UNC notes: Newsome opens with big day returning punts; Jones not called for targeting
Dazz Newsome likes returning punts against Syracuse.
As a sophomore, the North Carolina wide receiver returned one 75 yards for a touchdown in the Carrier Dome. As a senior, he almost bested himself Saturday.
After muffing an early punt to set the Orange up for a field goal, Newsome bounced back and racked up 93 yards on six returns in UNC’s 31-6 win. If it wasn’t for an illegal blocking penalty on corner Tony Grimes, Newsome would’ve had a 71-yard touchdown, too.
Instead, because of the 10-yard penalty on Grimes, that third-quarter score will go down as a four-yard return. Had it counted, Newsome would have ended the game with 160 punt return yards — just eight short of the 168-yard record by return man extraordinaire Ryan Switzer in 2015 against Illinois.
Newsome, a senior who had 1,018 receiving yards last season, added two catches for 25 yards and a 19-yard kick return in the No. 18 Tar Heels’ 25-point win. Here are more notes from UNC’s season opener.
Plenty of pass rush
UNC sacked Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito seven times, with linebacker Chazz Surratt and defensive lineman Tomari Fox each recording two.
Considering North Carolina had 31 total sacks last season, that was an eye-popping jump. The defense’s best performance last season was five sacks against Duke, and seven is UNC’s most since 2013.
Along with Surratt and Tomari Fox, linebackers Jeremiah Gemmel and Tomon Fox and defensive tackle Raymond Vohasek all recorded individual sacks.
Williams’ trifecta
Junior running back Javonte Williams, the power to senior Michael Carter’s speed in UNC’s backfield, certainly showcased that in the fourth quarter.
The Tar Heels led just 10-6 as they entered the fourth quarter, but Williams scored on a one-yard run on the team’s next drive. Less than two minutes later, he scored from six. Two minutes later, again.
Williams ended up recording three rushing touchdowns Saturday, all in a five-minute span, to give North Carolina the cushion it needed Saturday.
Last season, Williams had five total touchdowns on the ground. The junior became the first Tar Heel to score three rushing touchdowns in an opener since Ronnie McGill in 2004.
Special teams struggles
The Tar Heels had a rough first half in the third phase of the game.
First, shifty Syracuse wide receiver Nykeim Johnson broke multiple tackles en route to a first-quarter punt return touchdown only for it to be called back for an illegal (and unnecessary) crack-back block.
Later, Furman graduate transfer Grayson Atkins missed his first field-goal attempt as a Tar Heel, albeit from 50 yards. Newsome muffed the aforementioned punt at UNC’s 21-yard line, and Syracuse recovered the ball to set up its only score of the half, a short field goal.
And finally, on Syracuse’s final drive of the half, North Carolina’s Kamari Morales was called for roughing the punter on fourth and 16 at midfield. Instead of getting the ball back with a minute left, North Carolina went back on defense. Syracuse ultimately missed a 29-yard field goal.
Howell takes dangerous hit
Quarterback Sam Howell scrambled for 12 yards on UNC’s opening fourth-quarter drive, and Syracuse linebacker Mikel Jones met him right past the first-down marker.
Howell slid, but Jones dove into him and made helmet-to-helmetcontact. Flags flew, and referees hit Jones with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty — but they determined the play didn’t trigger a targeting penalty, to the surprise of many fans watching from home.
Howell wasn’t injured and finished the game 25 of 34 for 295 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
Fox designs team patch
On Saturday, North Carolina players wore a social justice patch on the front of their uniforms.
Senior linebacker Tomon Fox, an accomplished artist, designed the patch at the request of UNC’s 23-player leadership committee. The black and white patch features a raised fist, representing the Black Lives Matter movement, and the phrases Say Their Names, Peace, Justice, Freedom and Equality.
“I wanted our fans to be able to see what’s meaningful to us,” Fox said Friday in a team video. “We want them to see our values, what we’re pushing for. There are a lot of things bigger than football.”
Ezeudu, others sidelined
Joshua Ezeudu, North Carolina’s starting left guard, missed Saturday’s game with a lower body injury. Fellow sophomore Ed Montilus started in Ezeudu’s place as UNC’s offensive line allowed two sacks.
Three more North Carolina players missed the game because of upper body injuries: offensive lineman Ty Murray, defensive back DeAndre Hollins and freshman linebacker Desmond Evans, a five-star recruit from Lee County High School in Sanford.
No Wes Durham
ACC Network play-by-play announcer Wes Durham said early Saturday he wouldn’t be in Chapel Hill to call the game after receiving an “inconclusive” COVID-19 test earlier this week.
Although Durham tested negative Friday, his inconclusive test was too close to kickoff for him to attend. Dave Neal replaced Durham alongside analyst Roddy Jones and sideline reporter Taylor Davis.
Durham, who also does play by play for the Atlanta Falcons, said he’s clear to resume work Sunday. The Falcons host the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 4:07 PM with the headline "UNC notes: Newsome opens with big day returning punts; Jones not called for targeting."