Miami Hurricanes Five Keys to Victory Against North Carolina
![Sep 17, 2016; Boone, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mark Richt looks on during the third quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports Sep 17, 2016; Boone, NC, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mark Richt looks on during the third quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/4f366db1e97dd129db0acdb6363006823fabeb735c3b73b7cd631ae8cba0d227.jpg)
Establish the Run
The Hurricanes running game was putrid against the Tar Heels last season. The three Hurricanes that carried the ball against the Tar Heels last season, Joseph Yearby, Mark Walton and Trayone Gray had 45 yards on 15 carries in the first half against UNC in 2015.
They did better in the second half after Carolina built the big lead. They finished the game with 134 net rushing yards on 28 carries between Yearby, Walton, and Gray. Yearby finished with 74 yards on 13 carries as the Hurricanes scored 21 points in the second half.
After being one the best teams in the country running the football through the first three weeks, the Hurricanes have struggled the last two weeks against Georgia Tech and Florida State. They still average 198.4 rushing yards per game but have averaged just 88 yards in the last two games.