Mack Brown after 2OT win vs. Appalachian State: 'I'm glad we don't play 'em anymore'

North Carolina coach Mack Brown is glad to be done with Appalachian State. After narrowly escaping the Mountaineers last season on the road in a 63-61 win, the Tar Heels again found themselves in trouble as Saturday’s contest but found a way to win 40-34 in double overtime.

Brown joined the ACC Network moments after the victory, offering his thoughts on the exciting finish. He joked that he is thankful the Tar Heels won’t play Appalachian State again for the foreseeable future, as Saturday’s game completed the two schools’ home-and-home arrangement.

“We messed up a bunch of stuff, but we did play hard and we did do it when it mattered at the end,” Brown said. “Give Appalachian State credit. I’m glad we don’t play ’em anymore. They played hard. They played great. They can run the ball and they played great defense. I’m proud of our kids. We can be a good football team. I’m just proud of them for winning, but this was a heck of a game.”

The North Carolina offense struggled in the first half as quarterback Drake Maye finished the first two quarters with only 43 yards passing. Appalachian State didn’t let up to start the third quarter either as it scored a touchdown to open things up and take a 17-10 lead.

The two teams traded blows throughout the remainder of the second half and things were tied at 27 entering the final minute. UNC had an opportunity to win in regulation, but missed a 39-yard field goal as time expired and the game went to overtime.

Both teams scored in the first extra period, and Maye had still yet to score a touchdown when the second overtime began. He made up for that with the biggest play of the game, running in an 11-yard score as the Tar Heels got the ball first. The defense then closed things out with a stop to escape with the win.

“He never panicked,” Brown said of Maye. “He just kept moving forward and he’s one of the best players in the country.”

Maye ended the game 21-of-30 passing for 208 yards in addition to 57 yards rushing in the win. North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton stepped up to lead the team with 234 yards rushing and three touchdowns with British Brooks out.

“I knew Omarion was about to break out at some point,” Brown said. “Glad it was tonight because we needed it.”

Like last season’s contest, this year’s featured a lot of offense as North Carolina and Appalachian State combined for more than 1,000 yards. Also like last year, the Tar Heels found a way to come away with the win and now can put the Mountaineers behind them for good.

UNC is off to a 2-0 start and will look to carry the momentum into Week 3 when it hosts Minnesota.