Five crazy stats from North Carolina's 63-61 win over App State

Zac Al-Khateeb

•
Five crazy stats from North Carolina's 63-61 win over App State image

It's not often teams score a combined 124 points.

In fact, the final score of UNC's 63-61 victory over Appalachian State on Saturday is unique in college football history. And while the propensity to forsake defense for offense isn't a new phenomenon in college football, even this game was distinct for the way it played out.

Case in point: North Carolina surrendered seven — as in, one-two-three-four-five-six-seven — fourth-quarter touchdowns, and still won. The key play, ironically, was a stopped 2-point conversion with 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter:

MORE: College football scores: Complete results, highlights from Week 1's top-25 games

With that, The Sporting News looks at the wildest and craziest numbers from a barn-burner in Boone, N.C.

10

As in, the number of combined fourth-quarter touchdowns between North Carolina and App State. The Mountaineers had seven to North Carolina's three, but ultimately could not convert on a 2-point conversion to send the game to overtime.

The App State scores, in order:

  • Nate Noel 1-yard touchdown (12:10)
  • Chase Brice 13-yard touchdown to Miller Gibbs (10:37)
  • Chase Brice 46-yard touchdown pass to Christian Horn (7:20)
  • Camerun Peoples 38-yard touchdown (4:00)
  • Nate Noel 1-yard touchdown (2:46)
  • Chase Brice 28-yard touchdown pass to Dashaun Davis (0:31)
  • Chase Brice 26-yard touchdown pass to Kaedin Robinson (0:09)

Despite the scoring explosion, the App State never led in the fourth quarter.

1,231

The combined number of yards between UNC and App State. The Tar Heels were out-gained 664-567 in the contest and, arguably, were lucky to get away with the victory.

Both North Carolina and Appalachian State passed for more than 350 yards (352 for UNC, 376 for App State) and ran for more than 200 (215 for UNC and 288 for App State).

3

North Carolina and App State combined for three touchdowns within the last minute of play: The two Brice touchdown passes at the 0:31 and 0:09 marks bookended a UNC score that nearly cost the Tar Heels a victory.

Following the first Brice touchdown at the 31-second mark, UNC's Bryson Nesbit returned an onside kick attempt and, instead of taking a knee and effectively ending the game:

The score marked the second touchdown of the day for Nesbit (following a 10-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye in the first quarter).

61

It's not often a team scores 61 points in a loss. In fact, per ESPN Stats & Info, Saturday's loss for the Mountaineers was tied for the sixth most points scored in a regulation loss since 1936.

The other teams that scored more than App State in a loss are, in descending order:

  • 2011: Toledo 66, Western Michigan 63
  • 2019: UCLA 67, Washington State 63
  • 2004: San Jose State 70, Rice 63
  • 2012: West Virginia 70, Baylor 63
  • 2007: Navy 74, North Texas 62

195

That's the number of combined penalty yards between North Carolina and App State. Again, the Tar Heels were out-performed in this category, committing 12 penalties for 115 yards; App State committed seven for 80 yards.

Just goes to show: Not even blistering offense and non-existent defense can keep teams from playing sloppy.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.