TALLAHASSEE — Omarion Hampton had four touchdown runs and a 49-yard TD reception as North Carolina cruised to a 35-11 victory over Florida State on Saturday.
Hampton racked up 172 rushing yards and 93 receiving yards and now has 14 touchdowns for UNC (5-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Hampton is a man of many yards, but not so many words. In the locker room after the game, coach Mack Brown asked him to give a speech. It was short: “Good job, O-line.”
The senior is just the fourth UNC player to have five rushing touchdowns in a game and surpass the 3,000-yard mark in a career.
“I can’t do it all by myself, so it’s definitely my O-line,” Hampton said. “They went crazy (Saturday). I feel like I just had to call them out. It’s really just a mindset of trying to get every game and everything like that.”
Brown, a Florida State graduate, earned his first victory over his alma mater. He was 0-3 against the Seminoles while at Tulane in the mid-1980s and entered the game 0-8 after two stints at UNC.
The longtime college coach said he thinks the offensive line is improving and so is his team. He enjoyed watching UNC pile up 289 rushing yards while holding Florida State to 42 yards on 28 carries.
“In college football, you have to run the ball,” Brown said. “You have to stop running. Rushing for 289 yards against this defense is really, really special.
Brock Glenn threw for 123 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown to Ja’Kee Douglas, as Florida State (1-8, 1-7) lost its fifth straight game. Luke Kromenhoek also completed 2 of 7 passes for 36 yards, but had two interceptions in the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles managed just 201 offensive yards and scored a season-low 11 points.
“Very disappointing result,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “They did a great job and really dominated the game in almost every phase — offense, defense, special teams. We have to be better than what we show.”
Ryan Fitzgerald made a 56-yard field goal in the first half for the Seminoles.
Rare company
Hampton is the first Tar Heel to rush for five touchdowns since 1981. After one touchdown, he stopped to celebrate with Natrone Means, a UNC star who is now an offensive analyst.
The Florida State record book only notes opposing players who have rushed for four touchdowns in a game. The last one? Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2016.
Abbreviated Seminole
With center Maurice Smith out, Florida State started an eighth offensive line combination in its ninth game. The Seminoles were without one of their best running backs, Cam Davis.
takeaway food
UNC: The Tar Heels averaged 5.3 yards per carry and went 11 of 16 on third down opportunities to run away with the win.
State of Florida: The Seminoles managed just 61 yards of offense in the first half, falling behind 14-3 and losing their fifth straight game.
Next up
UNC has a bye week and will host Wake Forest on Nov. 16.
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Florida State plays at Notre Dame on Saturday.
By BOB FERRANTE Associated Press
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