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Demon June's career-best night fuels big UNC football win over Syracuse
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- Demon June's career-best night fuels big UNC football win over Syracuse
Believe it or not, the North Carolina Tar Heels won a football game . UNC marched in Syracuse on Halloween night and dominated the host Orange, 27-10, snapping a 4-game losing streak and delivering Bill Belichick his first ACC victory.
North Carolina delivered its best offensive performance in 2025, compiling 425 yards and scoring 21 second-half points. True freshman running back Demon June collected 182 of those yards himself – 101 on the ground and 81 receiving yards – while adding a pair of touchdowns.
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After Michigan tranfser Benjamin Hall led UNC's rushing attack the past couple weeks, Friday night was the true freshman June's time to shine. June collected his second career 100-yard rushing game , while setting a career-high in scrimmage yards.
"Just repping those plays during the week with the O-Line, getting the feel of everything," June said after the game. "Everybody coming together. Once the time comes, once you practice it so much, it just comes second nature. So it just felt good to see the hard work paying off in those plays. Reps increase, decrease, you attack every practice the same, whether you're that guy or you're not that guy. But it pays off when you practice hard. And you keep that mindset that when your number's called, you're ready to make that play. So it's just a mindset type of thing."
June now has a Tar Heel-best 416 rushing yards, a total 200+ yards more than the next-closest back (Hall). June also has 117 receiving yards and caught his first touchdown Friday night.
North Carolina welcomes Stanford, which allows 127.5 rushing yards per game, to Kenan Stadium next weekend for Homecoming. June made it clear he should be UNC's RB1 going forward – and rewarded his team with a much-needed victory Friday night.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Demon June totals career-best 182 yards in UNC's big win at Syracuse
