North Carolina had plenty of contributors step up in its 35-3 victory over East Tennessee State, but a few players deserve a little extra recognition for their performances.
UNC racked up 427 yards of total offense while averaging 8.1 yards per play, allowing the Tar Heels to take control early and cruise to the lopsided victory. Defensively, the Tar Heels held ETSU to just three points and 255 total yards, limiting the Buccaneers to 77 rushing yards while creating consistent pressure and forcing multiple turnovers.
With that in mind, it’s time to hand out some helmet stickers.
Billy Edwards Jr. Delivers Efficient Performance
Edwards didn’t need a massive number of attempts to carve up the ETSU defense and earn his helmet sticker.
The UNC quarterback completed 15 of 20 passes for 244 yards and
two touchdowns without throwing an interception, averaging an impressive 12.2 yards per attempt.
Edwards helped the Tar Heels establish control through the air early, connecting with Thurman for a 24-yard touchdown to open the scoring.
He later found Hall for another touchdown as UNC continued to pull away.
More importantly, Edwards took care of the football and consistently pushed the ball downfield. His 75% completion rate combined with his explosiveness gave the Tar Heels exactly what they needed from the quarterback position.
That’s more than enough to earn Edwards a helmet sticker.
Jelani Thurman Emerges as Edwards’ Top Target
Thurman made the most of every opportunity that came his way, making him an easy choice for another helmet sticker.
The tight end caught all four of his targets for a team-high 71 yards and a touchdown, averaging 17.8 yards per reception. His biggest contribution came early when Edwards connected with him for a 24-yard touchdown to put UNC on the scoreboard.
Four targets, four catches, and a trip to the end zone earn Thurman his helmet sticker.
Xavier Lewis and Jaylen Harvey Wreak Havoc in Backfield
Lewis was one of UNC’s biggest disruptors up front.
Lewis finished with five tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss, consistently creating problems behind the line of scrimmage.
Harvey was every bit as disruptive coming off the edge. The edge rusher recorded three tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football helmet stickers for win over ETSU
