UNC freshman starting QB Drake Maye throws 4 TD passes in 1st half vs. FAMU

The Drake Maye era has arrived in Chapel Hill.

In his first start as UNC quarterback, the redshirt freshman threw four touchdown passes in the first half of Saturday’s opener against Florida A&M.

He added another in the second half to become the first Tar Heels quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in his first start, and the first UNC QB to toss five TDs in a season opener.

Maye comes by his strong arm naturally.

He’s a legacy Tar Heel; the son of Mark Maye, who led the ACC in yards per pass in 1986 as North Carolina’s quarterback.

Drake’s older brother Luke Maye hit the game-winning shot against Kentucky to send UNC basketball to the Final Four in 2017, and ultimately a national championship. Months later, Drake’s other older brother Cole Maye helped Florida baseball win the 2017 NCAA championship.

North Carolina’s Drake Maye (10) looks to pass against Florida A&M’s Dre Jones (40) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

Drake added to the family lore Saturday with a premier that included TD passes of 19 (to Kamari Morales), 23 (to Bryson Nesbit), 4 (to Gavin Blackwell) and 2 (to Josh Downs) yards in the first 20 minutes.

Maye also broke loose for a 21-yard run that set up one of those scores, and his TD pass to Blackwell came on fourth down.

Maye found Downs again with a 27-yard touchdown pass after Power Echols forced a fumble with 12:37 left in the game and he didn’t return to the field after that.

He had a first-half QB rating of 196.1, completing 19 of 24 passes for 177 yards.

Maye finished with a 189.7 rating. He completed 29 of 37 passes for 294 yards to go with his five TDs.

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Drake Maye becomes 1st UNC QB to throw 5 TD passes in 1st start