Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Football: No. 15 Tar Heels fall to Cavaliers in Charlottesville

By Blake Cockrum

Oct 31, 2020; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers wide receiver Tavares Kelly Jr. (88) runs with the ball past North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Patrice Rene (5) in the second quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2020; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers wide receiver Tavares Kelly Jr. (88) runs with the ball past North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Patrice Rene (5) in the second quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The 15th-ranked UNC football team loses to the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville.

Sam Howell completed 23-of-28 passes on Saturday night, throwing for a career-high 443 yards and four touchdowns, but North Carolina lost to the Virginia Cavaliers by a final score of 44-41 in Charlottesville.

UNC wide receiver Dyami Brown had a career game in the loss, catching 11 balls for 240 yards and three scores. His touchdown with just over 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter pulled the Tar Heels to within seven points, and gave them an opportunity to come away with a win after trailing UVA by 21 points late in the third quarter.

The Tar Heels have been one of the nation’s best running teams to start the season, but managed just 93 yards on 33 carries against Virginia. Their 2.8 yard-per-carry average and one touchdown was their worst performance on the ground this season. Javonte Williams scored the team’s only rushing touchdown, but managed just 54 yards on 13 carries. Michael Carter carried the ball nine times for 64 yards, with a long run of 38 yards.

The Tar Heels made numerous mistakes throughout the game, including ones from the coaching staff and on the field. The North Carolina defense was as bad as we’ve seen it over the past couple of seasons, continually giving up big plays through the air and on the ground.

A botched play at the end of the first half in the red zone cost the Tar Heels at least three points, and seemed to be a real turning point in the game. They also allowed the Cavaliers to score 28 consecutive points from half-way through the second quarter to the 5:34 mark of the third quarter. In the end, the scoring drought and all of their mistakes were simply too much to overcome.

The Tar Heels, now 4-2 on the season, will face off with crosstown rival Duke in Durham next Saturday. The Blue Devils are 2-5 overall, and 1-4 in conference play. The Tar Heels’ 4-2 mark in ACC play puts them in a three-way tie for fourth-place in the conference.

Next. Is the Hunter Sallis recruitment still wide open?. dark

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC football program.

Home/UNC Football