As Drake Maye’s Hail Mary pass sailed through the San Diego sky, the North Carolina football team's final chance of having its first 10-win season in seven years hung in the balance. But in the battle to come down with the ball, the prayer from UNC's redshirt first-year quarterback was not answered.
The throw easily reached the end zone, but UNC's receivers couldn't fight through the mass of Oregon defenders to haul in what would have been the game-winner. After a tightly contested four quarters, Oregon came away with the 28-27 win in Wednesday night's Holiday Bowl.
Not everyone expected the game to be as close as it was though, as No. 15 Oregon was a 13-point favorite ahead of the game. UNC head coach Mack Brown said he was proud of the way his team performed.
“Nobody gave us a chance in the game, and we had a chance with one second left,” Brown said. “That’s all we could ask for in this situation.”
Despite reaching nine wins in its first ten games of the season, UNC limped into the bowl game with three-straight losses.
With a lucky tap of the heel with less than a minute remaining in the first half of Wednesday's bowl game, it seemed like UNC's fortunes were beginning to change.
Tied 14-14, Oregon drove into the red zone looking to go into halftime with the lead. However, a pass from Ducks quarterback Bo Nix fell short of his intended target and the ball bounced off the feet of linebackers Cedric Gray and Power Echols. The football fell right into Echols' hands, resulting in an interception on the 11-yard line.
Just a play later, Maye connected with redshirt first-year Kobe Paysour for a 49-yard touchdown. The momentum rapidly shifted as UNC went into halftime leading 21-14.
“In the first half, after we went up seven, that was the most fun I had the entire season out there tonight,” Maye said. “To see the guys, the energy on the sideline, all the smiles going into the locker room. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”
