UNC football started the 2023 season with a statement win against South Carolina in Charlotte.
The Tar Heels (8-4) will end the year against West Virginia (8-4) in Charlotte on Wednesday, Dec. 27 (5:30 p.m., ESPN), aiming to salvage their season with another positive experience at Bank of America Stadium.
It’ll be the third meeting between UNC and the Mountaineers. Both of the previous games were in the postseason, with the Heels winning the 1996 Gator Bowl and West Virginia earning a win in Charlotte in 2008.
Here are some other things to know and a score prediction for the latest meeting between the Tar Heels and Mountaineers.
In mid-December, UNC announced that at least nine Tar Heels won’t be playing in the bowl game. That group includes quarterback Drake Maye, who announced his plans to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
That sets up redshirt freshman Conner Harrell to be the Tar Heels’ starter against West Virginia. Harrell appeared in three games, most notably in the second half of UNC’s 59-7 win against FCS program Campbell. In relief of Maye, Harrell went 4-for-4 with 71 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 61 yards and a TD.
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Despite a lackluster finish in the regular season, it wasn’t all bad for the Tar Heels. Sophomore running back Omarion Hampton emerged as a star and All-American as one of the ACC’s premier players. Hampton is fourth among FBS backs in rushing yards (1,442) and yards per game (120.2). He also has 15 touchdowns. If UNC is going to end its bowl skid, Hampton has to be great against the Mountaineers.
With 2,812 rushing yards, West Virginia has the top rushing offense among Power Five programs. The Mountaineers were the only group in the Big 12 to finish with more than 2,000 rushing yards in league games.
Dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene leads the nation’s signal-callers with 13 rushing touchdowns. With top running back CJ Donaldson set to miss the game, Greene’s production will be even more important. Greene had multiple touchdowns in the final eight games of the regular season.
West Virginia 33, UNC 26: The Tar Heels have lost three bowl games in a row. For a group that started the season 6-0 and lost four of its last six, it’s hard to imagine UNC turning things around with key starters not suiting up. West Virginia’s run game will be the difference.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
Accoring to Mike Casazza of 247 Sports, West Virginia University head coach Rich Rodriguez will retain assistant coach Chad Scott as part of his staff.
Scott spent the last six seasons under former head coach Neal Brown as the running backs coach and served as the offensive coordinator the last two seasons. He was also named the interim head coach for the Frisco Bowl.
The Mountaineer rushing attack ranked ninth among Power Four schools in rushing yards per game at 192.7 this past season and WVU was one of two FBS teams that has three players who have rushed for 630 yards or more.
Scott will be entering his19th season as an assistant coach. He began his career at Troy before taking jobs at Texas Tech (2010-12), Kentucky (2013-15), North Carolina (2016-18), Louisville (2019), and landed in West Virginia with Neal Brown in 2019.
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Sinks Grove, WV (WOAY)- In Sinks Grove, there is a small farm where there are some very happy animals. This farm also recently won the West Virginia Hive’s 2024 Pitch Southern West Virginia competition.
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Governor Jim Justice recently announced the winners of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources’ third annual Monster Trout Contest.
“Congratulations to these lucky anglers for reeling in some truly incredible catches,” Justice said. “As a lifelong angler I also want to thank everyone for sharing their monster trout photos during our fall trout stockings and showing the world that West Virginia is a premier fishing destination.”
The five lucky anglers each caught a tagged monster trout, which were stocked during the weeks of Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. Those stockings included 35,000 pounds of trophy-size trout and 6,500 pounds of monster trout, 100 of which received a pink tag. Anglers who caught a tagged monster trout had until November 22 to submit a photo of their catch with the tag number to win a prize.
Click here to view winning photos.
In addition to these five winners, 38 verified anglers who caught tagged monster trout and uploaded a photo will also receive a WVDNR water bottle and tackle box.
Governor Justice also reminded anglers that the WVDNR stocked trout on the Elk River in Webster County in November as part of a pilot program to evaluate the economic impact of trout stocking in the area. The stocking occurred at the usual stocking locations and included 750 rainbow trout. A second stocking will take place later in December and include another 750 rainbow trout.
All anglers 15 years and older are required to have a West Virginia fishing license, trout stamp and a valid form of identification while fishing for trout. Anglers who want to get a head start on planning their 2025 fishing adventures are encouraged to renew their license early online at WVfish.com.
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