North Carolina dual-threat backup QB delivers solid performance in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Conner Harrell gave North Carolina a chance.

Missing seven starters in Duke’s Mayo Bowl Wednesday, including star quarterback Drake Maye, the Tar Heels turned to a redshirt freshman signal caller.

Harrell, a 6-foot-tall dual-threat quarterback, gave North Carolina a promising performance in a 30-10 loss to West Virginia. He finished with 18-of-27 completions for 199 yards while rushing for 39 yards.

“Gotta do better on every phase of the game,” Harrell told reporters postgame. “I think I did make some throws, scrambled sometimes when I needed to. Obviously I’ll get to see the film, see what’s going on, but I got some stuff to carry on.”

Harrell took the field for Carolina (8-5) inside a Bank of America Stadium whose lower bowls were covered in navy-and-gold from the start. West Virginia’s (9-4) fans dominated the crowd of 42,925, and the Mountaineers scored a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

It felt like West Virginia could blow the game open at the onset, but Harrell and the Tar Heels kept it close early.

Harrell was shifty, using his legs to create opportunities on the ground. Trailing late in the first half, Carolina’s offense was moving downfield and Harrell uncorked a toss toward the back corner of the end zone, where J.J. Jones made a fine catch to record the Tar Heels’ only touchdown.

“I thought Conner competed,” Carolina head coach Mack Brown said in his postgame press conference. “I didn’t think we helped him enough. We didn’t give him enough protection.”

Harrell actually tweaked his ankle during the first half, Brown said, causing them to limit his running game before trying to open the field more in the second half.

Harrell’s main blemishes were a pair of interceptions: one forced high pass over the middle, and then a fine one-handed pick by Mountaineers defensive back Tyrin Bradley.

“The second one was inches away,” Brown said. “The young guy made a great play. ... The guy jumped up and made a great catch, and Conner didn’t quite get it high enough. He’ll learn a lot from tonight’s game.”

Harrell hails from Alabaster, Alabama — south of Birmingham — and redshirted last year after a standout high school career. He’d appeared in four games during this regular season, backing up Maye. Brown emphasized that he was impressed with what he saw from his young quarterback.

As West Virginia head coach Neal Brown received the annual “Mayo bath,” Mack Brown spoke to his Tar Heels in their locker room. He told his players he was satisfied with their fight in a losing effort, as the skipper didn’t feel he saw anyone “lay down and quit.”

Some of his players won’t be suiting up in baby blue and white again next fall, but one of them at least indicated his intention.

Specifically, asked if he’d been promised a future opportunity yet in Carolina, Harrell said: “I’ll be competing for the starting job.”

Photos: North Carolina vs. West Virginia in Duke’s Mayo Bowl