North Carolina’s comeback win over Duke wasn’t just about the stars on the field. It was the next men up who made the difference when it mattered most.
Jaylen McGill punched in the game-winning touchdown, and Kenton Dopson III finished the job with the interception that sealed it. Both came off the bench after injuries opened the door at their positions, and both delivered in the biggest moments of a 24-20 win.
That theme could be front and center again Saturday night when UNC hosts Syracuse in its ACC home opener at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network. The Tar Heels (4-2 overall, 2-1 in the ACC) have eight players who have started multiple games this season listed as out or questionable on the availability report, giving more backups a chance to matter.
“It’s being ready and being ready to take advantage of the opportunities when you get it,” North Carolina coach Bill Belichick said. “We got a lot of guys that work hard and a lot of guys that are playing well, and if something were to happen to them, somebody else would get an opportunity.”
Belichick knows that script better than most. During his New England Patriots days, he oversaw one of the most famous injury-driven handoffs in football history when Tom Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe in 2001 and went on to lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl title, the first of Brady’s seven championships.
“Those are all opportunities for guys to get the playing time that they’ve been working for,” Belichick said.
UNC’s injury list is a long one. Wide receivers Jordan Shipp, defensive backs Kaleb Cost and Peyton Waters, running back Benjamin Hall, offensive lineman Jordan Hall and kicker Aeron Burrell are all questionable.
Cost sat out last week against Duke, while Hall and Burrell exited early with injuries. Each has started multiple games this season.
Defensive back Tre Miller, who has started four games, is out after missing the Duke game.
McGill made the most of his chance against Duke, setting career highs in carries with 12, rushing yards with 75 and longest run with a 24-yarder. That 24-yard touchdown run gave North Carolina the lead late in the fourth quarter. Benjamin Hall, who leads the team in rushing this season, went down with a hamstring injury early in the game.
“He just told us to go execute and that we were prepared to do what we needed to do,” McGill said.
Nicco Maggio has carved out his own role as injuries have opened up snaps up front. The redshirt freshman defensive lineman has 12 tackles, and he said the approach is simple.
“Just doing what I can and helping anywhere I can,” Maggio said. “Whether it’s 10 plays, 40 plays, just doing my job.”
Syracuse has its own quarterback mess to sort through. Steve Angeli is expected to start, though he is listed as questionable after missing the last two games. The Orange have already used four quarterbacks in six games.
Amari Odom is out with a shoulder injury, and Malachi Nelson is out with ribs and foot injuries. Nelson started the previous two games. Danny Lauter has played in each of the last two games and would start if Angeli cannot go.
“I don’t think I’ve ever coached against a team that’s had four quarterbacks that are all legitimate quarterbacks,” Belichick said. “They’ve all played.
They’ve all played well. These guys can move the ball.
They can go up and down the field.”
Syracuse even went with walk-on Joseph Filardi, a top lacrosse recruit, at quarterback against UNC last season when Angeli was out with an Achilles injury and the Orange offense was stuck behind backup Rickie Collins. Filardi had a rough night in North Carolina’s 27-10 win at Syracuse.
The Tar Heels are chasing their first three-game winning streak under Belichick in his second season in Chapel Hill. Through six games, UNC has already matched the overall win total and ACC win total it posted across Belichick’s first season.
And after Syracuse, No. 1 Miami is next on Halloween.
In Other News...
UNC Landed A Guard Whose Road To Chapel Hill Suddenly Changed
Kevin Thomas arrived at North Carolina with a path that changed quickly, even by recruiting standards. The four-star guard had originally pledged to LSU, but once the Tigers fired Matt McMahon and brought in Will Wade, he asked for a release and reset his plans. UNC emerged as the destination, giving Thomas a fresh start in Chapel Hill and placing him in a program that now has him under Michael Malones staff while also putting him back alongside former high school teammate Matt Able.
For a newcomer still settling into college basketball, the first glimpse of Thomas in a Tar Heels uniform came in an exhibition setting, where he logged four minutes and showed the kind of defensive activity that can earn a young guard more chances. It was only a small opening, but it offered UNC a preview of a player whose road to Chapel Hill took an unexpected turn and whose next steps will be watched closely as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Left Frustrated After Costly Home Loss To ACC Rival
North Carolinas field hockey team had plenty of offense in a 4-3 home loss to Wake Forest at Karen Shelton Stadium, but it was not enough to keep pace in an ACC matchup that turned into a track meet. Ryleigh Heck scored twice for the Tar Heels, and Coco Courtright added another, giving Carolina enough punch to stay in it throughout the afternoon.
Mia Schoenbecks hat trick powered Wake Forest, and the result left North Carolina with little time to dwell on a frustrating setback on its home turf. The Tar Heels now turn their attention to Appalachian State, looking to reset quickly after a game that came down to which side could finish its chances. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Front Line Just Sent An Encouraging Message In Homecoming Win
North Carolinas front line gave the Tar Heels plenty to feel good about in a homecoming win over California, one that ended with a 3-1 set score and a noticeable lift from several key contributors. Laynie Smith powered her way to a career-best 14 kills, while Addison West added a career-high 12, giving the No. 23 Tar Heels the kind of balanced attack that can carry them as the season moves forward.
Mike Schall and his players pointed to the performance as a sign of progress, especially with several individuals stepping into bigger roles on the home floor. For a team looking to build momentum, the encouraging part is not just the result against California, but the way North Carolinas front line answered the moment and left room for even more as the schedule continues. [Read more 🡒]