Miami falls again, this time to UNC, hampering conference title-game chances

A dreary week turned darker for the University of Miami late Saturday at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

That’s where the No. 25 Miami Hurricanes — replacing last week’s all-black Miami Nights neon uniforms with all-white Stormtrooper duds — failed to rebound from their devastating loss to Georgia Tech and fell to the No. 12 North Carolina Tar Heels 41-31 in front of a capacity crowd of 50,500.

UNC overcame a 17-14 first-half deficit with 24 consecutive points to take a 38-17 lead with 11:01 left in the game, before Canes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke threw his second touchdown pass to Xavier Restrepo — third overall — to cut the deficit to 38-24 with 7:14 left. The Tar Heels added a late fourth-quarter field goal to make it 41-24, and Van Dyke responded on the ensuing drive with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Brashard Smith.

But by then it was too late.

The loss dropped Miami to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and severely hampered its chances of earning a spot in the ACC title game on Dec. 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Tar Heels, who rose to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, have now defeated Miami five consecutive years. For the first time since 1914, UNC has scored at least 30 points in each of its first six victories.

The Tar Heels also committed 14 penalties for 147 yards — 3 yards off their all-time record in 1947.

Miami (seven penalties for 69 yards) had plenty of its own problems, including a situation in which defensive coordinator Lance Guidry was flagged by officials for unsportsmanlike conduct for running onto the field with just under three minutes left in the first half during a confusing situation in which UM coaches were trying to call a timeout. The ball was moved to the Miami 11-yard line and North Carolina scored three plays later to make it 14-14.

“The way our organization is built there’s no time for self-pity, there’s no time for negativity or pointing fingers or getting in a shell and balling up,’’ UM coach Mario Cristobal said. “It’s really addressing the things that we gotta get better at, getting away from things that we’re not really good at and getting better. That’s it. That’s all that we can be focused on.”

Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye threw for 273 yards and a season-high four touchdowns, including three to standout receiver Tez Walker in Walker’s second game at UNC after the NCAA finally ruled him eligible following his transfer from Kent State. UNC’s up-tempo offense showed UM’s defense a far-faster look than they had seen all season.

“Disappointed as a team, frustrated,’’ said freshman defensive end Rueben Bain, who forced a fumble and had one of UM’s five sacks. “I can’t stand losing. Hate it.’’

North Carolina rushed for 235 yards against UM’s No. 1 rushing defense coming into the game (58.2 yards-a-game allowed). Omarion Hampton averaged 8.2 yards a carry in tallying 197 rushing yards.

After UM coach Mario Cristobal’s decision last week not to take a knee and instead run the ball with 33 seconds left cost the Canes a victory against Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes vowed to put it behind them and surge forward. But this was not the result they imagined.

Van Dyke completed 31 of 48 passes for a season-high 391 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. UM wideout Jacolby George had a career-high 125 receiving yards on six catches.

The Canes turned over the ball four times, including two lost fumbles and Van Dyke’s picks.

“I’m not hurting. I mean we gotta be better,’’ Van Dyke said. “I feel good. I feel fine right now. Too many critical situations, turnovers, making mistakes… We gotta fix all that stuff.’’

Later, Van Dyke, who was officially sacked three times but got hit several times, disclosed for the first time that during fall camp he had three torn ligaments in a finger on his throwing hand, for which he wore a splint earlier this season. The hand got hit in the first half.

“It’s getting a lot better,’’ he said. “But there are time that if it gets hit I feel it a little bit. It’ll be all right. Feels fine now.’’

It was a wild first half for the Hurricanes, who led 17-14 on two second-quarter touchdown passes and a 28-yard field goal by Andy Borregales as time expired.

Van Dyke at that point was 13 of 20 for 180 yards and an 18-yard touchdown to Xavier Restrepo, followed about seven minutes later with an outrageously beautiful touchdown strike to George to put the Canes up 14-7. Van Dyke got a hard helmet to the chest by UNC linebacker Power Echols on the George touchdown, and was down on the ground being attended by medical personnel, but returned to the field on UM’s next drive.

The Tar Heels scored on a 56-yard bomb from Maye to Walker at 13:19 of the third quarter to take the 21-17 lead.

George was the intended receiver in the third quarter on Van Dyke’s pass that was intercepted by linebacker Cedric Gray. The Tar Heels took over at the Miami 23-yard line at 8:55 and scored three plays later on Walker’s 33-yard touchdown catch from Maye to make it 28-17 UNC.

The Heels made it 35-17 at 2:53 of the third quarter with Maye’s fourth touchdown pass, a 4-yarder to running back Omarion Hampton.

Miami returns home to Hard Rock Stadium next Saturday to face Clemson (4-2, 2-2) at a time to be announced. The Tigers were off Saturday.

“This team is special,’’ Van Dyke said. “We know what we’re capable of. We can’t fold.’’