UNC Football: Tar Heels stomp lowly Blue Devils in Durham

UNC football defeats rival Duke in Durham on Saturday afternoon

Javonte Williams rushed 12 times for 151 yards, and totaled four touchdowns for the game, as North Carolina beat Duke by a final score of 56-24 in Durham on Saturday afternoon.

Williams’ three rushing touchdowns against the Blue Devils give him 14 for the season. He also capitalized on a two-yard strike through the air from Sam Howell for his third receiving score of the season. Williams’ 17 total touchdowns lead the nation.

His backfield counterpart, Michael Carter, rushed 17 times for 85 yards and a touchdown as well, as the Tar Heels ran for 338 yards as a team for a robust 7.2 yard-per-carry average on the day. Carter also caught three balls for 46 yards and a touchdown, his first receiving score of the season.  He’s now got five total touchdowns on the season, and better than 700 yards on the ground.

Howell completed 18-of-27 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Two of his three scores came in the first half, as well as a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. His final passing touchdown of the day — as well as a careless interception — came in the third quarter as the Tar Heels continued to run away with the game.

Duke’s Chase Brice was just 11-for-23 on the day, and didn’t record a single score against the Tar Heels. He did have an interception, however, and officially ran the ball eight times for -16 yards. Duke junior running back Mataeo Durant was the lone bright spot for the Blue Devils on an otherwise awful afternoon. He ran the ball 11 times for 132 yards and a touchdown.

The Blue Devils fall to 2-6 on the season, while the Tar Heels improve to 5-2 ahead of a home game with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. It’ll be the Tar Heels’ final tune-up before an ever-important game with Notre Dame on November 27.

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