Bill Belichick and North Carolina walked out with a tight one, taking down No. 25 Pitt to move to 3-2 on the season.
The Tar Heels made the most of a Pitt team forced to play without starting quarterback Mason Heintschel, who tore his ACL and is done for the year. Holden Geriner got the call, but North Carolina’s defense made life miserable for him, forcing two interceptions and limiting what the Panthers could get going.
Pitt opened with the better early punch. The Panthers marched 75 yards in 12 plays on their first scoring drive, finishing it with La'Vell Wright’s two-yard touchdown run. After that, the game settled into a stretch of punts, with North Carolina and Pitt trading three straight empty possessions.
Pitt then stretched the lead to 10-0 with a field goal drive in the second quarter, but North Carolina answered right away. Billy Edwards Jr. led a five-play, 75-yard response, capped by a seven-yard touchdown throw to Jelani Thurman.
From there, the game got messy in a hurry. Edwards was intercepted on North Carolina’s first possession of the second half, then Geriner gave it right back a few plays later.
The Tar Heels couldn’t cash in immediately, punting after that takeaway, and Geriner soon threw another pick. North Carolina again came up empty on the ensuing possession.
Eventually, the Tar Heels found their footing. On their final drive of the third quarter, they moved 51 yards in 10 plays, and Demon June finished it off with a touchdown that put North Carolina ahead 14-10.
Pitt answered with another Wright touchdown to go back in front 17-14, but the lead didn’t last long. North Carolina struck immediately on the first play of the next drive, with Edwards hitting Shamar Easter for a 75-yard touchdown.
The late stages turned back into a grind. After that burst of scoring in the late third and early fourth quarters, both defenses took control again. North Carolina’s offense closed with an interception and two punts, while Pitt punted once and turned it over on downs three times.
In Other News...
Kaleb Cost Injury Overshadowed UNC Win For One Scary Reason
UNCs 21-17 win at Pittsburgh came with an unsettling scene late in the game when defensive back Kaleb Cost went down after colliding with a concrete wall behind the end zone. The impact sent his helmet flying into the crowd, turning a routine football play into a scary moment for everyone nearby and briefly overshadowing what should have been a hard-earned road victory for the Tar Heels.
Cost had to leave with trainers and was ruled out after the injury, but the concern did not stop with the player on the field. Medical personnel also assisted a fan who appeared to be struck by the helmet, adding another layer of worry to an already alarming sequence that left UNC with a win, and a lot of unease, to sort through afterward. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Finally Has Momentum But Two Problems Still Havent Gone Away
North Carolina finally had something to feel good about after snapping a two-game skid with a 21-17 win over Pittsburgh, a result that offered a much-needed reset after a rough stretch. The Tar Heels got timely plays on both sides of the ball, with Shipp leading the offense with six catches for 93 yards and Smith and Geriner each coming up with interceptions to help tilt a close game their way.
Even with the victory, the bigger concerns around this team did not disappear. The rushing attack still struggled to generate much, and the defense had its own issues against the Panthers on the ground, allowing 150 rushing yards that kept Pittsburgh in the game far longer than North Carolina probably wanted. The win provides momentum, but it also leaves the same questions hanging over the Tar Heels as they move ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Denis Just Gave UNC Fans A Reason To Reconsider Him
Isaiah Denis spent much of last season on the margins because of injury, but his showing in UNCs exhibition win offered a reminder of why the staff has kept investing in him. In 20 minutes under new coach Michael Malone, Denis scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds and knocked down two 3-pointers, giving the Tar Heels a burst of production from a player whose role has been far from settled.
Denis said the game carried extra weight for him, and his performance seemed to reflect a player trying to answer questions about where he fits in the programs future. Malones trust and coaching style were part of the equation, and he also praised Denis for his development and for sticking with the team through coaching changes, a small but meaningful sign of buy-in as UNC settles into a new era. [Read more 🡒]