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UNC loses to Duke on Senior Day after fourth-quarter rally falls flat
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- UNC loses to Duke on Senior Day after fourth-quarter rally falls flat
The North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils battled inside Kenan Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with plenty at stake in today's Victory Bell battle.
UNC needed a win to keep its slim bowl eligibility hopes alive, while Duke needed a win to clinch bowl eligibility. Both teams delivered in an instant classic.
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North Carolina roared back to take a fourth-quarter lead, but the Blue Devils had the last laughs. Duke drove 68 yards in 11 plays on its last drive, scoring a touchdown and converting its ensuring 2-point try, escaping Kenan Stadium with a 32-25 victory that broke the hearts of many.
Blue Devils (6-5, 5-2 ACC) running back Anderson Castle, an App State transfer playing his sixth and final season of college football, scored his third 1-yard rushing touchdown of the day. Duke extended its lead to seven points on the next play, then referees called the Tar Heels for an unsportsmanlike penalty.
UNC got the football back for one final drive, but a holding penalty and another Blue Devils sack loomed large. North Carolina 's fourth-down try failed, with Gio Lopez 's throw sailing just past the out-stretched hand of Jordan Shipp, sending the Duke sidelines and royal blue t-shirts into a jubilant explosion.
The Tar Heels ' offense gave them a chance late, driving 91 yards in nine plays to score a touchdown and convert on their own, 2-point attempt. Davion Gause scored on a 12-yard run, then Rece Verhoff gave North Carolina a 25-24 lead.
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UNC played well enough to win Saturday, but a heart-breaking loss knocked it out of bowl eligibility. A tough end to Bill Belichick's first season at home.
FINAL: Duke 32, UNC 25
That'll do it. Duke stopped North Carolina's potential game-tying drive with two minutes left on the clock, winning 32-25 and clinching bowl eligibility.
The Tar Heels are eliminated from bowl contention.
Duke drives the field, takes a late lead over UNC
The Blue Devils converted a huge fourth down on their fake field goal attempt, with kicker Todd Pelino taking the pitch 26 yards to UNC's 1-yard line.
Duke converts the 2-point try and leads North Carolina, 32-25, with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter.
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Duke sacks Gio Lopez twice, forces a UNC punt
The Tar Heels lost 12 yards in three plays, thanks to two Duke sacks. Tom Maginness punted the football away again for North Carolina.
The Blue Devils get the football back at their own 32. UNC leads, 25-24.
FOURTH DOWN STOP!
UNC forces the Duke turnover on downs! The Blue Devils try the trick play on fourth and short, only for UNC defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson to hunt Que'Sean Brown down for an 11-yard loss.
Tar Heels will take over at their own 38-yard-line, up 25-24 with 8:51 left in the fourth quarter.
TOUCHDOWN CAROLINA!!
Just like that, UNC has the fourth-quarter lead! The Tar Heels drive 91 yards in just nine plays, capping their drive off with Davion Gause's 12-yard touchdown fun.
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Rece Verhoff converts his extra-point attempt and North Carolina leads Duke, 25-24, with 13:13 left in the fourth quarter.
UNC driving heading into the fourth quarter
The Tar Heels' offense is showing signs of life heading into the fourth quarter, driving to Duke's 45-yard line. North Carolina faces third-and-eight out of the break.
UNC trails, 24-18.
UNC forces the Duke punt...can its offense respond?
UNC follows up its third-quarter touchdown with a clutch defensive stop, holding Duke to 30 yards on five plays and forcing the punt.
North Carolina takes over at its own 9-yard line with 2:43 left in the third quarter.
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TOUCHDOWN...and a 2-point Conversion!
Gio Lopez throws the ball to a leaping Jordan Shipp in the end zone for a UNC touchdown! The Tar Heels go for two, thanks to the Duke penalty, with Lopez and Shipp connecting on a nice play in the end zone's back right corner.
Tar Heels trail Duke, 24-18, with 4:52 left in the third quarter.
Duke pushes its lead over UNC to two touchdowns
Anderson Castle scores his second touchdown of the day, plunging into the end zone from one yard out. Duke extends its lead over UNC to 24-10 on Todd Pelino's extra point.
9:15 left in the third quarter.
Halftime from Kenan: Duke 17, UNC 10
For as many mistakes UNC made in the first half, it only trails by seven at halftime.
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Duke is out-gaining the Tar Heels in yardage, 183-131. North Carolina held the Blue Devils to a field goal late in the second quarter, while converting one of its own.
Gio Lopez is UNC's best offensive player today so far, totaling 114 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown.
Five Tar Heel penalties for 48 yards.
Rece Verhoff makes it a one-possession game heading into halftime
UNC drives 44 yards in eight plays to end the first half, scoring three points on Rece Verhoff's 49-yard field goal. North Carolina cuts its halftime deficit to 17-10.
Todd Pelino extends Duke's lead
Duke marched right down the Kenan Stadium field, well on its way to a touchdown, but UNC's defense held up after a rough start to the drive.
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Todd Pelino converted his 33-yard field goal attempt, extending the Blue Devils' lead to 17-7.
2:33 left in the opening half.
Another UNC drive, another three-and-out
Gio Lopez misses a wide open Davion Gause after the Duke pressure, leading to another three-and-out.
Tom Maginness punts and Duke takes over from its own 13. Blue Devils lead, 14-7, with 9:24 left in the first half.
Costly UNC penalty leads to the Duke touchdown
The Tar Heels appeared to hold Duke scoreless, forcing a 46-yard field goal attempt on fourth down. Todd Pelino's kick went wide left, but Marcus Allen roughed Pelino on the block attempt and forced an automatic first down.
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Very next play? Darian Mensah to Jeremiah Hasley for the wide-open, 14-yard touchdown.
Pelino converts the extra point and Duke leads, 14-7, with 10:25 left in the first half.
UNC and Duke tied after one
UNC and Duke are tied, 7-7, after one quarter here from Kenan Stadium. Blue Devils have first down at the Tar Heels' 36-yard line to start the second quarter.
Fairly even first quarter, with Duke out-gaining UNC by an 80-76 yardage mark.
Duke forces a UNC three-and-out
The Tar Heels don't find success on their second drive, gaining just one yard on three plays.
Tom Maginness punts back to the Blue Devils, who take over at their own 22 with 1:36 left in the first quarter.
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Duke answers back. An Anderson Castle touchdown run ties the game at 7-7
Anderson Castle scores from a few yards out as Duke gets a touchdown and ties the game at 7.
Touchdown Tar Heels! Gio Lopez's TD run gives UNC a 7-0 lead over Duke
Now that's how you open a game. UNC drove all the way down the Kenan Stadium grass, marching 75 yards in 13 plays on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead over Duke.
Gio Lopez ran around the right side of his offensive line for a 1-yard touchdown.
7:57 left here in the opening quarter.
Today's captains
Defensive starters Will Hardy , Thad Dixon and Andrew Simpson, plus offensive lineman Christo Kelly, are all captains for today's Senior Day matchup vs. Duke.
Caleb Wilson leading pre-game Tar...HEELS chants!
A fan favorite in Chapel Hill, UNC's star basketball freshman led the Kenan Stadium crowd in these popular pre-game chants.
Thank you seniors!
Say it louder for the people in the back
Big day from Gio Lopez incoming?
Lopez has 200+ passing yards in four consecutive games. Duke's defense allows 273.3 passing yards per game, fourth-worst in the ACC.
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One final tailgate
Full injury report
Duke missing some key pieces
The Blue Devils will be without three defensive starters today: safety Terry Moore, linebacker Tre Freeman and cornerback Landan Callahan.
Big game incoming?
UNC tight end Jake Johnson , who totaled a team-best 58 receiving yards last weekend, is in line for a heavier workload today.
The Tar Heels will be without tight end Connor Cox, leaving them with Johnson and Jordan Owens as top options.
Bill Belichick and Lawrence Taylor!
Can the Tar Heels slow down Duke's freshman star?
Duke freshman running back Nate Sheppard has 700 rushing yards and five touchdowns. UNC allowed 223 rushing yards to Wake Forest a week ago.
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UNC getting much-needed defensive reinforcement
Thaddeus Dixon , the Tar Heels' top cornerback, is not on the pre-game injury report and expected to play today.
How to Watch UNC vs. Duke
WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils
WHEN? Saturday, November 22 at 3:30 p.m. ET
WHERE? Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV? ACC Network
RADIO? SiriusXM (Channel 193 and 391)
LINE? Duke -7
LAST MEETING? Duke 21, UNC 20 on 9/28/24 in Wallace Wade Stadium (Durham)
ALL-TIME SERIES: UNC leads, 65-41-4
PREDICTION? Duke 27, UNC 17
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football eliminated from bowl contention with loss to Duke
