Syracuse Mounts Comeback, Stuns UNC Football in Overtime

Syracuse scored a touchdown on 4th and goal and then made good on a game-winning two-point conversion to stun UNC 31-30 at Kenan Stadium Saturday night. The final score was the first time the Orange had led all night.

“Not too much to say about this one,” head coach Bill Belichick said afterward. “They made a couple more plays than we did today, and that was the difference in the game.”

Carolina led 10-0 early and 20-10 in the fourth quarter before Syracuse mounted its final comeback. The Orange had a chance to take the lead in regulation, but a missed extra point after a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter preserved a 23-23 tie. UNC had a chance to drive down the field and win the game late, but Billy Edwards took a sack on 4th down in Orange territory to turn the ball over on downs.

In overtime, UNC got the ball first and scored on an Edwards touchdown to Demon June. Syracuse’s ensuing possession saw the Orange convert a 3rd and 11 and then 4th and goal before the game-winning two-point try, which was upheld following replay review.

“It all just comes back to fundamentals,” said linebacker Derek McDonald. “We preached that all week. We could’ve tackled better. We had a lot of leaky yardage we let them get. Missed tackles. Could’ve covered better, had better eyes.”

McDonald, who transferred from Syracuse to Chapel Hill in the offseason, ended the game as UNC’s leading tackler with 16. His 16th and final tackle resulted in a loss of two for Syracuse and brought up 4th and goal from the 4-yard line. Needing a touchdown to extend the game, quarterback Steve Angeli found receiver Calvin Russell over the middle for the touchdown. The Orange then went for two and the win, and Angeli connected with Russell again to win the game. Russell, a freshman, finished with eight catches for 86 yards, while teammate Umari Hatcher brought in four catches for 103 yards. Angeli totaled 256 yards and two touchdowns in his first game back since Sep. 17.

Edwards’ 44 pass attempts were a season high. He completed 27 of those attempts for 271 yards and two touchdowns, though the Tar Heels only scored three points on their final four possessions of regulation as Syracuse mounted its comeback.

“I think we’re holding ourselves back,” said receiver Jordan Shipp, who caught eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. “Self-inflicted wounds. Some small stuff. It’s one small detail that could spring a play for a 60-yard touchdown.”

Defensively, UNC struggled to contain the Orange rushing attack. Three Syracuse running backs combined for 190 yards on the ground, with Ahmad Miller toting the ball 30 times for 130 of those yards.

“They were just running hard,” McDonald said. “They kept driving their feet on contact and kept getting those extra yards.”

Saturday’s loss drops UNC to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will be back in action when they host No. 1 Miami at Kenan Stadium next Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Featured image via UNC Football on Twitter

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Syracuse Mounts Comeback, Stuns UNC Football in Overtime

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