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UNC at Charlotte: Tar Heels beat 49ers comfortably in Week 2
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- UNC at Charlotte: Tar Heels beat 49ers comfortably in Week 2
The North Carolina Tar Heels , eagerly hoping to get Week 1's sour taste out of their mouths , faced Charlotte in the Queen City for a Saturday night matchup. Both UNC (0-1) and the 49ers (0-1) enter Week 2 off embarrassing losses: TCU obliterated North Carolina, 48-14, while Charlotte fell victim to a 34-11 thumping by App State.
Stormy weather delayed the start of tonight's contest, but the Tar Heels quickly took the field once cleared to do so. Gates opened at 6:30 p.m., with UNC and Charlotte officially kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday wasn't pretty, but North Carolina found a way to win a gritty ballgame, beating the 49ers 20-3 and delivering Bill Belichick his first collegiate victory.
The Tar Heels struck quickly, scoring three plays into Saturday' action on a 51-yard bomb from Gio Lopez to Chris Culliver . Lopez finished his night with just under 200 yards from scrimmage, looking significantly more comfortable.
UNC discovered a budding star in Demon June at running back, as the freshman led all ballcarriers with 52 yards on just nine carries.
North Carolina gave up some big plays on defense, but locked down when it mattered most. The Tar Heels held Charlotte under 300 yards, while gaining 303 of their own.
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UNC returns home to Chapel Hill next weekend, hosting the Richmond Spiders for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Tar Heel Nation can finally breathe.
It's official...UNC's second interception ends the game
North Carolina intercepted another Grayson Loftis pass as time expired, with Malcolm Ziglar doing the honors. The Tar Heels beat Charlotte, 20-3, delivering Bill Belichick his first career victory as a college coach.
GOODNIGHT!
Down 20-3, Charlotte drove the length of the field with Duke transfer Grayson Loftis in at quarterback. UNC defensive back Greg Smith picked off Loftis' final pass, with just over two minutes to go, running it out of the end zone and all but ending the game.
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UNC ends its drive with points
North Carolina stalled on its first drive of the fourth quarter, but escaped with points. Rece Verhoff converted his 33-yard field goal attempt, pushing the Tar Heels' lead over Charlotte to 20-3, with just under 11 minutes left in regulation.
UNC converts a fourth down, enters fourth quarter with a big lead
Gio Lopez ended the third quarter with another big play. Facing an all-out blitz from Charlotte, UNC's quarterback completed the quick pass to sophomore wide receiver Jordan Shipp, converting a fourth down and extending North Carolina's longest drive on the night.
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Tar Heels enter the fourth quarter with a 17-3 lead.
UNC goes three-and-out again
North Carolina gained just eight yards on its second drive of the second half, punting the ball back to Charlotte. The 49ers have little problem moving the football, but mistakes are costing them.
Andrew Simpson's sack ends the Charlotte drive
After UNC went third-and-out on a disappointing offensive series to start the second half, linebacker Andrew Simpson ended Charlotte's first second-half drive with a monster sack, UNC's first of the year.
Davion Gause for six!
North Carolina took advantage of a bone-headed unnecessary roughness penalty on Charlotte, cashing in for its second touchdown of the night.
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Tar Heels sophomore running back Davion Gause, initially projected to start this season, scored on a 12-yard handoff from Gio Lopez.
Rece Verhoof converted on his extra point attempt, pushing UNC's lead to 17-3.
UNC catches a lucky break on the Liam Boyd miss
Charlotte drove the length of the football field midway through the second quarter, looking to tie the game at 10 apiece.
UNC's defense forced a 49ers field goal attempt – and Liam Boyd boinked the 26-yard attempt off the left upright.
North Carolina takes over at its own 9-yard line with just under three minutes in the first half.
Crucial penalty kills UNC momentum
North Carolina marched down the field on its first drive of the second quarter, thanks to a couple big runs from freshman back Demon June.
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An facemask penalty on left tackle Treyvon Green then killed the Tar Heels' momentum, as they punted the football away to Charlotte.
UNC's defense holds Charlotte to three points
The 49ers picked up several third downs on their first drive of the second quarter, but North Carolina held its opponent to a 39-yard field goal.
Tar Heels lead 10-3 with 12:33 left in the first half.
End of the first quarter
North Carolina is off to a much better start in its Week 2 clash, leading Charlotte 10-0 after the first quarter. The Tar Heels are outgaining their opponents, 123 yards to 31.
UNC scored three plays into the game, scoring on a deep strike from Gio Lopez to Chris Culliver. North Carolina's defense is holding up its end of the bargain, looking significantly more aggressive in pursuit.
Rece Verhoff extends the lead
Marshall transfer Rece Verhoff, now North Carolina's starting kicker, nailed a 49-yard field goal and extended his new team's lead to 10-0.
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8:34 left in the opening quarter.
Tar Heels defense stands tall on Charlotte's first drive
Just like last week against TCU, North Carolina's defense started tonight's game with a strong showing. UNC limited the host 49ers to just eight yards – on three plays – during their first drive.
BANG! UNC scores just three plays into the game
First down, first down, touchdown. That's how North Carolina's first drive of the game began. Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez completed a pair of first-down passes to running backs Benjamin Hall and Caleb Hood, then launches the football 51 yards down the field to a wide-open Chris Culliver.
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UNC takes a 7-0 lead just under a minute into the game.
UNC likely to play without UConn transfer Pryce Yates
It's almost game time!!
Remember Conner Harrell?
The Tar Heels are NOT welcome in Charlotte
Chapel Bill is on the field
Gio Lopez in warmups
Official word from the Tar Heels on start time!
Fans beginning to make their way into the stadium
UNC is on the field for warmups.
Expecting players to be on field soon
WE HAVE A START TIME
Gates opening at 6:30 p.m. ET
Gio Lopez WILL start at quarterback
Gates STILL haven't opened
Weather delaying start of tonight's contest
UNC media personnel in a rough spot
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football at Charlotte: Tar Heels give Bill Belichick first victory
