For just the second time since 1997, the North Carolina football team (3-3, 2-1 ACC) defeated Georgia Tech (1-4, 0-2 ACC) on the road on Saturday. The Tar Heel offense impressed, running 97 plays and accumulating 587 total yards en route to a 38-22 victory.
What happened?
After a Sam Howell interception halted UNC's opening drive, the Tar Heel offense got the ball back and drove downfield, eventually settling for a 32-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
The next three drives proved to be uneventful, as both teams punted each time. UNC ended the scoring drought with a 68-yard touchdown drive that lasted 10:25. North Carolina capped it off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Howell to Dazz Newsome to take a 10-0 lead with 6:30 remaining in the half.
The Tar Heels struck again right before the halftime whistle. With just 13 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Howell hit Beau Corrales in the endzone for a six-yard touchdown pass.
That touchdown gave UNC a commanding 17-0 lead going into halftime.
Coming out of the break, the North Carolina defense continued to dominate, forcing Georgia Tech into a three-and-out. The Tar Heels then drove 45 yards down the field to get Noah Ruggles a 39-yard field goal attempt. However, he missed the field goal and the ball turned over to the Yellow Jackets.
That must have given Georgia Tech momentum, as the team marched down the field on the next possession for its first score of the game. They capped off the drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass.
It took 8:11 for another score but UNC, extended its lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Howell found Dyami Brown in the corner of the end zone for a 18-yard pass touchdown to extend the North Carolina lead to 24-7.
