ATLANTA — For the first time in 18 years, the North Carolina football team is coming away from Atlanta with a win after a second-half comeback led to a 38-31 victory over Georgia Tech.
“Just a tremendous team win today,” Coach Larry Fedora said. “It took everything we had; all their will and all their effort, but as a team they got it done. And I’m really proud of the way they played."
After the Yellow Jackets (2-3, 0-2 ACC) scored on three consecutive drives to open the game ahead 21-0, the Tar Heels outscored the home team 38-10 and held Coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense to just 51 rushing yards in the second half.
Georgia Tech converted on 3-of-6 third downs and 2-of-2 fourth downs during the first half, but Gene Chizik’s defense held the Yellow Jackets to 2-of-7 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth downs during the second half.
“We didn’t get rattled really easy,” said sophomore running back Elijah Hood, who finished with 60 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. “We knew what we needed to do. I don’t know ... We just pulled together and in that second quarter we got some things rolling, we were able to get two quick touchdowns.
“All of the sudden we were back in the game.”
And UNC didn’t let up. Redshirt senior quarterback Marquise Williams led the Tar Heels (4-1, 1-0 ACC) to scores on four of six second-half drives after starting the game with back-to-back punts.
Williams led the team in passing, rushing and receiving thanks to a double-reverse pass, where senior receiver Quinshad Davis tossed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Williams.
“Count us out all you want,” Williams said after the game, “because we’re ready to keep shocking you, shocking you, shocking you (from) here on out.
