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FOOTBALL

North Carolina Routes Mercer On Senior Day In Chapel Hill

North Carolina was able to send their seniors out on top in Chapel Hill with their win over Mercer.

Sam Howell threw for three first-half scores to set a single-season record for the most TD throws by a true freshman in Bowl Subdivision history as North Carolina beat Mercer 56-7 in its home finale Saturday. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/23/football-tar-heels-dominate-mercer-on-senior-day-56-7.aspx

Howell completed 10 of 13 passes for 152 yards and scores of 66, 4 and 33 yards in a dominating opening half for the Tar Heels (5-6). That gave him 32 TD throws on the year to surpass Trevor Lawrence's 30 for eventual national champion Clemson last year as the most by a true freshman in FBS history, according to Sportradar. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/23/football-tar-heels-dominate-mercer-on-senior-day-56-7.aspx

Howell's TD total also broke the program's single-season record for any player (30) set by eventual No. 2 overall NFL draft pick Mitch Trubisky in 2016.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/23/football-tar-heels-dominate-mercer-on-senior-day-56-7.aspx

The Tar Heels scored touchdowns on their first six drives to lead 42-0 before the break, showing no trouble handling an overmatched Championship Subdivision opponent nor the cold and steady rain that lasted much of the way. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/23/football-tar-heels-dominate-mercer-on-senior-day-56-7.aspx

Michael Carter ran for 159 yards and three scores for UNC, including a 60-yarder on the first offensive snap after halftime.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/23/football-tar-heels-dominate-mercer-on-senior-day-56-7.aspx

Tyray Devezin ran for 53 yards for the Bears (4-8), allowing him to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the season. But Mercer had 225 total yards and barely avoided matching its most lopsided loss since relaunching the football program in 2013 after a 72-year hiatus. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/11/23/football-tar-heels-dominate-mercer-on-senior-day-56-7.aspx

While North Carolina was able to send their seniors out on top Mercer meanwhile concluded their 2019 season.

Tyray Devezin became the second player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, but North Carolina ran away with a 56-7 victory over Mercer in the Bears' season finale at Kenan Memorial Stadium Saturday evening. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2019/11/23/football-mercer-drops-season-finale-at-unc.aspx

Mercer (4-8) saw its 2019 campaign come to an end as they were overmatched by the Tar Heels (5-6) out of the gates. Carolina scored twice in the first 3:21 of the game to take the early, 14-0 lead and tacked on four more touchdowns in the first half to carry a 42-0 lead into the break. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2019/11/23/football-mercer-drops-season-finale-at-unc.aspx

The Bears got on the board in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Harrison Frost led a 10-play, 90-yard drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown pass to Kareem Rogers. Frost finished 5-for-9 with 92 yards through the air. “according to https://mercerbears.com/news/2019/11/23/football-mercer-drops-season-finale-at-unc.aspx

On Saturday in North Carolina’s state capital North Carolina will look to become bowl eligible when they visit NC State.