The Herald-Sun from Durham, North Carolina • B1

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10 2021 1BFACEBOOK.COM/THEHERALDSUN TWITTER.COM/THEHERALD_SUNHERALDSUN.COM Sports THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS TRAVEL TO MINNESOTA FOR A GAME AGAINST THE VIKINGS. Go to heraldsun.com/eedition and click on the section called NFL WEEK 14 KICKS OFF Rod should keep a video clip of the play handy for whenever the Carolina Hur- ricanes coach needs a visual reminder for a power-play meet- ing. It was in the final minute of the second period Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The Canes, tied 2-2, were on the power play after Vincent Tro- check had been cross-checked by the Josh Morrissey. In short, the Canes attacked the net and goalie Connor Hel- lebuyck in numbers.

Seth Jarvis took a shot from the left circle that hit Hellebuyck in the chest. Jordan Staal, in front of the crease, whacked at the loose puck, then Nino Niederreiter. Jarvis, skating in on the back- side, had an open net but go backhand to fore- hand and score, but Martin Necas was open in the low slot to collect the puck and knock a shot past Hellebuyck. The Canes led 3-2 with 20 seconds left in the period and won 4-2 as Trocheck added a second pow- er-play goal in the third. When Necas scored, there were four Hurricanes players lurking around the net, crowd- ing Hellebuyck.

It helped that the Paul Stastny had bro- ken his stick, but the goal was as much about num- bers and simple persistence as taking advantage of a stick break. As the Sebastian Aho put it, there was some real hun- ger involved by the five players on the ice something missing during the recent power- play woes. Or as Staal put it recently, the Canes needed to more in front of the goalie on the power play. That was there, too, on the Ne- cas goal. During the recent downturn, they went seven straight games and 17 power plays without scoring.

They had not scored more than one pow- er-play goal in a game since Oct. 23 against Columbus. It was puzzling, given the skill players, and hard for them to pinpoint the reasons why they struggled. The Canes missed defense- men Tony DeAngelo and Brett Pesce, who quarterbacked the power-play units before entering the NHL COVID-19 protocol on Nov. 29 the two were cleared Wednesday to resume hockey activities.

But that was just a part of the problem. a little over- thinking and sometimes maybe trying to look for something not Aho said last week. we have to sim- Canes fixed their power play with simplicity BY CHIP ALEXANDER FRED GREENSLADE AP Carolina Vincent Trocheck (16) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Andrei Svechnikov (37) during the game Tuesday in Winnipeg, Manitoba. SEE CANES, 3B North Carolina coach Mack Brown tried to bring clarity on Sam future, where still some confusion, while speaking Wednesday about the Tar invitation to the Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. Howell, a junior quarterback, will be playing in the game against South Carolina on Dec.

30 in Bank of America Stadium. What is still somewhat unclear is if it will be the last game in a UNC uniform for Howell before he embarks on an NFL career. really excited about Sam Howell playing and all accomplished and what Brown said. could be his last game. He told us for sure the part that has some Carolina fans wondering if Howell is open to the possibility of returning for his senior sea- son.

He participated in Senior Day activities during the win over Wofford 34-14 on Nov. 20. But even that week before the game, Howell said he made a decision about his fu- ture. His reasoning for being involved with Senior Day was because he will complete his undergraduate degree this semester. Brown is still proceeding as if Howell is going to leave.

Brown has been saying since last sea- son that Howell would leave for the NFL after this season be- cause his draft stock is so high. going to be a first- round draft choice in my esti- Brown said. family is getting information just like all the other guys to make that decision. Normally, told our guys if a first-rounder, go, but he want to be a distraction for the Brown added that ultimately up to a player and his family to make the decision on wheth- er or not to turn pro early and the UNC staff should out of those decisions other than providing feedback from NFL sources about where they may be picked in the draft. Howell is all-time leader in passing yards and total offense.

thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 36 games played in in- cluding his first game as a freshman against the Game- cocks in the 2019 season open- er. He has only missed one start the past three seasons, when he sat out against Wofford. Pro Football Focus projected Howell as the 18th overall pick of the first round in its latest NFL mock draft. The only other quarterbacks it has rated higher than Howell are Kenny Pickett and Matt Corral. Brown pointed out that many players projected that high would have already shut things down, but Howell returned to action after suffering a shoulder injury against Pitt to play the regular-season finale against N.C.

State. lot of guys would not have played in our last game because they had a hurt Brown said. worried about the NFL so he would have just not played in that game. And not only did he play in the game, he said, me, man. Do whatever we need to do to win the an unbelievable young guy and he is tough as Losing the games at Pitt and at N.C.

State late, Brown said really important to Howell that the Heels finish strong. want to talk about him before this game, he knows this important for Brown said. finish a couple that would have given us eight wins, and have a chance to win nine games in the bowl game. And we came short on those games. So really important to him that we finish The Heels will have a good chance to with a full roster.

Running back Javonte Williams, now with the Denver Broncos, notified the staff last season a week before the Orange Bowl appearance against Texas that he going to play. Brown said the staff met with players on Sunday and checked to see if anyone was opting out of the game. So far, no one has. we had one pull out really late last year, so it could still Brown said. Howell still could return for his senior year, too, but Brown and Carolina just plan- ning on it.

C.L. Brown: ROBERT WILLETT North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) celebrates the Tar 59-39 victory over Virginia on Sept. 18. Howell threw for 307 yards and five touchdowns. Howell has stayed quiet on whether he will be returning next season.

Brown not reading into silence on draft BY C.L. BROWN been a good week for Cleveland High School football star Omarion Hampton. On Tuesday, he was named the N.C. Gatorade player of the year. Wednesday night, he earned the top football honor, being named The Char- lotte Mr.

Football North Carolina. Hampton is a 6-foot, 215- pound senior ranked No. 11 nationally at his position by 247 Sports. expected to sign next week with Mack North Carolina Tar Heels dur- ing the Early Signing Period. He will play in the All- American Bowl on NBC in January.

has just been a special, special player at Cleve- land High said Chris Hughes, a longtime N.C. foot- ball analyst and co-host on The Talking Preps show. think a guy who can show up on campus at the Uni- versity of North Carolina and be their starting running back on Day This season, Hampton ran for 1,948 yards and 39 touchdowns on 182 carries. He caught 11 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Counting returns, he amassed 2,428 yards and 43 touchdowns for a Cleveland team that finished 11-1 and was conference champion.

For his career, Hampton rushed 517 times for 5,370 yards and 88 touchdowns. AThere were three finalists for the Mr. Football award. The other two were Chambers run- ning back Daylan Smothers and Rolesville quarterback Byrum Brown. Langston Wertz 704-358-5133, ETHAN HYMAN Omarion Hampton, running back at Cleveland High School in Clayton, N.C., poses outside the school on December 1.

Cleveland Hampton named Mr. Football in NC BY LANGSTONWERTZ JR. Omarion career rushing statistics Year Carries Yards TD Team Record 2021 161 1,948 39 11-1 2021 (spring 58 685 13 2019 250 2,402 35 12-2 2018 48 335 11 12-3.