UNC football rebounds from slow start, runs away from Miami in 41-31 win in Chapel Hill
North Carolina is still the “U” — that is, still unbeaten.
With quarterback Drake Maye throwing for four touchdowns Saturday, three to wide receiver Tez Walker, the No. 12 Tar Heels rolled to a 41-31 victory over No 25 Miami at Kenan Stadium.
The Tar Heels, moving to 6-0 this season, trailed 17-14 at halftime. But Maye and Walker teamed up for a 56-yard score, then a 33-yarder in the third quarter as the Hurricanes defense could not find a stopper for the speedy wide receiver.
Walker’s pleas to the NCAA for eligibility this season was a big storyline the first four games of the season. The transfer from Kent State, finally allowed to play by the NCAA, was the top storyline a week ago as he made his first appearance in the win over Syracuse.
But this was his first big game for the Tar Heels. 3-0 in ACC as the Charlotte native caught six passes for 132 yards and Maye passed for 273 yards. Maye’s fourth TD pass was to running back Omarion Hampton, who rushed for 197 yards on 24 carries.
Three takeaways from the game:
Maye big when it really counts
How many times has it been said: Drake Maye is super competitive. And he still should be a serious Heisman Trophy candidate.
The Hurricanes harnessed Maye and the Heels’ passing game in the first half, sacking him four times and limiting him to 8-of-19 passing for 105 yards. The Canes’ pass rush was relentless and then effective while Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke passed for 180 yards and two scores.
Then came halftime. Then came a different Drake Maye.
He twice hit Tez Walker for touchdowns. He found Hampton for his fourth TD pass of the game. He was a man in charge,
The Tar Heels might have to go undefeated for Maye to make it to New York for the Heisman ceremony. That’s the nature of the award. But he could get there.
Tar Heels’ D was tough enough
There were some questions how UNC’s defense would match up against the Miami offense and its big-play guys. The answer: well enough
The Tar Heels had problems pressuring Van Dyke in the first half as the Hurricanes gave him reliable blocking in the pocket. Miami had 273 yards in total offense, Van Dyke threw for two scores and the Canes led 17-14.
But the third quarter belonged to the Tar Heels and was decisive. Miami had minus-6 yards rushing and 32 yards of offense in all, turning the ball over twice – a fumble and interception – and allowing two sacks.
Van Dyke did make two nice TD throws in the fourth quarter -- a 13-yard TD to Xavier Restrepo and then a 54-yarder to Brashard Smith late in the game. But it was of the too-little, too-late variety.
Virginia has much work to do
Imagine being on the defensive staff for Virginia, which comes to Chapel Hill next week.
Maye, the Cavaliers know. They’ve now seen what Walker can do and why he was a preseason All-ACC pick before playing a game in the ACC. They’ve also gotten an eyeful of running back Omarion Hampton, who burst free for a 60-yard run in the fourth quarter on his way to a 197-yard game and also had a touchdown catch.
With Nate McCollum and J.J. Jones and a threesome of tight ends who can catch and run, the Tar Heels’ weapons are many and spread all over the field. And UNC played Saturday without wide receiver Kobe Paysour, out with a lower-body injury.
The Tar Heels had more than 500 yards of offense against an aggressive, quick Miami defense.
Updates from earlier the game:
UNC puts things away with FG
On the heels of a 60-yard scamper from Omarion Hampton, which brought his game total to 197 yards, the Tar Heels added points with a short field goal from Noah Burnette to extend their lead to 41-24.
Miami stays alive with TD
Tyler Van Dyke completed a pass over the middle to Xavier Restrepo for 13 yards and a touchdown with 7:14 to play in the fourth quarter, pulling UNC within 14 points.
That drive went 12 plays, 71 yards and took just 3:47. Hurricanes defense will have to hold UNC off the board to have a chance.
UNC field goal extends lead
After a methodical drive that went 39 yards over 3:53 over eight plays, Noah Burnette booted a 34-yard field goal for the Tar Heels to push the UNC lead to 38-17. The Tar Heels have no scored 24 unanswered points since trailing 17-14 at the half.
Drake Maye was 2-for-2 on the drive for 31 of those yards. He’s now up to 273 yards through the air and 4 TDs, 127 yards and three TDs to Tez Walker.
Heels open up 35-17 lead
Drake Maye’s fourth TD pass of the game, a 4-yarder to running back Omarion Hampton, has pushed the Heels ahead 35-17 with 2:53 left in the third quarter.
Maye has three TD throws to Tez Walker in the game, then rolled to his right for the short one to Hampton. The TD drive included a 30-yard throw to tight end John Copenhaver.
UNC has scored 30 or more points in the first six games for the first time since 1914.
Getting repetitive: Maye to Walker, TD
After a Cedric Gray interception at the Miami 23, Drake Maye and Tez Walker have connected for a third touchdown. On third-and-20 at the Miami 33, Maye found Walker crossing over the middle for the score and 28-17 lead.
Walker had an 18-yard TD reception in the first quarter and a 56-yarder on the first possession of the second half. Maye has passed for 201 yard and the three TDs, and Walker has five catches for 125 yards.
Maye to Walker, TD, again
The Tar Heels took the second-half kickoff and immediately jumped back ahead as Drake Maye teamed up with Tez Walker for their second TD connection of the night. Walker got behind cornerback Jaden Davis for a 56-yard score.
Walker forced a defensive holding penalty on Davis earlier in the possession.
For Maye, it was the 15th time in 20 career games the quarterback has had multiple TD passes in a game.
Halftime: Miami leads Heels 17-14
Andres Borregales’ 28-yard field goal on the final play of the first half pushed the Canes back ahead.
After a defensive stop by the Canes, quarterback Tyler Van Dyke moved Miami quickly down field, with a key play a 24-yard throw to Isaiah Horton.
The Canes have 273 yards of offense to UNC’s 218 in the half as Van Dyke has gone 13-of-20 passing for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Drake Maye has completed eight of 19 passes for 105 yards and one TD, and has been sacked four times.
Miami’s Jacolby George has five catches for 111 yards and Henry Parrish Jr. 70 yards rushing on 10 carries. UNC’s Omarion Hampton has rushed for 76 yards on 12 carries, with a touchdown.
Heels tie it 14-14
After falling behind, the Heels went 75 plays in nine plays to score as Omarion Hampton busted in from 2 yards with 2:05 left in the first half.
The Heels faced fourth-and-1 at the Miami 20 before Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry charged on the field and yelled at the officials and picked up an unsportsmanlike penalty. Hampton scored three plays later.
Hampton had runs of 12 and 14 yards early in the possession and wide receiver Tez Walker, who scored UNC’s first TD, had 20 yards on a reverse.
Miami takes 14-7 lead
The Canes went 92 yards in 11 plays to take the lead as Tyler Van Dyke, with a blitzing Power Echols coming at him, fired a pass to Jacolby George for a 35-yard TD with 5:17 left in the first half.
Van Dyke was shaken up on the play and had to be helped to the sideline.
The Canes converted a third-down play from their 11 early in the drive on Van Dyke’s pass to Xavier Restrepo, then a fourth-and-2 from the UNC 47 as Van Dyke scrambled and hit Isaiah Horton for 7 yards.
Canes tie it up 7-7
In a game that has been filled with penalty flags, the Canes tied the score 7-7 on Tyler Van Dyke’s 18-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo. The wide receiver took advantage of busted coverage by UNC and was open down the left sideline.
UNC has been called for seven penalties for 87 yards, including an unsportsmanlike conduct call against Stick Lane in the Miami drive. Miami has four penalties.
End of first quarter: UNC leads 7-0
Drake Maye’s TD throw to Tez Walker was the only score in the first quarter as UNC had 130 yards in total offense.
Miami sacked Maye three times in the opening quarter and constantly pressured the UNC QB, once causing a fumble, but was undone by its own mistakes. The Canes’ defense was called for roughing-the-passer and for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Offensively, the Hurricanes fumbled at the goal line, Ced Gray recovering for the Heels.
UNC defense comes up big
After UNC took the lead on Drake Maye’s TD pass to Tez Walker, the Hurricanes quickly move downfield, helped along by a roughing-the-passer call against the Heels.
Henry Parrish ran 11 yards to the UNC 1, but then fumbled on the next play, the ball hitting the knee of UNC lineman Jahvaree Ritzie. Linebacker Cedric Gray grabbed the loose ball in the end zone and ran it out.
Heels take 7-0 lead on Walker catch
UNC’s Drake Maye missed Tez Walker last week on what would have been a TD pass against Syracuse. Maye didn’t miss this time.
On third-and-goal from the 18, Maye hit Walker in stride on a slant for Walker’s first touchdown. It’s Walker’s second game since the transfer from Kent State was ruled eligible by the NCAA.
A 48-yard pass form Maye to J.J. Jones jumpstarted what would be an eight-play, 91-yard drive. Maye had an 11-yard run and Omarion Hampton a 16-yard run. The Heels were called for a holding penalty inside the Miami 10, but on third down Walker, lined up to the right, found a clear lane inside the cornerback.
Injuries: Kiernan out for year; Kobe Paysour sidelined
UNC punter Ben Kiernan will be sidelined for the season with a lower-body injury, UNC announced Saturday. Kiernan, who was on crutches before Saturday’s game, was injured against Syracuse after grabbing a blocked punt and running for a first down, absorbing a big hit at the sideline.
UNC also said wide receiver Kobe Paysour would be sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. According to the television broadcast, Paysour broke his foot in practice on Tuesday.
