North Carolina Tops Miami In Chapel Hill

North Carolina got their Atlantic Coast Conference season off to a winning start.

Sam Howell found Dazz Newsome just inside the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:01 left to help North Carolina rally past Miami 28-25 on Saturday night.
Howell's perfect throw found Newsome dragging his toes inches from the sideline to cap a stunning clutch drive led by the true freshman. Howell also completed a 20-yard pass to Rontavius Groves on fourth-and-17 to extend the drive, which came after the Tar Heels had surrendered the lead on a Miami touchdown with 4:38 left.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/8/football-carolina-makes-fourth-quarter-comeback-to-beat-miami-28-25.aspx

Michael Carter's diving-for-the-pylon 2-point conversion pushed the lead to 28-25, only to see Miami (0-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) drive past midfield to set up a tying field-goal attempt. But Bubba Baxa's 49-yard kick went wide left, sending several Tar Heels players sprinting toward the student section to celebrate even though there were still 5 seconds left.
Howell threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns for the Tar Heels (2-0, 1-0).”according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/9/8/football-carolina-makes-fourth-quarter-comeback-to-beat-miami-28-25.aspx

Meanwhile Miami was on the other end of the spectrum.

There were missed kicks and blocked kicks and big plays on both sides, but Saturday night's matchup between the Miami Hurricanes and North Carolina Tar Heels ended in a 28-25 UNC victory. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Miami and North Carolina entered the fourth quarter with the Hurricanes chasing a one-point deficit, 20-19, inside a sold-out Kenan Memorial Stadium.”according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Momentum swung in Miami's direction midway through the fourth quarter, as UNC kicker Noah Ruggles missed a 49-yard field goal to keep the Hurricanes within a point and give them the ball on their own 32 with 8:46 remaining in the game. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

The Hurricanes carried that positive energy into their offensive possession, driving 68 yards to take the lead for the first time all night when tight end Will Mallory hauled in an 11-yard touchdown. Miami went for two, but Williams and Mallory could not connect again and the UM lead was five points, 25-20, with 4:38 left on the clock. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Miami's defense did its part immediately after the Canes took the lead, sacking UNC quarterback Sam Howell on consecutive plays that put North Carolina in fourth-and-17 from its own 40. But the true freshman QB rose to the occasion and hit Rontavious Groves for a 20-yard gain and a new set of downs.”according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Five snaps later, Howell found Dazz Newsome in the end zone for a go-ahead 10-yard touchdown that completed a 75-yard scoring drive. Running back Michael Carter sprinted to the pylon to complete the two-point conversion and give UNC a three-point lead with 1:01 remaining in the game.”according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

After a touchback, Miami took the field with all three of its timeouts and 75 yards away from the goal line. Williams opened the drive with an 18-yard rush up the middle and then hit Jeff Thomas and Mike Harley to move the Canes to the North Carolina 32. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

The UNC defense held firm at that spot and the Hurricanes sent kicker Bubba Baxa out with nine seconds remaining to attempt a 49-yard field goal with the hopes of evening the score and forcing overtime. The sophomore, who missed a 26-yarder in the second quarter and had an extra point blocked in the third quarter, pushed his attempt wide left and the Tar Heels survived to earn their second comeback win in as many weeks.”according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Miami had 488 yards of total offense, with Williams completing 30-of-39 passes for a career-best 309 yards and two touchdowns. DeeJay Dallas led the Canes with 107 rushing yards, while Cam'Ron Harris ran for 60 yards and a score and K.J. Osborn and Jeff Thomas each caught seven passes to lead a group of 10 different Hurricanes with a reception on the night. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

While North Carolina was held to 99 fewer yards of offense on Saturday night, Howell proved to be a dangerous quarterback capable of doing damage under pressure. The true freshman threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns against Miami and wasted little time showing off his skills. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

A 39-yard completion from Howell to Antoine Green propelled a scoring drive on Carolina's first possession of the game that ended with a 37-yard field goal by Ruggles. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

UNC's defense forced a three-and-out on Miami's first drive and Howell hit on an even bigger play on the first play of their second possession, connecting with Dyami Brown for a 62-yard touchdown that gave the Tar Heels a 10-0 advantage and energized the sold-out crowd at Kenan Memorial Stadium. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Williams also was excellent leading the Miami offense. The redshirt freshman quarterback led the Canes on a 10-play scoring drive that ended in a career-long 50-yard field goal by Baxa. The kick brought the Canes within seven points halfway through the opening quarter. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

UNC continued its success offensively, marching down the field with a series of big runs. A nine-yard rush by Howell turned into a 23-yard advance for the Tar Heels, as Miami's Amari Carter was called for targeting and ejected from the game after hitting the quarterback while he slid at the Miami 33. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

A pass interference by DJ Ivey gave the Tar Heels the ball on the Miami 2 and a fresh set of downs, but Javonte Williams barreled into the end zone on the next play to push the UNC lead to 14 points with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter.”according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Miami's offense was poised to answer back, with Williams threading tight windows to Brevin Jordan and Mike Harley for first downs and several impressive runs by Dallas and Osborn putting the Hurricanes inside the UNC 10. But the Tar Heels defense held firm and forced a 26-yard field goal attempt that Baxa missed wide left to keep UNC's advantage at 14. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

But the first half was a tale of two quarters, as Miami outgained UNC 159 to 5 and forced two Carolina punts while scoring 10 points and blanking the home team in the second quarter. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

After Baxa's missed kick, the Hurricane defense stymied the UNC momentum when a Trajan Bandy six-yard sack on third-and-10 from the UNC 35 forced Carolina to punt. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Williams and the Hurricanes got back to work and marched back down the field thanks to a 16-yard completion to Jordan and three bruising runs by Harris that put Miami at first-and-goal from the UNC. But the Tar Heels limited the Canes to three points on a 29-yard field goal by Baxa that cut the UNC lead to 11 with 2:55 left in the half. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Miami's defense forced a three-and-out and the offense put together its best drive of the half, marching 47 yards in six plays to score the Canes' first touchdown of the night. Williams threw a dart to Osborn for a six-yard touchdown that brought Miami within four points and gave the redshirt senior wide out his first TD as a Hurricane. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

The Hurricanes opened the second half with a methodical 11-play drive into the UNC red zone. But the Tar Heels stopped Williams just short of the line to gain on fourth-and-1 from the 19 to take over possession on downs. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

The defensive stand resulted in points for Carolina, as Howell led a 10-play scoring drive that ended in a 40-yard field goal by Ruggles to push the UNC lead back to seven points, 20-13, with 6:14 left in the third quarter. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

Miami's offense would not be denied on their ensuing possession, driving 75 yards in seven plays. Harris bulldozed into the end zone from four yards out, but Baxa's point after attempt was blocked by Deerfield Beach native Jason Strowbridge to keep UNC ahead by a point, 20-19, with 2:58 left in the third quarter. “according to https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-canes-fall-at-unc.aspx

North Carolina will hit the road for the first time for a conference game this season as they visit Wake Forest on Friday night.