Courtesy of Miami Athletics:
More than once in recent years, matchups against North Carolina have been nothing short of a nightmare for the Miami Hurricanes.
Entering their game at Kenan Stadium, the Hurricanes had lost five straight to the Tar Heels. They hadn’t won in Chapel Hill since 2017.
That frustration all came to an end Saturday night.
After falling behind early in the fourth quarter, No. 1 Miami scored a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the game’s final eight minutes to escape with a 38-35 win over North Carolina in a crucial ACC matchup.
The win keeps the Hurricanes unbeaten and atop the ACC standings. And it was some of Miami’s top playmakers that delivered in the game’s biggest moments.
With the Hurricanes clinging to a 31-28 lead, Miami’s defense – which struggled at times to contain North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and the Tar Heels passing attack – sacked Edwards and forced a turnover.
Defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot sacked Edwards and forced the ball loose, it was recovered by fellow lineman Justin Scott and six plays later, Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah connected with wide receiver Malachi Toney on a 9-yard touchdown play that proved the difference on this night, especially given that North Carolina drove down the field again on its final possession.
Mensah finished the night completing 22 of 29 passes and throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, while Toney had seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., meanwhile, had 13 carries for 43 yards with three scores on the night, including a receiving touchdown.
The Hurricanes, who got the ball to open the game, did what they have so often this season – scored to take a quick lead.
Mensah, who came into Saturday’s game as the national leader in completion percentage, led the Hurricanes down the field on a 13-play, 74-yard drive that ended when he connected with Toney on a beauty of a 2-yard scoring pass the receiver caught over his shoulder for the touchdown.
On that drive, the Hurricanes (8-0, 6-0 ACC) converted on three third-down opportunities with Mensah scrambling twice to keep the Miami offense on the field.
But North Carolina, which had won two of its last three before facing the Hurricanes, didn’t seem to be intimidated by the fact they were lining up against the nation’s top-ranked team.
After the two teams traded possessions in the first quarter, North Carolina (4-4, 2-3) tied the game in the opening minutes of the second when Edwards Jr. found tight end Jelani Thurman on an 8-yard scoring pass that capped an 11-play, 84-yard scoring drive.
The Hurricanes answered on their next possession, regaining the lead when running back Mark Fletcher Jr. lined up behind a trio of Miami tight ends, caught a pass from Mensah and sprinted up the field for a 31-yard touchdown.
Again, though, North Carolina responded, tying it when Edwards and Thurman connected on another 8-yard scoring play. This time, the drive went 75 yards on 12 plays.
By halftime, the Tar Heels had totaled 152 passing yards – their second highest total in a half this season.
Miami did get the ball back in the final minutes of the second half, but the Hurricanes weren’t able to find the end zone, instead settling for a 25-yard field goal from Jake Weinberg that sent them into the locker room with a 17-14 lead.
The second half brought more pressure from the Tar Heels, who not only kept pace with the Hurricanes, but took the lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
And again, it was a touchdown pass from Edwards that put points on the board.
This time, the graduate transfer from Wisconsin threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordan Shipp that put the Tar Heels ahead 21-17 with 10:51 left in the third.
The Tar Heels’ lead wouldn’t last long, though.
The Hurricanes responded with an 8-play, 80-yard drive that culminated when Fletcher scored on a 2-yard run that was upheld after a brief review.
It was the 34th rushing touchdown of Fletcher’s Miami career. He now needs just one more touchdown run to tie Stephen McGuire on the Hurricanes’ all-time career list.
But Fletcher and the Hurricanes weren’t done.
After North Carolina took a 28-24 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run from Demon June, Fletcher tied McGuire’s record and put the Hurricanes back on top when he capped a 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with Miami facing a 4th-and-1 situation.
It was Fletcher’s third touchdown of the night, and it put Miami ahead 31-28.
More than once in recent years, matchups against North Carolina have been nothing short of a nightmare for the Miami Hurricanes.
Entering their game at Kenan Stadium, the Hurricanes had lost five straight to the Tar Heels. They hadn’t won in Chapel Hill since 2017.
That frustration all came to an end Saturday night.
After falling behind early in the fourth quarter, No. 1 Miami scored a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the game’s final eight minutes to escape with a 38-35 win over North Carolina in a crucial ACC matchup.
The win keeps the Hurricanes unbeaten and atop the ACC standings. And it was some of Miami’s top playmakers that delivered in the game’s biggest moments.
With the Hurricanes clinging to a 31-28 lead, Miami’s defense – which struggled at times to contain North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and the Tar Heels passing attack – sacked Edwards and forced a turnover.
Defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot sacked Edwards and forced the ball loose, it was recovered by fellow lineman Justin Scott and six plays later, Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah connected with wide receiver Malachi Toney on a 9-yard touchdown play that proved the difference on this night, especially given that North Carolina drove down the field again on its final possession.
Mensah finished the night completing 22 of 29 passes and throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, while Toney had seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., meanwhile, had 13 carries for 43 yards with three scores on the night, including a receiving touchdown.
The Hurricanes, who got the ball to open the game, did what they have so often this season – scored to take a quick lead.
Mensah, who came into Saturday’s game as the national leader in completion percentage, led the Hurricanes down the field on a 13-play, 74-yard drive that ended when he connected with Toney on a beauty of a 2-yard scoring pass the receiver caught over his shoulder for the touchdown.
On that drive, the Hurricanes (8-0, 6-0 ACC) converted on three third-down opportunities with Mensah scrambling twice to keep the Miami offense on the field.
But North Carolina, which had won two of its last three before facing the Hurricanes, didn’t seem to be intimidated by the fact they were lining up against the nation’s top-ranked team.
After the two teams traded possessions in the first quarter, North Carolina (4-4, 2-3) tied the game in the opening minutes of the second when Edwards Jr. found tight end Jelani Thurman on an 8-yard scoring pass that capped an 11-play, 84-yard scoring drive.
The Hurricanes answered on their next possession, regaining the lead when running back Mark Fletcher Jr. lined up behind a trio of Miami tight ends, caught a pass from Mensah and sprinted up the field for a 31-yard touchdown.
Again, though, North Carolina responded, tying it when Edwards and Thurman connected on another 8-yard scoring play. This time, the drive went 75 yards on 12 plays.
By halftime, the Tar Heels had totaled 152 passing yards – their second highest total in a half this season.
Miami did get the ball back in the final minutes of the second half, but the Hurricanes weren’t able to find the end zone, instead settling for a 25-yard field goal from Jake Weinberg that sent them into the locker room with a 17-14 lead.
The second half brought more pressure from the Tar Heels, who not only kept pace with the Hurricanes, but took the lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
And again, it was a touchdown pass from Edwards that put points on the board.
This time, the graduate transfer from Wisconsin threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordan Shipp that put the Tar Heels ahead 21-17 with 10:51 left in the third.
The Tar Heels’ lead wouldn’t last long, though.
The Hurricanes responded with an 8-play, 80-yard drive that culminated when Fletcher scored on a 2-yard run that was upheld after a brief review.
It was the 34th rushing touchdown of Fletcher’s Miami career. He now needs just one more touchdown run to tie Stephen McGuire on the Hurricanes’ all-time career list.
But Fletcher and the Hurricanes weren’t done.
After North Carolina took a 28-24 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run from Demon June, Fletcher tied McGuire’s record and put the Hurricanes back on top when he capped a 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with Miami facing a 4th-and-1 situation.
It was Fletcher’s third touchdown of the night, and it put Miami ahead 31-28.
