North Carolina vs. Virginia Gameday Live Blog
The North Carolina Tar Heels (No. 21 AP / No. 19 Coaches) open the home portion of their ACC season looking to even their 2021 conference record at 1-1. Carolina was upset by Virginia Tech in Week 1 before rebounding last week at home against Georgia State 59-17.
Virginia comes to Chapel Hill for their first conference game and their first came away from Charlottesville this season. While the Tar Heels have split their first two games, the Cavaliers come in with an undefeated 2-0 record, having beaten William & Mary and Illinois
Saturday’s contest marks the 126th meeting between the two schools, the second oldest rivalry in the FBS. Minnesota and Wisconsin lead the way, having played 129 times.
Carolina has lost four straight to Virginia since winning in Charlottesville in 2016. The Tar Heels have also lost two straight at home to the Cavs (2019, 2017), having won last in 2015.
There must be something special about squaring off against the Cavaliers for Tar Heel quarterback Sam Howell. He totaled 796 passing yards and eight passing touchdowns in his first two games against Bronco Mendenhall’s club.
The Tar Heel defense will be looking to enact a measure of revenge against a team that gashed them for 44 points and 418 yards of total offense last season.
The Heels will look to build on last week's success in the home opener against Georgia State. While it wasn't a perfect showing, Carolina looked much more comfortable.
NFL scouts from the Ravens, Jaguars, Saints, and Falcons have press box seats to see Howell and his UNC teammates in person.
Carolina will wear light blue helmets and jerseys with white pants for the game. Virginia is in all white.
Kickoff, originally scheduled for 7:35, has been pushed back to 7:40 to accommodate TV.
We will provide an injury update on who's in/out this evening as the position groups come out to warm up. Specifically awaiting word on Storm Duck, DJ Jones, Beau Corrales, and Joshua Ezeudu.
Injury updates
In
- Joshua Ezeudu
- Storm Duck
- British Brooks
- Brian Anderson
- Jordan Tucker
Out
- DJ Jones
- Beau Corrales
- Tyrone Hopper
Brian Anderson, Joshua Ezeudu, Jordan Tucker are not starting but are available.
Cedric Gray is starting at ILB (Coach's decision)
(7:38) Here come the Tar Heels!
Temperature at game time is 80 degrees and 80 percent humidity, but feels about a thousand.
Carolina wins the toss and defers, so Virginia will receive the kickoff from Jonathan Kim. Another touchback - Kim is 13-13 this year in touchbacks.
First Quarter
On a 3rd & 1 - Virginia's gadgety offense comes back to hurt them as the Cavaliers false start. 3rd & 6. Incomplete pass, broken up by Conley. Virginia goes for it on 4th & 6 from the UNC 36 - Heels are caught off guard and take a timeout. Another false start makes it 4th & 11 and Virginia will punt.
Two plays for Carolina - two first downs.
TOUCHDOWN Carolina. 59-yard strike from Howell to Josh Downs, who did most of the work on Carolina's 4th play from scrimmage. The pass actually traveled five yards to the UNC 46, and Downs outran everyone on the final 54.
After a 49-yard completion for Virginia and moving into the red zone for the first time, the Cavs fumble two plays later. Tar Heels cover it up for a huge turnover. Chris Collins caused the fumble, Des Evans fell on it.
Ty Chandler with back-to-back rushes of 17 and 28 yards. This is the ground game Carolina needs to complement the passing game.
UNREAL diving catch from Josh Downs in the corner of the end zone for his second touchdown of the evening. Play is being reviewed as Downs might have landed out of bounds or bobbled the ball. Replay seems to show left elbow landed first and was in bounds. Ruling stands. Touchdown Tar Heels. 14-0.
Virginia responds with sustained 10-play drive for a touchdown. Tar Heels need to keep foot on the gas.
Khafre Brown's first catch of the season is a 75-yard TD.
Carolina has run 8 offensive plays - 1 incomplete pass and 7 plays of 10+ yards (3 for TDs).
Sam Howell's QB rating for the 1st Quarter: 583.8
First Quarter ends with Virginia near mid-field. Heels up 21-7.
UNC offense in first quarter - 2:41 of possession, scored 21 points.
Second Quarter
DC Jay Bateman is frustrated that the refs aren't allowing Carolina to match Virginia's personnel on substitutions.
Another long completion to Downs has Carolina back in the red zone. Drive stalls out and Heels settle for a FG. 24-7.
Heels almost stop Virginia for the first 3-&-out of the night but can't get to Armstrong and the Cavs pick up a 32 yard completion. Next play is a 40 yard TD pass, Virginia gets a beautiful diving catch of their own.
Heels responding well to the Virginia touchdown. Nice runs from Howell and Caleb Hood mixed in with a couple yard pick-up for Garrett Walston.
Penalty on Virginia gets Carolina back in the red zone. Josh Downs with a 13-yard gain down to the 5. Howell picked off in the end zone on the next play.
Will the UNC defense be able to pick up their quarterback and keep it a two-score game? Big pick-up on first down for 19 yards, followed by a Fox sack pushes back the Cavaliers.
Missed offensive pass interference call allows Virginia to get a reception inside the red zone. Carolina nearly gets off the field on 3rd & goal from the 11, but Tony Grimes is flagged for DPI. Virginia scores two plays later. 24-21 UNC.
Very important moment for Carolina to take back control of the game. Score going into halftime and then get the ball starting the third quarter. What do they do? Good start - 20 yard scramble for Sam Howell.
Heels end up attempting a 54-yard field goal from Grayson Atkins. Kick is just wide right and gives Virginia good field position, 61-seconds and all three timeouts.
After a couple completions, Cavs have back-to-back incompletions. Brings up 3rd-&-10 from the UNC 39. They pick up the first down to the UNC 24. 0:17 to go.
Great tackle in space from Cedric Gray on a WR screen. Timeout UVa. 0:11. 2nd & 7. Ball at UNC 21.
Touchdown Virginia. 21-yard reception. 28-24 Virginia. Cavs will take the lead into halftime.
Carolina had a 24-7 lead with 10:47 left before halftime. Virginia has scored 21 straight.
Third Quarter
It was a rough end to the second quarter for Carolina. Now's the time to take back the game. How does the first drive go? 60 yard run for Chandler on 2nd play from scrimmage. On 3rd & goal from the 5 - TD pass to Walston. Heels back in front 31-28.
Virginia's RB Wayne Taulapapa is out for the game. It appeared that he pointed to his head on the sideline. Perhaps he is in concussion protocol.
Carolina forces a punt on Virginia's first drive. TD and forced punt - just what the doctor ordered to start the second half.
Huge punt return for Josh Downs (35 yards) to set Carolina up at the Virginia 37 to start their second drive of the 3rd Quarter. Things look dicey on 3rd and 8, but Sam Howell scrambles to pick up the first down at the 12. Drive ends with a Caleb Hood touchdown - punches it in on 3rd & 3 from the 5. 38-28 UNC.
Heels have wrested back control of the game. Touchdown, forced punt, touchdown to start the second half.
Des Evans misses a huge opportunity to blow up a play in the backfield (which would have resulted in 3rd & long) and Virginia gets a 22-yard reception out of it. A rough series for Evans who jumps offside on a 3rd and 2. Another 3rd down coming - 3rd & 10 from the UNC 17. Incomplete in the end zone. Virginia settles for a field goal. 38-31 UNC.
Ty Chandler is having his "Welcome to Carolina" game. Up to 162 rushing yards on 13 carries. After a couple Caleb Hood plays, Chandler comes pick in and punches it in. 45-31 Heels.
Ja'Qurious Conley picks up his second interception of the season on Virginia's first play. Essentially dives over the receiver and defensive back and got his foot down before landing out of bounds, cast and all. Great play.
Virginia's No. 9, King, is disqualified for targeting just before the end of the 3rd Quarter.
Holding a 14-point lead in the last quarter, the Tar Heels are chewing up clock running the ball.
Only 8 rushing yards for Virginia with 12:30 to go.
Methodical 9-play drive takes 4:20 off the clock and ends with a Morales TD. 52-31 Carolina.
This is the first time UNC has scored 50 or more vs. Virginia since 1943.
Looks like the Virginia receiver stepped out at the 2, but ruled touchdown on the field. We'll wait to see what review reveals. Additionally it looks like their were Virginia linemen downfield on a forward pass, which wasn't called. Play stands, plus the 2-point conversion, makes it 52-39 Carolina.
Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong is up to 483 passing yards, the most ever against UNC. Record was previously held by Duke's Dave Brown, set in 1989.
Carolina was 0-2 on 3rd downs in the first half. They are currently 7-7 in the 2nd half.
Another touchdown for Ty Chandler. Up to 198 yards on 20 carries and 2 touchdowns. 59-39 Heels. 2:57 left. Looks like Carolina will break their 4-game losing streak to Virginia.
Virginia's Brennan Armstrong is now up over 500 passing yards (508). And yet his team is losing by 20.
Final play is an incomplete pass for Virginia from the Carolina 9. Tar Heels win 59-39.
Sam Howell - 14/21, 307 yards, 5 TD; 15 rushes for 112 yards.
Ty Chandler - 20 rushes for 198 yards, 2 TDs
Josh Downs - 8 receptions for 203 yards, 2 TDs
Carolina moves to 2-1 (1-1). Will head to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech next Saturday.
