Tar Heels trample Aggies 53-14

Chris Baird, Triangle Sports Network

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina Tar Heels took control early and cruised to a 53-14 win over the N.C. A&T Aggies in front of 44,000 in attendance at Kenan Stadium on Saturday.

Carolina, now 1-1 on the season, won its first game in four dating back to last season, using a cadre of three quarterbacks to post an offensive output of 463 yards.

Quarterbacks Marquise Williams, Mitch Trubisky and Caleb Henderson combined to complete 20-of-27 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed nine times for 110 yards and two more touchdowns for the Tar Heels.

Running back Elijah Hood recorded his first career multi-touchdown game, finishing with two.

He led UNC in rushing yards with 56, the second time in as many games this season he has led UNC in rushing.

The Tar Heels defense forced three turnovers – two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Linebacker Shakeel Rashad made the hit that caused the fumble which cornerback Sam Smiley returned 52-yards – a play that eventually set up Hood’s second touchdown.

North Carolina led 36-0 at halftime, and extended its lead to a 53-point margin with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

However, the Tar Heels defense yielded two late touchdowns as the Aggies finalized the game’s scoring with back-to-back scoring sequences to end the third and begin the fourth quarters.