North Carolina falls 20-14 to Virginia

UNC falls again on Saturday losing to Virginia at home to drop to 0-4 in the ACC this year.

Saturday was another frustrating loss for the North Carolina Tar Heels football program.

The Tar Heels dropped to 1-6 on the year and 0-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference following a 20-14 lead.

Virginia got the scoring started with a 20-yard field goal early in the second quarter. They would add on to their lead quarterback Kurt Benkert found Evan Butts for a 10-yard touchdown pass with just :57 seconds left in the first half.

The Cavaliers took a 10-0 lead into halftime as UNC’s offense looked dead, despite the defense only giving up 10 points.

But UNC got back on track in the second half.

UNC’s defense forced a three-and-out on Virginia’s opening drive of the second half. From there it was freshman Michael Carter Jr.’s time to shine.

The running back broke off a 56-yard run on the Tar Heels first drive of the second  half, and then added a 10-yarder. He finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to get UNC on the board and cut Virginia’s lead to 10-7.

Carter added another touchdown in the third quarter, breaking off a 47-yard run for his second touchdown of the game.

More importantly, it gave UNC a 14-10 lead and their first of the game.

UNC RB Michael Carter is gone for the TD!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/lCFgIQEj9n

— CFB Videos (@247CFBNation) October 14, 2017

It didn’t last long.

Virginia responded two possessions later when Benkert found Olamide Zaccheaus for a 81-yard touchdown to put Virginia in front for good at 17-14.

The Cavaliers added a 27-yard field goal to extend the lead 20-14.

UNC struggled offensively behind quarterback Brandon Harris who played in place of usual starter Chazz Surratt who was ruled out of the game with a 103-degree fever.

Harris struggled completing 7-of-18 attempts for 46 yards. He threw three interceptions and zero touchdowns in the game.

Defensively, UNC played well except for that big 81-yard play. The achilles heel for the Tar Heels defense has been the big plays of 50-plus yards this season.

UNC’s schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Tar Heels will hit the road next week to take on Virginia Tech as they still seek their first ACC win of the season.