Despite squandering a 17-point first half lead, the No. 21 North Carolina football team (2-1, 1-1 ACC) put on a dominant offensive display to run away from Virginia (2-1, 0-1 ACC), 59-39.
What happened?
After tallying a career-high 104 rushing yards last week against Georgia State, UNC junior quarterback Sam Howell began the Tar Heels’ opening drive with a designed run to pick up a first down. Three plays later, he found sophomore wide receiver Josh Downs on the right side of the field, who outran several Cavalier defenders for a 59-yard score.
When Virginia regained possession, quarterback Brennan Armstrong found receiver Dontayvion Wicks up the seam for a 49-yard gain to move the ball to the UNC 19-yard line. However, Armstrong fumbled two plays later to hand the ball back to the Tar Heels. Following two explosive runs by graduate transfer running back Ty Chandler, Howell found Downs in the end zone once again on a diving 37-yard grab to extend the lead to 14.
Virginia was able to gain some offensive rhythm to the tune of a 10-play, 72-yard scoring drive capped off by a touchdown run by Wayne Taulapapa, but UNC immediately had an answer. Howell hit sophomore receiver Khafre Brown on a slant, who took it 75 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the drive.
After a Virginia punt, UNC drove down the field for the fourth consecutive drive but settled for a 36-yard field goal by graduate kicker Grayson Atkins to bring the score to 24-7.
The offensive spectacle continued on the Cavaliers' next drive, when Armstrong found an outstretched Wicks down the left sideline for a 40-yard touchdown to trim the deficit to 10 midway through the second quarter.
UNC looked destined to add another touchdown to its ledger, but Howell was picked off in the end zone by Fentrell Cypress, who returned the interception into Tar Heel territory. Virginia then capitalized on the solid field position to score another touchdown and make it a 24-21 game. After UNC missed a 54-yard field goal, Armstrong and the Cavaliers marched down the field for another touchdown score, giving Virginia a four-point lead heading into the break.
To open the second half, the UNC offense was jolted into prime field position after a 60-yard run by Chandler. Three plays later, Howell racked up his fourth touchdown of the night on a short pass to graduate tight end Garrett Walston to help the Tar Heels regain the lead.
