Redshirt freshman tailback Giovani Bernard rushed for 149 yards and one touchdown to help lead North Carolina to a 35-20 win against East Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday.
Bernard, who has rushed for 548 yards and seven touchdowns in UNC’s five games this season, became the first UNC tailback since 1992 to rush for 100 yards or more in three straight games.
ECU had four first-half turnovers and UNC jumped to a 28-3 lead in the second quarter, but the Pirates came out in the third quarter and scored 10 straight to cut the Tar Heels’ lead to 15.
North Carolina responded with an eight and a half minute drive that resulted in a one-handed touchdown grab by senior wide receiver Dwight Jones.
In contrast to last week’s loss to Georgia Tech, redshirt sophomore quarterback Bryn Renner was not sacked by the Pirate defense, and he finished the game without a turnover for the first time this season.
Renner completed 13 of 20 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns.