UNC Football: Tar Heels hold off Miami with late interception

Talk about getting your blood pressure up. The UNC Football program gave many a scare on Saturday as they almost blew an 11 point lead late in the fourth quarter. But when they needed a play the most, Cedric Gray rose to the challenge.

The linebacker picked off Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke with just a few seconds left at the UNC 16 yard line to preserve a Tar Heels 45-42 victory on Saturday. The Hurricanes trailed by 11 with over five minutes left but used a 97-yard touchdown drive and a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 3. Miami’s defense then forced a three-and-out and their offense marched right down the field threatening to tie or take the lead.

However, on a third and four, Manny Diaz went for the win with a passing attempt and linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel got his hand on the Van Dyke pass. Gray ended up with it to seal the deal and move UNC to 4-3 on the season.

The Tar Heels got the scoring going early on, jumping out to a 7-0 lead with a Ty Chandler 51-yard run. But then as UNC fans have become used to, the offense made a mistake.

Sam Howell was picked off on a quick screen play by Jahfari Harvey who returned it 33 yards to tie the game at 7-7. UNC would get a touchdown pass from Howell to Josh Downs in the first quarter and Miami answered with a field goal to make the lead 14-10 after one.

Howell then found tight end John Copenhaver for a two-yard touchdown early in the second and Chandler once again found the end zone to move UNC’s lead to 28-10.

Miami didn’t go away.  The Hurricanes got a two-yard touchdown run from Jaylan Knighton as UNC led 31-17 at the break.

In the second half, Miami came out hot out-scoring UNC 17-7 in the third quarter. They cut the lead to 38-34 to start the fourth and felt like the momentum had shifted into their favor. UNC’s offense struggled as well, going three-and-out on three of their final four drives to allow Miami the chance to get back in.

And the Tar Heels almost squandered the lead at the end until Gray’s heroics.

Howell finished the game 17 of 26 for 154 yards, two touchdowns and an interception but had 98 rushing yards as well and two rushing touchdowns. His four touchdowns on the game gave him 99 for his career, tying Marquise Williams for the school record.

The win gets UNC to 4-3 with four games remaining, meaning they have to win two games to become bowl eligible. But that wont be easy as they have Notre Dame in two weeks, then Wake Forest before closing it out with Wofford and NC State.

For more on the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.