UNC Football Falls to West Virginia in Duke's Mayo Bowl

A depleted Tar Heel roster couldn’t keep up with West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Wednesday night, as the Mountaineers dealt Carolina a 30-10 loss to end the 2023 season. It’s UNC’s fourth straight loss in a bowl game.

Among the UNC stars absent from Charlotte were quarterback Drake Maye, linebacker Cedric Gray, receiver Tez Walker and offensive lineman Corey Gaynor. Other contributors, such as defensive back Alijah Huzzie and tight ends Bryson Nesbit and John Copenhaver, missed the game due to injuries.

Quarterback Conner Harrell, filling in for the NFL-bound Maye, played well in spurts but still made critical mistakes typical of someone making their first career start. Harrell threw a pair of interceptions in Mountaineer territory, including one in the end zone, to scuttle promising Tar Heel possessions. He ended the night 18-27 for 199 yards and was sacked seven times.

Harrell’s best moments came in the first half, when he used both his legs and his arm to move the Tar Heels down the field. Harrell showcased his speed with 39 rushing yards (that total is affected by his seven sacks) and helped Carolina finish 5-9 on third downs in the first half. Harrell also spread the ball around, tossing a 47-yard deep pass to Gavin Blackwell and hitting J.J. Jones for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Jones’ catch cut West Virginia’s lead to 14-10 with 27 seconds remaining, but the Mountaineers snatched momentum before halftime by driving 63 yards in the final moments and kicking a short field goal.

UNC received the second half kickoff, but the Tar Heel drive ended when Harrell lofted a screen pass which the Mountaineers’ Tyrin Bradley grabbed with one hand for a highlight interception at the Mountaineer 26. It ended Carolina’s best chance to tie the game. West Virginia outscored the Tar Heels 13-0 in the second half.

Carolina’s struggles began on the first play from scrimmage, as West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene tossed a 75-yard touchdown pass after a touchback on the opening kickoff. The Mountaineers would never trail for the rest of the night.

First team All-ACC honoree Omarion Hampton found himself mostly bottled up, as the Mountaineers often crowded the box in the absence of Maye. Hampton finished with just 74 yards on 3.9 yards per carry.

UNC’s special teams execution was disastrous, as the Tar Heels botched two straight punt plays late in the first half. The first came with 5:18 remaining in the second quarter, with Carolina set to receive. The kick bounced short of returner Nate McCollum and off a Tar Heel blocker. The live ball was then recovered by the Mountaineers.

The UNC defense was able to force a stop and a missed field goal after the sequence, but the gaffes weren’t done. Carolina got the ball back but was forced into a punt of its own. This one sailed low and short, into the arms of West Virginia’s All-American returner Beanie Bishop. Bishop avoided a pair of tacklers, navigated his way across the width of the field and sprinted away from the rest of the Tar Heels on his way to a 78-yard punt return touchdown. It was the Mountaineers’ first punt return score since 2012.

UNC ends the season at 8-5, having lost five of seven games after starting 6-0. The two wins came against FCS opponent Campbell and a Duke team starting its third-string quarterback. That game required double overtime for the Tar Heels to emerge victorious.

Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Carlson

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UNC Football Falls to West Virginia in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

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