No. 1 Miami Hurricanes Survive Halloween Scare in Win Over UNC

CHAPEL HILL (NC.) – On Halloween night, the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes overcame the ghost of North Carolina, escaping Kenan Stadium with a 38-35 win over the UNC Tar Heels.

In what was mostly a back-and-forth shootout, an undefeated (8-0; ACC 6-0) season stays alive. Given the results of other games, being ranked No. 1 in Sunday’s Associated Press’ Top 25 poll again remains strong.

Entering the matchup, the Hurricanes’ secondary allowed 17 combined explosive plays through the air between the Florida State Seminoles and Pitt Panthers. Although both games were still won, it was a weakness the Tar Heels managed to exploit. Fifth-year veteran quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. completed 28 of 34 passes while throwing for 341 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

The 23-year-old completed 10 big plays with at least a gain of 15 yards through the air.

Outside of getting sacked in the first quarter, Edwards Jr. handled the Hurricanes’ pressure with calm and well-executed reads. He found star redshirt junior tight end Jelani Thurman on two big passes, plus scored two touchdowns – leading the Tar Heels with 70 yards on the night.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Jordan Shipp, running back Demon June, and wide receiver Trech Kekahuna each had at least 40 receiving yards.

The Hurricanes’ offense overcame every defensive hiccup with 416 yards of total offense. It took scoring on six of eight drives to even have an advantage remotely. 

Star quarterback Darian Mensah completed 22 of 29 passes, throwing for 274 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He gained experience in winning at Kenan Stadium last season with the Duke Blue Devils and reintroduced himself to the North Carolina locals.

Star running back Mark Fletcher Jr. boosted the Hurricanes offense with 43 yards on 13 carries. He scored two touchdowns, which resulted in the Fort Lauderdale native becoming the program’s new all-time total leader. Fletcher Jr. dedicated four years to the Hurricanes’ return to elite status in college football and reaps the reward.

When the Hurricanes needed a stop, star edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot delivered with a forced fumble, followed by defensive tackle Justin Scott recovering. The offense started in the Tar Heels’ 37-yard line, which Mensah capitalized on with a nine-yard touchdown to star wide receiver Malachi Toney.

Junior tight end Elija Lofton kept the scoring drive alive with a 12-yard play for the red-zone trip.

The Hurricanes will prepare for, what's been regarded as, the biggest game on the schedule: Notre Dame.

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