CHARLOTTESVILLE — Despite a promising first half, the North Carolina football team fell to Virginia, 31-21, at Scott Stadium on Saturday. Cavalier quarterback Bryce Perkins led the way with a rushing touchdown and three passing scores on the afternoon.
What happened?
Virginia (6-2, 4-1 ACC) started its opening drive by methodically marching down the field for a touchdown, thanks to a 13-play, 83-yard effort. The drive was capped off by a 10-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Bryce Perkins.
UNC (1-6, 1-4 ACC) quickly responded with its own long drive. Although it took just four minutes and 23 seconds, signal caller Nathan Elliott marched the Tar Heels down the field 75 yards. On first-and-10 from the Cavaliers’ 30-yard line, Elliott connected with wide receiver Dazz Newsome on a deep route for a touchdown to tie the game at 7 in the first quarter.
Virginia got the ball back with just under four minutes remaining and wasted no time in regaining the lead. Two big plays catalyzed the drive — the first a 29-yard rush by Olamide Zaccheaus and the second a 27-yard touchdown pass by Perkins — to make it 14-7.
The Tar Heels punted on their next possession, but a long interception picked off by safety Myles Dorn gave UNC the ball back at its own 16-yard line early in the second quarter.
After back-and-forth possessions by both teams with nothing to show for them, the Cavaliers drove down the field to the edge of the Tar Heel red zone. A sack on second-and-10 by Jalen Dalton forced Virginia to kick a field goal, a 37-yard boot that increased the lead to 10 points.
Following the score, UNC seemed to have new life. The Tar Heels methodically moved down the field and on second-and-4 from the 50, wide receiver Beau Corrales caught a pass on the right sideline, sprinted a few yards, hurdled a defender and ended up with a 28-yard gain. Two plays later, Elliott found tight end Carl Tucker in the end zone for the score. It was Elliott’s second touchdown of the day.
The score held at 17-14 heading into halftime.
