UNC-Virginia live updates: Tar Heels run away from Cavaliers
No. 21 North Carolina has a tough ACC Coastal Division matchup with Virginia tonight in Kenan Stadium. The Cavaliers (2-0, 0-0 ACC) have won the last four meetings against the Tar Heels (1-1, 0-1) in the South’s oldest football series. Those past four meetings were decided by a total of 23 points and fans should expect another tight game when the teams kick off at 7:30 p.m. News & Observer UNC beat writer C.L. Brown and columnist Luke DeCock are in Kenan Stadium for the action. Check back here for updates during the game.
Chandler touchdown run. UNC 59, UVA 39. 4Q
Ty Chandler had a 7-yard touchdown run inching him nearer to netting 200 yards rushing. Chandler’s second touchdown on the night gives up 198 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Kemp touchdown catch. UVA 39, UNC 52.
Billy Kemp IV caught a 9-yard score and the Wahoos converted a two-point try to stay in the game. Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong set a new record with 483 passing yards for a UNC opponent. The previous high came when Duke’s Dave Brown threw for 479 yards in 1989, a game remembered most by Tar Heel fans for then-Duke coach Steve Spurrier having his team pose for a picture in front of the Kenan Stadium scoreboard.
Morales touchdown catch. UNC 52, UVA 31. 4Q
Sam Howell notched his third career game with five or more touchdown passes after connecting with tight end Kamari Morales for a 3-yard score. It marks the first time Carolina has posted 50 on the Hoos since a 54-7 win in 1943.
Conley interception
UNC safety Ja’Qurious Conley grabbed his second interception of the season with Brennan Armstrong throwing into double coverage. Carolina got hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in its celebration of the pick, but took over at its own 30.
Chandler touchdown run. UNC 45, UVA 31. 3Q
Running back Ty Chandler, already with a career-high 167-yards rushing, scored on a 5-yard run to cap off a 75-yard drive. UNC did not attempt a pass on the eight play scoring drive.
Duenkel field goal. UVA 31, UNC 38. 3Q
Justin Duenkel converted on a 34-yard field goal to pull the Cavaliers within a touchdown. The Hoos marched to the UNC 17, but then misfired on three straight pass attempts.
Hood touchdown run. UNC 38, UVA 28. 3Q
Freshman running back Caleb Hood scored his first career touchdown on a 5-yard run. Carolina’s touchdown drive was set up by a 39-yard punt return from Josh Downs.
Walston touchdown catch. UNC 31, UVA 28. 3Q
Carolina took its opening drive 74 yards for a score powered by a 60-yard run from Ty Chandler. The run put Chandler at 128 yards rushing for the game and it set up a 5-yard touchdown reception by tight end Garrett Walston.
Kemp touchdown reception. UVA 28, UNC 24. 2Q
Billy Kemp IV caught a 21-yard touchdown pass on a fade pattern with Tony Grimes on the coverage. It completed the Cavaliers’ rally from being down 17 points in the second quarter to give them the lead going into halftime.
Atkins missed field goal
UNC’s Grayson Atkins attempted a career-long, 54-yard field goal, but missed it wide right. He had enough distance, but it sailed wide. The miss left 1:01 on the clock for Virginia to attempt to score before the half.
Woods touchdown catch. UVA 21, UNC 24. 2Q
Jelani Woods drew a pass interference penalty on UNC cornerback Tony Grimes on a third and goal play. It set up Woods’ 1-yard touchdown catch as the Hoos capitalized off of an end zone interception.
Howell interception
Carolina committed its first turnover in the game just as it was on the verge of scoring again. Fentrell Cypress III stepped in front of a throw intended for Justin Olson for an interception in the end zone. He returned the ball 66 yards into UNC territory.
Wicks touchdown reception. UVA 14, UNC 24. 2Q
The Wahoos converted a third-and-7 with a 32-yard completion to Billy Kemp IV. On the very next play, quarterback Brennan Armstrong connected with Dontayvion Wicks, who beat cornerback Kyler McMichael with a diving, 40-yard touchdown reception.
Atkins field goal. UNC 24, UVA 7. 2Q
Grayson Atkins kept the Tar Heels perfect scoring on all four of their possessions with a 36-yard field goal. It very easily could have been four touchdowns on four drives, but Khafre Brown dropped a pass he likely would have scored on when Virginia cornerback Fentrell Cypress was called for pass interference.
Brown touchdown reception. UNC 21, UVA 7. 1Q
Receiver Khafre Brown was denied a touchdown last week when his catch was deemed out of bounds. He made up for it against UVA, taking a slant pattern 75 yards for an answer to the Cavaliers first score. It was Brown’s first catch of the season.
Taulapapa touchdown run. UVA 7, UNC 14. 1Q
Wayne Taulapapa got the Cavaliers on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run. His score was set up by three pass plays that gained more than 15 yards on each.
Downs touchdown reception. UNC 14, UVA 0. 1Q
Josh Downs was at it again with a fully-outstretched, 37-yard touchdown reception to put the Heels up two scores. His play was set up by two big runs from Ty Chandler. First he ripped off a 17-yarder, then followed it with a 28-yard run.
Collins fumble recovery.
Virginia again marched into UNC territory with a 49-yard completion to Dontayvion Wicks. But on first down from the UNC 19, linebacker Chris Collins’ forced a bad handoff from quarterback Brennan Armstrong and Desmond Evans recovered for the Tar Heels. It’s the fourth takeaway for Carolina in three games after it totaled just 11 all of last season.
Downs touchdown reception. UNC 7, UVA 0. 1Q
Virginia’s defense inexplicably left UNC receiver Josh Downs uncovered in the slot. Quarterback Sam Howell made a quick throw and Downs ran untouched for a 59-yard score. The possession was set up when UVA stalled with two false start penalties after driving to the UNC 31.
UNC injuries
Linebacker Tyrone Hopper and running back D.J. Jones are out. The Heels offensive line will have some adjustments as center Brian Anderson, guard Josh Ezeudu, and tackle Jordan Tucker are not starting but available to play.
UNC captains
The Heels chose quarterback Sam Howell, linebacker Tomon Fox, receiver Emery Simmons, safety Giovanni Biggers and linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel as its captains for tonight’s game.
This story was originally published September 18, 2021 at 6:55 PM.