North Carolina Looks To Bounce Back As They Host Appalachian State

After suffering their first setback of the season on the road in Winston Salem against Wake Forest last Friday North Carolina will look to bounce back when they host Appalachian State on Saturday who unlike them had a bye last week.

North Carolina who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 2-1 while Appalachian State who is a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

As for North Carolina’s previous game ,

As stated above they lost to Wake Forest in Winston Salem.

North Carolina is in the Coastal Division while Wake Forest is in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

On Friday night Mack Brown had his first setback in his return as head coach in Chapel Hill as North Carolina lost their first game of the season in Winston Salem.

Jamie Newman came up with a pair of big plays on a clock-draining fourth-quarter drive, helping Wake Forest hold off North Carolina's comeback bid for a 24-18 win Friday night. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

Newman hit Scotty Washington for a 27-yard gain, then had a 4-yard scramble on third down to keep possession to help the Demon Deacons (3-0) take 5 minutes off the clock and add a field goal to a dwindling lead. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

UNC (2-1) had a final drive with no timeouts with a chance for a third straight fourth-quarter comeback, but the game ended when Michael Carter didn't get out of bounds in time on a run to set up a final desperation heave from just across midfield. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

Wake Forest dominated the first half to lead 21-0, only to see freshman quarterback Sam Howell lead the Tar Heels on two fourth-quarter TD drives to get back in it. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

The win came in an unusual setting: a game between instate Atlantic Coast Conference teams that was designated as a nonconference matchup that didn't count in the league standings. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

The teams had agreed in 2015 to play this year and in 2021 instead of waiting until 2022 for their next ACC matchup amid the 14-team league's scheduling rotation for teams in opposite divisions. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

Unlike North Carolina. Appalachian State is undefeated. Their last game was on September 7th when they defeated Charlotte.

Appalachian State ended the first half even more impressively than the Mountaineers began it, resulting in some helpful separation during a 56-41 victory against Charlotte on Saturday.

They needed every bit of it, with Darrynton Evans answering each big second-half play from the 49ers. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

"Any win is a good win," first-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. "I'm really proud of some guys stepping up and making some individual great plays." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

In a White Out game that drew 29,182 fans to The Rock, Evans rushed for a career-high 234 yards and totaled four touchdowns, including an 87-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and a 68-yard touchdown run after Charlotte had cut its deficit to 42-34 midway through the fourth quarter. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

The 49ers scored again on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 3:17 remaining, but Evans fielded the onside kick and sprinted 45 yards untouched for his school-record third touchdown via a kickoff return in his career. He finished with 298 all-purpose yards, and Shaun Jolly's first career interception in the final minute sealed the victory for App State (2-0). “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

"Up front, the O-line, they did a good of job of opening up holes and pushing people where they need to be," Evans said. "Then, coaches with the play calls, they saw the right things up top, and relayed it down to the coaches on the field. We made it happen." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

In addition to Evans' heroics, Zac Thomas had three touchdown passes, including scoring connections of 10 and 73 yards with Jalen Virgil. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

Evans' career-long run gave App State the lead for good in the early going, but the 49ers (1-1) had possession facing a 14-13 deficit in the final 90 seconds of the half. Big plays on defense and special teams turned the one-point lead into a 28-13 advantage at the break.

Demetrius Taylor's forced fumble on a sack led to Jordan Fehr's fumble recovery at the Charlotte 10, and Thomas threw a touchdown pass to Virgil on the next play to extend App State's lead with 1:14 left before halftime. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

"Being able to make a big turnover like that, it's huge for our offense to give them life," Fehr said.”according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

After using three timeouts while the App State defense forced a three-and-out punt, Jolly used his right hand to block the kick. D'Marco Jackson scooped up the loose ball at the Charlotte 16 and raced down the left sideline to score his first career touchdown with 39 seconds remaining in the quarter. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

Charlotte never had possession while facing a one-score deficit the rest of the way. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

"I just saw it was a country ball, and we practice it over and over," Jackson said. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

A country ball? “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

"Nobody's around it," Jackson said. "Just an easy scoop and go." “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

The 49ers opened the third quarter with a touchdown drive to again make it a one-possession game, but Evans' 3-yard touchdown run on the next series and Virgil's 73-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter increased App State's lead to 42-20. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

Thomas absorbed a big hit while unleashing the deep throw to Virgil, who caught the ball at the Charlotte 42 and sprinted the rest of the way. Last week, Thomas and Virgil barely missed a big play on a slightly overthrown deep ball against East Tennessee State.”according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

"Me and Zac actually live together," Virgil said, "and he was telling me, 'Man, I can't believe I overthrew you on that post.' I was like, 'Man, we're going to end up getting it eventually.' " “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

Virgil, who finished with three catches for 86 yards, also gained 45 yards on his first career kick return. Thomas Hennigan had a receiving touchdown for the second straight game, scoring on a 5-yard pass from Thomas late in the first quarter, and Malik Williams set career highs for both catches (six) and receiving yards (73). “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

Taylor and Noel Cook posted 2.5 tackles for loss to lead App State's defense, Nick Hampton produced 1.5 sacks and Akeem Davis-Gaither had a hand in two sacks while recording a team-high nine tackles. “according to https://appstatesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-evans-provides-repeated-answers-in-app-state-win-over-49ers.aspx

Kick-Off is set for 3:30pm from Kenan Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network.