UNC football rebounds from slow start, runs away from Miami in 41-31 win in Chapel Hill
North Carolina is still the “U” — that is, still unbeaten.
With quarterback Drake Maye throwing for four touchdowns Saturday, three to wide receiver Tez Walker, the No. 12 Tar Heels rolled to a 41-31 victory over No 25 Miami at Kenan Stadium.
The Tar Heels, moving to 6-0 this season, trailed 17-14 at halftime. But Maye and Walker teamed up for a 56-yard score, then a 33-yarder in the third quarter as the Hurricanes defense could not find a stopper for the speedy wide receiver.
Walker’s pleas to the NCAA for eligibility this season was a big storyline the first four games of the season. The transfer from Kent State, finally allowed to play by the NCAA, was the top storyline a week ago as he made his first appearance in the win over Syracuse.
But this was his first big game for the Tar Heels. 3-0 in ACC as the Charlotte native caught six passes for 132 yards and Maye passed for 273 yards. Maye’s fourth TD pass was to running back Omarion Hampton, who rushed for 197 yards on 24 carries.
Three takeaways from the game:
Maye big when it really counts
How many times has it been said: Drake Maye is super competitive. And he still should be a serious Heisman Trophy candidate.
The Hurricanes harnessed Maye and the Heels’ passing game in the first half, sacking him four times and limiting him to 8-of-19 passing for 105 yards. The Canes’ pass rush was relentless and then effective while Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke passed for 180 yards and two scores.
Then came halftime. Then came a different Drake Maye.
He twice hit Tez Walker for touchdowns. He found Hampton for his fourth TD pass of the game. He was a man in charge,
The Tar Heels might have to go undefeated for Maye to make it to New York for the Heisman ceremony. That’s the nature of the award. But he could get there.
Tar Heels’ D was tough enough
There were some questions how UNC’s defense would match up against the Miami offense and its big-play guys. The answer: well enough
The Tar Heels had problems pressuring Van Dyke in the first half as the Hurricanes gave him reliable blocking in the pocket. Miami had 273 yards in total offense, Van Dyke threw for two scores and the Canes led 17-14.
But the third quarter belonged to the Tar Heels and was decisive. Miami had minus-6 yards rushing and 32 yards of offense in all, turning the ball over twice – a fumble and interception – and allowing two sacks.
Van Dyke did make two nice TD throws in the fourth quarter -- a 13-yard TD to Xavier Restrepo and then a 54-yarder to Brashard Smith late in the game. But it was of the too-little, too-late variety.
Virginia has much work to do
Imagine being on the defensive staff for Virginia, which comes to Chapel Hill next week.
Maye, the Cavaliers know. They’ve now seen what Walker can do and why he was a preseason All-ACC pick before playing a game in the ACC. They’ve also gotten an eyeful of running back Omarion Hampton, who burst free for a 60-yard run in the fourth quarter on his way to a 197-yard game and also had a touchdown catch.
With Nate McCollum and J.J. Jones and a threesome of tight ends who can catch and run, the Tar Heels’ weapons are many and spread all over the field. And UNC played Saturday without wide receiver Kobe Paysour, out with a lower-body injury.
The Tar Heels had more than 500 yards of offense against an aggressive, quick Miami defense. UNC finished with 235 yards rushing against a team that led the nation in rushing defense.
This story was originally published October 14, 2023 at 6:41 PM.
