Drake Maye overcame a lackluster first half to spark No. 12 North Carolina to a 41-31 victory over No. 25 Miami on Saturday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Maye was only 8-of-19 passing for 105 yards and a touchdown in the first two quarters but was 6-of-11 for 137 yards and three scores in the critical third quarter when the Tar Heels (6-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) broke the game open. Maye finished the game 17-of-33 passing for 273 yards and four touchdowns.
Tez Walker was on the receiving end of three of the scores in just his second game since being granted late eligibility from the NCAA. He finished with six catches for 132 yards. Omarion Hampton spearheaded the ground attack with 197 yards, including a 60-yard run that led to Carolina’s late-clinching field goal.
The Tar Heels extended their winning streak in the series to five games over the Hurricanes despite being penalized a season-high 14 times for 147 yards. Their six-game winning streak is their longest to start the season since the 1997 team started 8-0.
The Hurricanes (4-2, 0-2) outgained the Tar Heels 273 yards to 218 in the first half but managed only 32 yards in the third quarter and went into the final period down 35-17.
They finished with 482 yards to Carolina’s 508 as Tyler Van Dyke was 31-of-48 passing for 391 yards and four touchdowns, two to Xavier Restrepo. Van Dyke had a 54-yard touchdown pass to Brashard Smith for the game’s final score. Junior receiver Jacolby George had a career night with six catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Miami led 17-14 at halftime on Andres Borregales’ 28-yard field goal as time ran out.
Earlier, each team had scoring drives of over 90 yards. The Tar Heels’ first score came when Maye capped a 91-yard drive with an 18-yard strike to Walker in the first quarter.
After tying the score on a quick four-play, 63-yard drive that ended with Van Dyke’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Restrepo, the Hurricanes took their only lead, 14-7, on an 11-play, 92-yard march that ended with Van Dyke’s 35-yard touchdown strike to George.
The Tar Heels tied it at 14-14 on Hampton’s 2-yard plunge with just 2:05 remaining in the first half.
–Field Level Media
