UNC Football Moments After – UNC vs. Virginia 17-16 OT Loss 

UNC Tar Heels Football Team Comes Up Short in Overtime Loss to the Virginia Cavaliers

by Derrick Isaiah Clyburn

The North Carolina football team faced off against Virginia on Saturday afternoon, looking for its first conference and Power 4 win after coming so close last week against California. For the third straight week, the Tar Heels’ offense just continues to be underwhelming. UNC is moving the ball better down the field after implementing more intermediate and deep passing plays in their game plan over the last couple of games, but are leaving points on the board even when they get in the red zone. This is due to turnovers and a lack of offensive execution on critical downs. In the last two weeks alone, a Carolina receiver has fumbled at the goal line in two games where they lost by no more than three points. UNC cannot afford to miss out on those opportunities because of the inconsistency of the offense.  

In the first half of this game, the Heels moved the ball fairly well on offense. UNC quarterback Gio Lopez threw for 173 yards, which was a season high for him, and had a really good rhythm going. However, Carolina only scored on two of their four redzone possessions due to a fumble and a missed field goal, leaving points on the board. Meanwhile, on defense, the Tar Heels’ defensive line is slowly becoming North Carolina’s best unit. The defensive line was collapsing the pocket, rushing the passer, stuffing the run game, disrupting plays in the backfield, and making everything as difficult as possible for Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris. The defensive line play helped the Heels force 4 three and outs on four of Virginia’s six offensive possessions.  

In the second half, it was tied 10-10 throughout. Neither offense could get going as both defenses stepped up and disrupted the offenses’ game plans. There were 7 punts and four turnovers on downs between the two teams after halftime. UNC just had trouble finding a balance between the run and pass game. After being sharp in the first half, North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez was very inaccurate with the football, didn’t know where to go with the football, and took some bad sacks that ended drives. On the last drive in regulation, the Tar Heels had a chance to win late, but Gio Lopez’s pass to freshman receiver Madrid Tucker was intercepted after bouncing off Tucker’s helmet, forcing the game to go into overtime. In overtime, Virginia scored a touchdown on their first possession, after North Carolina had no answer for their running game on those last couple of plays. On UNC’s offensive possession, the Tar Heels leaned on the running game on 4 straight plays to get close to the endzone, setting up the screen pass to Davion Gause for the touchdown. North Carolina Head Coach Bill Belichick decided to go for 2 for the win instead of kicking the extra point to tie, and the Heels were stopped on the two-point play after a swing pass to running back Benjamin Hall, who was unable to get in the endzone. The Tar Heels lose to Virginia in devastating fashion as UNC continues to search for the first conference and Power 4 win.  

UNC Game Stats  

UNC Total Offense- 353 yards  

Rushing 145  Passing 208           

UNC Passing: Gio Lopez 23/36 208 1TD 2 INTs 

UNC Rushing: Benjamin Hall 11-50 yards 

UNC Receiving: Jordan Shipp 7-67 yards 

  

Virginia Total Offense- 259 yards 

Virginia Passing: Chandler Morris 20/35 200 yards 1TD 1INT 

Virginia Rushing: J’Mari Taylor 21-69 yards 1TD 

Virginia Receiving: Jahmal Edrine 6-75 yards, Trell Harris 4-72 yards 1TD 

  UNC Bright Spots  

Wide Receiver Jordan Shipp had 7 catches for 67 yards. 

Running Back Benjamin Hall had 11 carries for 50 yards 

Freshman wide receiver Madrid Tucker had 8 catches for 41 yards in his first game 

Defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude had 3 sacks 

Defensive lineman CJ Mims, Defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson, and Linebacker Tyler Thompson each had one sack. 

Linebacker Andrew Simpson had one interception. 

Needs Work  

The offensive system, game plan, playcalling, and whole operation needs to completely change. The offense is basic, elementary, generic, and just plain too easy to defend. This team is on its way to becoming one of the worst offenses in UNC’s football history. They did show some progress after calling some pass plays downfield, but they must be consistent in calling those deep and intermediate pass plays to give the offense some type of balance. They have no identity, and there is no rhythm and flow to the offensive play calls. The offensive coaching staff just hasn’t put the offense in a position to succeed. They must find a way to put together a game plan for this offense to help them be productive on the field consistently 

The defense is still playing too much soft coverage, allowing teams to get easy catches downfield on critical downs. That is unacceptable. The defensive personnel is showing that they can make plays when put in the right position, but the coaching staff is failing them with the scheme they are in.   

Final Observations 

North Carolina falls to 2-6 on the season, which means they won’t play in a bowl game this year. They still haven’t beaten a Power 4 opponent this season. The Tar Heels need to learn how to be more disciplined and not make so many mistakes. There are just too many self-inflicted errors. Fumbles at the goal line, penalties that extend or end drives, turnovers, drops all have ailed North Carolina at some point in the last two weeks in games they should’ve or could’ve won if not for those errors and miscues. Even with the last two disappointing losses, the players are getting better, and there has been a better product on the field. The Heels just need to find the formula to win these games. The coaching staff will need to do a better job of putting the players in a position to succeed. 

The defensive line has been much better at stuffing the run, rushing the passer, and just disrupting plays in the backfield, which makes the linebackers and defensive backs’ jobs much easier. Because of the improved play of the defensive line, the linebackers and defensive backs have been able to make more impact plays, and the defense has held its last two opponents to under 20 points. However, the offense has let them down. They are moving the ball better down the field, but the playcalling and decision-making of the quarterback and receivers have not been good when they get in plus territory or the red zone. There are just too many points being left on the board because of turnovers and bad playcalling.

It is inexcusable how bad the offense looks at times, just because there is no flow or rhythm to the offensive play calls. Offensive Coordinator Freddie Kitchens must become more creative with his play calls and learn how to be consistent with the right play calls depending on down and distance, and play to the strengths of his playmakers. We are halfway through the season, and he is struggling with getting this offense to look average. The Tar Heels have only scored over 20 points once this season and haven’t scored 20 points against a Power 4 opponent. It’s hard to win games when you need the defense to play exceptionally well every week against explosive, innovative offenses. That’s just not a recipe for success. The Tar Heels are going through growing pains, and just to make sure they are making progress, improving each week on both sides of the ball. Next up is Syracuse on Friday, October 31, at 7:30 P.M. on ESPN.