CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina's 49-9 senior day win over Western Carolina Saturday was as much about those players returning as it was about those who played their last games in Kenan Stadium.
UNC (7-3) coach Mack Brown has openly advocated all season for getting his underclassmen more playing time to develop depth. And when the Tar Heels cruised to a 42-point first half — which matched their production against Duke as their highest-scoring half of the season — Brown devoted the second half to getting a look at his young players.
Freshman quarterback Jacolby Criswell relieved Sam Howell on the first drive of the third quarter. Criswell got off to an inauspicious start, throwing an interception on his first pass attempt this season.
WCU cornerback Ronald Kent Jr. stepped in front of an out route to Justin Olson and took it back for a touchdown, but the score was nullified by an illegal block in the back penalty.
Criswell settled in and looked better even on a pass he didn't complete on the final drive of the third quarter. He showed off his accuracy and arm strength on a 40-yard throw to Antoine Green that likely would have been caught for a touchdown. But WCU's Aaron Gethers was beat on the play, so he purposely took a pass interference penalty rather than give up a score.
UNC ended the drive with freshman running back D.J. Jones getting his first career touchdown on a 2-yard run.
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