Chapel Hill, N.C. – North Carolina's Michael Carter rushed for three first half touchdowns and Sam Howell tossed two TD passes as the Tar Heels defeated Western Carolina, 49-9, on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium in the final game of the fall semester for the Catamounts.
 
WCU freshman kicker Paxton Robertson split the uprights on a 40-yard field goal attempt at the 4:27 mark of the first quarter to pull the Catamounts to within 7-3. However, UNC (7-3) erupted for the next six offensive scores and led 42-3 at halftime. In the second half, Trevor Childers sacked back-up quarterback Jace Ruder, jarring the football loose where Nigel Manns scooped and scored from 42 yards out to provide the final tally, 49-9.
 
Will Jones finished 7-of-14 passing for 55 yards adding 11 rushing yards with freshman Kason Lincke, seeing his first career action, was 3-for-3 for 21 yards and 17 yards on the ground. Redshirt senior Donnavan Spencer accounted for 85 total yards including 52 yards on the ground and 33 through the air. Freshman tailback Mikai Stanley rushed for 46 yards on the day.
 
Howell finished 20-of-23 for 287 yards with the two TDs in two quarters of play while Carter ran for 73 yards to lead the Tar Heels on the ground.
 
Childers led the Catamounts defensively with nine tackles including the sack with Ronald Kent Jr., coming up with his first career interception as WCU forced three takeaways and scored its second defensive touchdown this fall.
 
Saturday's game concludes the fall portion of Western Carolina's 2020-21 football schedule. The Catamounts return to action in the New Year in Southern Conference play, traveling to Greenville, S.C., to face the Furman Paladins to open the spring league season.