North Carolina Suffers Their First Loss Of The Season In Winston Salem To Wake Forest

North Carolina is in the Coastal Division while Wake Forest is in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

On Friday night Mack Brown had his first setback in his return as head coach in Chapel Hill as North Carolina lost their first game of the season in Winston Salem.

Jamie Newman came up with a pair of big plays on a clock-draining fourth-quarter drive, helping Wake Forest hold off North Carolina's comeback bid for a 24-18 win Friday night. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

Newman hit Scotty Washington for a 27-yard gain, then had a 4-yard scramble on third down to keep possession to help the Demon Deacons (3-0) take 5 minutes off the clock and add a field goal to a dwindling lead. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

UNC (2-1) had a final drive with no timeouts with a chance for a third straight fourth-quarter comeback, but the game ended when Michael Carter didn't get out of bounds in time on a run to set up a final desperation heave from just across midfield. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

Wake Forest dominated the first half to lead 21-0, only to see freshman quarterback Sam Howell lead the Tar Heels on two fourth-quarter TD drives to get back in it. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

The win came in an unusual setting: a game between instate Atlantic Coast Conference teams that was designated as a nonconference matchup that didn't count in the league standings. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

The teams had agreed in 2015 to play this year and in 2021 instead of waiting until 2022 for their next ACC matchup amid the 14-team league's scheduling rotation for teams in opposite divisions. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/13/football-tar-heels-fall-to-wake-forest-24-18.aspx

Wake Forest meanwhile was on the other end of the spectrum in this game.

Wake Forest defeated in-state rival North Carolina 24-18 in front of 31,345 fans at BB&T Field on Friday night. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

Friday's showdown was the first time the two teams have met with undefeated records and two or more victories in the entire 131-year rivalry. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

The Demon Deacons (3-0) smothered the Tar Heel (2-1) defense in the first half, allowing just 71 yards of total offense from the visitors. Jamie Newman scored two rushing touchdowns and threw for a 51-yard touchdown to Sage Surratt in the first half as the Deacons led 21-0 at halftime. North Carolina scored two fourth quarter touchdowns and added a field goal to make it a tight game in the waning minutes. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

Newman engineered an effective offensive drive in the final minutes which led to a field goal. Wake Forest then stopped the final UNC drive as time ran out. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

How It Happened:
After Nasir Greer forced a UNC fumble, Newman scampered into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown as the Deacons took a 7-0 lead. At the start of the second quarter, Newman again powered his way for 6-yard score to finish off a five-play, 78-yard drive. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

Newman continued his tear just minutes later with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Surratt as Wake Forest took a 21-0 lead.”according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

North Carolina got on the scoreboard in the last minute of the third quarter with a 49-yard field goal as the Deacs held a 21-3 advantage heading into the final quarter. The Tar Heels added two touchdowns in the last 10 minutes of the fourth quarter while tacking on a 2-point conversion to narrow Wake Forest's lead to 21-18. “according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

Nick Sciba converted a 32-yard field goal with 1:09 left in the game as the Deacons gained some breathing room with a 24-18 advantage. North Carolina fell short on its final drive as Wake Forest extended its winning streak to five games dating back to last season.”according to https://godeacs.com/news/2019/9/13/football-deacons-top-tar-heels-24-18-in-tobacco-road-thriller.aspx

North Carolina will return to the grid iron Saturday September 21st when they host Appalachian State.