College Sports

Howell figures in 5 TDs, No. 24 Tar Heels rout Georgia State

Posted September 11, 2021 7:00 am

By BOB SUTTON

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) celebrates his touchdown run with wide receiver Antoine Green (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Sam Howell threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores as No. 24 North Carolina shook off the disappointment a loss in its opener with a 59-17 win over Georgia State on Saturday night.

Howell played a role in four of the Tar Heels' first six touchdowns. He completed 21 of 29 passes for 352 yards without an interception. He was picked off three times in a 17-10 setback at Virginia Tech a week earlier in the team's opener.

Howell's touchdown runs came on a 22-yard scramble for the game's first points, and on the junior's career-long 62-yard run in the final seconds of the third quarter.

Georgia State (0-2) was held to 90 passing yards. Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV was12 for 26 for 68 yards.

North Carolina's lead was 24-10 midway through the third quarter before the Tar Heels (1-1) used a 28-point burst in about 9ˆ½ minutes.

Tennessee transfer Ty Chandler scored his first TD for North Carolina on a 2-yard run in the third quarter.

Howell's touchdown throws in the first half came on a 57-yard connection with Antoine Green, and a 30-yard play to Emery Simmons. He threw for 5 yards to Josh Downs in the fourth quarter.

Georgia State's scoring drive in the second quarter lasted 17 plays and 7ˆ½ minutes, covering 75 yards capped by Brown's 4-yard run.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia State: Breakdowns on defense came too frequently for the Panthers, who've allowed a total of 102 points in two games. Five of North Carolina's touchdowns came on plays of 20 or more yards.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels were more productive than in their opener, but concerns regarding the offensive line surfaced again. They had only 33 first-half rushing yards, in part because of a pair of sacks allowed.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Tar Heels should remain in the Top 25, but it took time to turn this into a blowout.

UP NEXT

Georgia State: At home vs. Charlotte on Saturday.

North Carolina: At home vs. Virginia on Saturday.

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Georgia State running back Marcus Carroll (23) scrambles to recover a fumble ahead of North Carolina defensive lineman Myles Murphy (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

North Carolina wide receiver Emery Simmons (0) strides into the end zone for a touchdown past Georgia State safety Chris Bacon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

Georgia State running back Destin Coates (17) tries to get past North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray (33) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) evades Georgia State linebacker Jordan Veneziale (40) as he runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Associated Press

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