yards and two touchdowns before exiting the game at halftime.

It wasn’t too much of a surprise to see the offense rack up yardage against and blow out Western Carolina. Their attention now turns to a big game against a top ten ranked Miami team. However, it was nice that they could send the seniors out with one last home run. They did that, and Carter played a big role in it.