Miami survives North Carolina challenge for 38-35 victory in Chapel Hill

North Carolina came close to its first victory over a No. 1 team Saturday night, but Miami recovered from a fourth-quarter deficit to win 38-35 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels entered the matchup having lost all 11 of their previous games against top-ranked opponents.

The finish offered North Carolina two brief chances to extend its upset bid. With 95 seconds remaining, the Tar Heels recovered consecutive onside kick attempts, only for penalties to erase both recoveries. Miami escaped with an 8-0 overall record and a 6-0 mark in the ACC. North Carolina fell to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

For the Tar Heels, it was a second straight home defeat after holding a fourth-quarter lead, following an overtime loss to Syracuse the previous week. Their last advantage against Miami came with 11:46 remaining, when Demon June scored from 1 yard out to put North Carolina ahead 28-24. About four minutes later, Mark Fletcher’s second rushing touchdown restored Miami’s lead.

The game’s lone turnover then gave the Hurricanes an opportunity to extend their advantage. North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. fumbled after being hit while attempting a pass, and Miami recovered. The Hurricanes capitalized with a 9-yard touchdown reception by Malachi Toney, his second score of the game, to lead 38-28 with 2:33 left. Edwards responded with a touchdown drive, finding Trech Kekahuna for a 23-yard score before the unsuccessful onside kick sequence.

The teams had traded leads earlier in the second half. Trailing 17-14 at the break, North Carolina moved ahead on Edwards’ third touchdown pass, a 16-yard completion to Jordan Shipp. Fletcher answered with a 2-yard touchdown run after a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone drew an angry reaction from North Carolina coach Bill Belichick.

Edwards finished with 341 passing yards, completing 28 of 34 attempts and throwing a career-best four touchdown passes. Two went to tight end Jelani Thurman in the first half. Thurman led the Tar Heels with 70 receiving yards on five catches. North Carolina spread its passing production among nine receivers, with eight catching at least two passes.

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah completed 22 of 29 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns. The Duke transfer also defeated North Carolina last season while playing for the Blue Devils. Toney caught seven passes for 76 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown on the opening possession. Mensah and Toney are both Heisman Trophy contenders. Fletcher added a receiving touchdown to his two rushing scores, while Jake Weinberg’s 25-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the second quarter supplied Miami’s halftime margin.

North Carolina had won the previous five meetings between the teams. Its highest-ranked defeated opponent remains the No. 4 Miami team it beat in Chapel Hill on a last-second field goal the day before Halloween in 2004.