3 Stars From UNC's Win Over App State

CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina improved to 2-0 on the season after defeating Appalachian State, 40-34, in double-overtime on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium.

The Tar Heels got a huge game from running back Omarion Hampton, and game-clinching touchdown run by quarterback Drake Maye in the second overtime period to get the win.

The Tar Heels defeated South Carolina in week one and will host Minnesota next weekend.

Here are 3 Stars from UNC’s win over App State:

The sophomore running back turned in his best performance as a Tar Heel by running for 234 yards on 26 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Hampton had six runs that went 10 or more yards, including a 68-yard TD, and in overtime, he took one in from 17 yards out. Thirteen of Hampton’s runs went for 6 or more yards.

His combination of pounding the line of scrimmage then quickly dashing through were paramount in the win, as without every bit of it, UNC likely would have lost.

Hampton has five rushing TDs in the first two games.

Okay: Left guard Ed Montilus couldn’t play so starting left tackle William Barnes moved to right guard and starting right guard Willie Lampkin moved to left guard. There, Lampkin teamed with tackle Diego Pounds, who was making then first start of his career, and they routinely opened up holes for Hampton to dart through.

Lampkin was at the core of it, using his 5-foot-11 height to his advantage by regularly getting great pad level into defenders, and turning them as he saw fit. Lampkin graded out at 79.6, according to PFF, which includes an 80.7 run blocking grade. It was a sensational performance by the transfer from Coastal Carolina.

The senior defensive end finished with six tackles, and his presence was felt much of the night, especially as the game went on. He was credited for just a couple of QB hurries, but he forced App State QB Joey Aguilar to scramble more and more, and as a result, his completion percent dropped over the final 25 minutes of the game.

Evans was credited with five STOPs, which are plays that result in failures by the opposing offense, and received an impressive grade of 82.7.