Category Archives: UNC Football

Lopez throws 2 TD passes, North Carolina beats Stanford 20-15

Lopez throws 2 TD passes, North Carolina beats Stanford 20-15

DOUG BONJOUR Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Gio Lopez threw for two second-half touchdowns and North Carolina’s defense relentlessly pressured Elijah Brown as the Tar Heels beat Stanford 20-15 Saturday for their second straight victory in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Jordan Shipp led the Tar Heels (4-5, 2-3 ACC) with 83 yards receiving on five catches. His 55-yard touchdown grab extended the lead to 20-3 early in the fourth quarter. Lopez, who was 18 of 25 for 203 yards passing, also connected with Davion Gause for a 20-yard score.

“Good win,” coach Bill Belichick said. “Good to win at home. Always good to win at home. Proud of our team.”

Brown, a redshirt freshman making his first start this season and the second of his career, threw for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception but was also sacked nine times.

Two late touchdowns, including a 24-yard catch by CJ Williams, made it a one-score game with 1:48 to play, but it was too little, too late for Stanford (3-7, 2-5 ACC), which dropped its third straight.

Williams finished with six catches for 61 yards, while Caden High added 10 receptions for 102 yards.

“I’m really happy with how Elijah fought back,” coach Frank Reich said. “Obviously, some of the protection stuff, he was just trying to hold on. He didn’t flinch, it didn’t faze him.”

The first half featured just 147 total yards and as many punts (six) as points.

Fittingly, North Carolina’s defense set up the first score when Andrew Simpson stripped Brown, allowing Smith Vilbert to recover at the Stanford 7. That led to a Rece Verhoff 27-yard field goal.

The Tar Heels’ 3-0 lead after the first quarter was their first since a Sept. 13 win over Richmond.

Ethan Kenney converted a 38-yard field goal on the half’s final play, making up for an earlier miss.

The takeaway

Stanford: Brown got into a rhythm after a quiet start, but protection issues were too much to overcome.

North Carolina: Considering how bleak things have looked early in Belichick’s tenure, the Tar Heels will take all the wins they can get. Sneaking into a bowl game is still a possibility.

Setting the tone

Melkart Abou Jaoude had three sacks, giving him eight in the last three games and 10 this season. Tyler Thompson also had three sacks and Simpson added two.

“When our defense shows up like that — they’ve been showing up the last couple of games — we’ve got to respond to them,” Lopez said. “It’s complementary football.”

Up next

Stanford hosts California on Nov. 22 following a bye.

North Carolina visits Wake Forest next Saturday.

Bill Belichick wins first ACC game as North Carolina rallies to defeat Syracuse 27-10

Bill Belichick wins first ACC game as North Carolina rallies to defeat Syracuse 27-10

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Demon June accounted for two touchdowns and nearly 200 yards on offense, Gio Lopez threw for two scores, and Bill Belichick won his first Atlantic Coast Conference game when North Carolina came from behind to defeat Syracuse 27-10. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Tar Heels (3-5, 1-3 ACC), while the Orange (3-6, 1-5) lost for the fifth consecutive time. North Carolina lost its previous two games by a combined four points.… Continue Reading

No. 16 Virginia edges North Carolina in overtime on J’Mari Taylor’s TD run

No. 16 Virginia edges North Carolina in overtime on J’Mari Taylor’s TD run

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — J’Mari Taylor scored on a 1-yard run in overtime, lifting No. 16 Virginia to a 17-16 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. The Tar Heels answered with Davion Gause’s 9-yard touchdown grab, but Ben Hall was stopped just short of the end zone on the ensuing 2-point try. Chandler Morris threw for 200 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Cavaliers (7-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who are off to their best start since 2007. Gio Lopez finished with 208 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Tar Heels (2-5, 0-3), who lost their fourth straight.… Continue Reading

Belichick says suspended North Carolina assistant coach is back working with Tar Heels

Belichick says suspended North Carolina assistant coach is back working with Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina coach Bill Belichick said suspended cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins has been reinstated and returned to work ahead of a visit from No. 16 Virginia. The school had announced Oct. 9 that it suspended Hawkins for “violating NCAA rules” tied to improper benefits. UNC’s statement didn’t specify a length of the suspension. It had also said he would remain on leave while the school “further investigates other potential actions detrimental” to the team and school. Belichick said Monday school officials “went through their process” with Hawkins and that he was back to work.… Continue Reading

Brent Austin’s goal-line heroics secure California’s 21-18 win over Belichick and North Carolina

Brent Austin’s goal-line heroics secure California’s 21-18 win over Belichick and North Carolina

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Brent Austin forces a fumble at the goal line and recovers it in the end zone, securing California’s 21-18 victory over North Carolina on Friday night. North Carolina was close to a go-ahead score when Austin knocked the ball loose. With 3:48 left, California regained possession. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele completed two key passes on the next drive, helping Cal run down the clock. Sagapolutele also threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score. Despite a competitive game, North Carolina remains winless against power conference opponents under Bill Belichick.… Continue Reading

Bill Belichick says he never sought an early departure from the North Carolina job

Bill Belichick says he never sought an early departure from the North Carolina job

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Bill Belichick has denied reports that he’s been seeking an exit strategy from his North Carolina coaching role. Belichick says “some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that, it’s just categorically false.” Belichick was making his first public comments since a blowout loss to Clemson. During the second of two off weeks in a three-week span, the subject of Belichick’s future with the Tar Heels was a hot topic, so much so that last Wednesday the university released brief statements from the coach and athletics director reaffirming commitments between Belichick and the school.… Continue Reading

Bill Belichick’s 1st season at North Carolina has run into problems on and off the field

Bill Belichick’s 1st season at North Carolina has run into problems on and off the field

Bill Belichick’s first season at North Carolina has run into problems both on and off the field. The Tar Heels are 2-3 but have lost in lopsided fashion in all three of their games against power-conference opponents. A person with knowledge of the situation said the school has also suspended an assistant coach while it looks into potential NCAA rules violations tied to improper benefits. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school hasn’t publicly discussed the suspension. UNC is off this week and next plays at California on Oct. 17.… Continue Reading

Dabo Swinney and Clemson find positives after a bye. Bill Belichick and UNC find more of the same

Dabo Swinney and Clemson find positives after a bye. Bill Belichick and UNC find more of the same

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney found reason for optimism while North Carolina coach Bill Belichick found only more of the same struggles in Saturday’s meeting. Clemson won 38-10 on the road. That included scoring 28 points in the first quarter. Both teams were coming off an open date after struggles in September. It marked UNC’s third blowout loss to a power-conference opponent in as many games this year for the 73-year-old Belichick. It marked the second time this year that the Tar Heels played much of the second half in a largely empty home stadium due to a lopsided score.… Continue Reading

Clemson rolls out of open date by beating North Carolina 38-10 in Swinney-Belichick coaching matchup

Clemson rolls out of open date by beating North Carolina 38-10 in Swinney-Belichick coaching matchup

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Antonio Williams threw a 75-yard trick-play touchdown pass to T.J. Moore on the first offensive snap to start Clemson’s dominating show in a 38-10 win at North Carolina on Saturday. The coaching matchup of Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and North Carolina’s Bill Belichick became a quick romp by the Tigers. Clemson scored 28 points while averaging 15.8 yards per play in the opening quarter. Cade Klubnik threw four TD passes by halftime. Benjamin Hall ran for a fourth-quarter touchdown for the Tar Heels with the outcome long decided.… Continue Reading

No. 3 Miami’s visit to No. 18 Florida State headlines ACC slate; Swinney vs. Belichick on undercard

No. 3 Miami’s visit to No. 18 Florida State headlines ACC slate; Swinney vs. Belichick on undercard

No. 3 Miami’s visit to No. 18 Florida State headlines the week ahead in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes are playing a third straight game against an instate opponent after beating South Florida and Florida. The Seminoles beat Alabama in Week 1 but are coming off a double-overtime loss at now-ranked Virginia. The schedule includes the 24th-ranked Cavaliers visiting unbeaten Louisville. Additionally, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and North Carolina’s Bill Belichick meet in a game between high-profile coaches leading struggling teams.… Continue Reading

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