UNC overcame a slow start at Syracuse Friday night to roll past the Orange in the second half on its way to a 27-10 win.
Carolina took an early 3-0 lead thanks to a short Rece Verhoff field goal, but promptly allowed the Orange to go in front after a Syracuse defender recovered a Shamar Easter fumble and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown. The Orange led 7-3 after the first quarter despite not completing a single pass in the opening 15 minutes. Joseph Filardi, a walk-on and a converted lacrosse player, was making his first collegiate start at quarterback for Syracuse.
Carolina entered the halftime locker room trailing 10-6, but the Syracuse lead wouldn’t last long once the second half began. On the Tar Heels’ first offensive play of the half, quarterback Gio Lopez found running back Demon June on a screen pass, and the talented freshman rumbled all the way to the end zone for a 72-yard touchdown.
June would be back for more later in the quarter, capping off a 12-play, 80-yard drive which took more than seven minutes off the game clock with a five-yard touchdown run. June would end his night with 182 total yards (101 rushing, 81 receiving) and two touchdowns.
On Syracuse’s next offensive possession, Melkart Abou-Jaoude stripped Filardi from behind and Carolina recovered the loose ball, setting the hot Tar Heel offense up in Orange territory. Lopez made the turnover count three plays later, finding receiver Jordan Shipp in the end zone with a 21-yard dart. Coincidentally, the touchdown gave the Tar Heels 21 unanswered points following the 10-6 halftime deficit.
Defensively, UNC limited the undermanned Syracuse passing attack to just four completions for 39 yards. Overall, Syracuse’s offense managed only 147 total yards, the fewest for a Carolina opponent this season. The Tar Heels also recorded three sacks, giving them 11 in their last three games (UNC had recorded only six in its first five games of the season).
On the other side, Lopez completed 15 of 19 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding six carries for 33 yards. It was the first time Lopez had thrown for multiple touchdowns against a power conference opponent. Friday also marked the first time the Tar Heels surpassed 20 points in a power conference game this season.
Friday’s win is Carolina’s first against an opponent from a power conference this season, and also the third in a row for the Tar Heels against Syracuse. UNC’s four-game losing streak is over, and the Tar Heels are now 3-5 overall and 1-3 in ACC play. Carolina will be back in action when it hosts Stanford at Kenan Stadium next Saturday, November 8 at 4:30 p.m.
Featured image via Associated Press/Adrian Kraus
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