UNC Football: Former Tar Heel notches two touchdowns in upset win

Former UNC football standout Giovani Bernard scored a pair of touchdowns in the Bengals’ upset win over the Tennessee Titans.

Giovani Bernard played a big role in the Cincinnati Bengals’ upset victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon. The former Tar Heel sensation scored two touchdown for the formerly 1-5-1 Bengals against the AFC South-leading Titans, who fell to 5-2 and into a first-place tie with the Indianapolis Colts.

Bernard, Cincinnati’s backup running back, got the nod to start in Sunday’s game thanks to a nagging foot injury that kept leading rusher Joe Mixon sidelined. It was the second consecutive start for Bernard, who’s held the backup running back role for the majority of the time since being drafted by the Bengals in 2013. And for the second game in a row, Bernard took advantage of the playing time.

After getting 96 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown last week, Bernard rushed 15 times for 62 yards and a score on Sunday, as well as hauling in three receptions and a touchdown through the air. It was his most impactful game of the season to this point, though he has racked up four touchdowns over the past three weeks.

Bernard’s touchdown in the closing moments of the second quarter gave the Bengals a 10-point edge going into halftime. And his score with 7:30 left in the game gave Cincinnati a 31-14 advantage that was too much for the Titans to overcome.

It was a big win for Bernard, the Bengals and their rookie quarterback, Joe Burrow, who came into the game as big underdogs to the AFC powerhouse Titans. Sunday’s contest could, however, mark Bernard’s last start for the foreseeable future. With a bye in Week 9, and Mixon on the mend, Bernard will likely resume his duties as the team’s top backfield option off the bench.

For all the latest on Giovani Bernard, and UNC football alumni throughout the NFL, check back with Keeping It Heel.