CHAPEL HILL — The stands at Kenan Stadium were only half-full Saturday night — despite the “official” attendance of 48,364 — but those that braved the nippy 51-degree temperature at kickoff saw the best individual performance of the season for the home team.
This year’s squads in the fabled North Carolina–Wake Forest rivalry — the second-longest consecutively played game in the country — were having mediocre seasons, starting the night 11th and 12th in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.
But between the fairly evenly matched opponents, Carolina had one distinct advantage — a force-of-nature running back named Omarion Hampton — and the Tar Heels rode their star to a 31-24 victory…