CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Miami Hurricanes nearly saw their undefeated season slip away Saturday night, surviving a back-and-forth battle against North Carolina to escape Kenan Stadium with a 38-35 victory.
Miami (8-0, 6-0 ACC) entered the matchup looking to maintain its perfect record but found itself in a fight against a North Carolina team that refused to back down.
The Hurricanes opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Darian Mensah to Malachi Toney. North Carolina answered in the second quarter behind quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who connected twice with Jelani Thurman for touchdowns.
Miami regained control with a 31-yard touchdown reception by Mark Fletcher Jr. and a late 25-yard field goal from Jake Weinberg to take a 17-14 halftime lead.
The Tar Heels came out swinging in the second half, taking their first lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to Jordan Shipp. Fletcher responded with a 2-yard rushing touchdown, but North Carolina reclaimed a 28-24 advantage early in the fourth quarter on Demon June’s 1-yard score.
Fletcher punched in his second rushing touchdown with 7:49 remaining to put Miami ahead 31-28. The Hurricanes’ defense then produced the game’s biggest turnover when Marquise Lightfoot forced an Edwards fumble that Justin Scott recovered.
Miami capitalized with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Mensah to Toney, extending the lead to 38-28 with 2:33 remaining.
But North Carolina wasn’t finished.
Edwards quickly marched the Tar Heels 75 yards in just 55 seconds, finding Trech Kekahuna for a 15-yard touchdown with 1:38 left to cut Miami’s lead to three.
The Hurricanes ultimately held on, escaping Chapel Hill with their perfect season intact.
Mensah completed 22 of 29 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns, while Fletcher accounted for three total touchdowns and 86 all-purpose yards. Toney added seven receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Miami finished with 416 yards of total offense, but its defense struggled to contain Edwards, who threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns. North Carolina totaled 407 yards and converted eight of 11 third-down opportunities.
The Hurricanes’ defense recorded four sacks, including two from Lightfoot, while Chase Smith, JJ Dunnigan and Mohamed Toure each finished with nine tackles.
Miami improves to 8-0 and will travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame on Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
