How are you supposed to pick a Player of the Game when there’s no real standout in a 34-9 drubbing? You absolutely can’t choose either of the quarterbacks, the defense just collapsed too much and didn’t get a single sack against the Knight offense, and there just aren’t any good numbers for the offense to single someone out. special teams didn’t hurt Carolina, but they also didn’t exactly sparkle either.
So we ultimately go with someone who didn’t make any bad plays and probably could have been utilized
a lot more—Demon June.
June started the game in the UNC backfield but kept getting shuffled in and out amongst the other backs when he wasn’t able to explode immediately. It was probably the wrong move as he still managed to average five yards a carry with only ten attempts, his longest run only being 13 yards.
It’s perhaps the biggest sign of just how underutilized he was when he wasn’t used at the UCF 12 despite having just gained five yards two plays prior to get them an easier to make third down. Instead, Gio Lopez tried a first down throw that was picked off and once again forced the UNC defense out on the field. By the time Carolina had the ball again the situations were such that passing was the primary option, and June would barely get any more run.
It’s clear that out of the stable of running backs that June has been the best option of the bunch these last two games. The question is just how much can Carolina rely on him now that Lopez is out and Max Johnson is going to be under center. Teams are likely going to stack for the run and force Johnson to have to throw, knowing he’s not a mobile quarterback and his one good drive relied on mostly being able to throw to his brother.
Still, on a day when you could point to just about anyone on the field and note a big mistake in terms of either a drop of missed coverage, June was perhaps the only person without any real negatives to note. That’s not saying a lot, but it does say a lot about Carolina’s prospects for a successful season from here on out.
