As North Carolina handled business at Pittsburgh on Saturday, a handful of its commitments were putting together strong nights of their own. Five of them turned in performances worth noting across Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama and Texas, giving Tar Heel fans plenty to track during the weekend of 10/8-10/10.
Nazir Pitchford was one of the biggest all-around standouts. The Palmetto (FL) cornerback helped his team roll past Manatee 37-14, finishing with 2 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown on offense while also adding 7 total tackles, 3 of them solo, plus a pass defensed on defense. The 6-foot-1 two-way player pushed his season touchdown total to five with a 32-yard grab as Palmetto moved to 6-1.
"Overall, I felt good about my performance and will keep working to get better in all areas of my game," Pitchford told TarHeel247.
In Georgia, Lee County kept rolling with a 49-0 win over Veterans, and offensive lineman Shavezz Dixon was a steady force up front. The 6-foot-4 blocker didn’t allow a sack or pressure and posted 4 knockdown blocks as Lee County picked up its sixth win. Dixon said he felt a clear step forward in one area that helped him keep his quarterback protected.
"I definitely feel like I've shown improvement this week with my pad level," he told TarHeel247.
Hawthorne (FL) defensive lineman Kaiden Robinson-Vickers also delivered in a shutout, helping his team blank Chiefland 35-0. The three-star composite prospect recorded 5 tackles, including 2 solo stops, along with 2 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Hawthorne stayed unbeaten at 8-0 with the district win.
Isaiah Stephens did just about everything for Sheridan in one of the weekend’s wildest games. The Arkansas running back powered his team to a 59-49 win over Benton with 25 carries for 197 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, while also catching 4 passes for 34 yards. Sheridan improved to 6-0 in a game Stephens said came down to making plays when they mattered.
"We were able to get some turnovers and capitalize on them," Stephens told TarHeel247. "On the offense side of the ball, we were able to make plays when it counted."
White Plains (AL) tackle Hudson Ingalsbe helped his team stretch its win streak to four with a 42-14 victory over Childersburg, the program’s third region win. White Plains has now outscored opponents 161-50 during the stretch, and Ingalsbe pointed to the run game and his team’s focus through tough conditions.
"The run game was working really well for us against the other team (5-1 team)," Ingalsbe told TarHeel247. "We had the ability to play well and stay focused in inclement weather. We kept our energy up during the second half.
"We are staying consistent and not going for the kill shot or highlight tape, just executing the right way. I think we've only had five negative plays in our last four games."
North Carolina’s quarterback commitment Noah Spinks finished the weekend list with a strong outing despite a loss. Summer Creek (TX) fell 28-27 to North Shore after a game-tying PAT went awry in the final minute, but Spinks still threw for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11-of-20 passing. North Shore came in at 6-0, and Summer Creek, now 4-2, pushed the game to the wire.
"It's a tough loss, but we're gonna bounce back," Spinks told TarHeel247. "And going into this bye week, we're gonna get some recovery, and we know we'll see them again in the 4th round, and we'll be ready for it!"
In Other News...
UNC Got The Ranked Win But Left Fans With A Bigger Concern
North Carolina went on the road and came away with its first ranked win under Bill Belichick, a result that should matter in a season still trying to establish a clear identity. The Tar Heels needed both sides of the ball to settle in after a sloppy start, but they did enough in the second half to take advantage of a Pitt team that kept helping them with poor decisions late.
Even with the victory in hand, the performance left plenty to sort through. UNC had turnovers, the game never felt clean for long, and the kind of sharp, steady execution that usually travels in November was only there in stretches, which is exactly why the mood around this one was a little more complicated than the final score suggested. [Read more 🡒]
North Carolina Kept Its Season Alive With A Win Fans Will Debate
North Carolina needed a win that could steady a season that has spent too much time on the edge, and Saturdays 21-17 result over No. 25 Pittsburgh did exactly that. The Tar Heels got the kind of lift they have been chasing, with the defense setting the tone and making life hard for Pitt after halftime, while Billy Edwards delivered a performance that had its rough patches but still mattered in the final accounting. Jordan Shipp and Jelani Thurman gave the passing game useful answers, and tight end Shamar Easter stepped into a larger role and found ways to help after injuries thinned the options around him.
The debate now is less about the result than how North Carolina got there, because this was not a clean, controlled win so much as a survival job with plenty of lumps along the way. Even so, the fourth-down stops in the second half and the timely contributions from a handful of receivers gave the Tar Heels something tangible to carry forward as bowl hopes stay alive. For a team trying to build some late-season momentum, the next few days will say a lot about whether this was the kind of win that changes a stretch run or just another close one in a year full of them. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Sent A Loud ACC Message Before Its Next Test
North Carolinas mens soccer team kept rolling at Dorrance Field with a lopsided ACC win over Notre Dame, a result that carried real weight beyond the scoreline. The Tar Heels put together a complete attacking performance and showed again why they can be a problem for league opponents when they get into a rhythm.
Joschi Schelb led the way with a hat trick and an assist, while Ryan Zellefrow was just as dangerous with two goals and three assists in the rout. It was UNCs fourth straight victory, pushing the Tar Heels to 6-2-3 and giving them some momentum heading into their next test. [Read more 🡒]