UNC Rallies, Belichick’s First ACC Win 27-10

Chapel Hill, N.C. – The North Carolina Tar Heels mounted a dramatic second-half surge this past Saturday, October 7, securing a hard-fought 27-10 comeback victory against the Syracuse Orange at Kenan Stadium. The win marked a significant milestone for head coach Bill Belichick, who earned his very first triumph in the Atlantic Coast Conference since taking the reins of the UNC football program.

Syracuse surprised the home crowd early, establishing a 10-0 lead in the first quarter with a field goal and a subsequent touchdown drive, putting the Tar Heels on their heels. However, North Carolina found its footing in the second quarter, completely dominating the remainder of the contest and holding the Orange scoreless for the final three quarters.

The offensive turnaround was largely powered by sophomore running back Demon June, who delivered a career-best performance. June was an omnipresent threat, amassing two crucial touchdowns and an astonishing 198 total yards of offense, including 125 rushing yards on 18 carries and 73 receiving yards on 5 catches. His explosive 45-yard run in the second quarter set up UNC’s first score, and he later found the end zone on a powerful 5-yard dive, shrinking the deficit to 10-7 just before halftime.

Junior quarterback Gio Lopez also played a pivotal role in orchestrating the comeback. After a shaky start, Lopez settled into rhythm, completing 22 of 33 passes for 245 yards and two passing touchdowns. His precision throw to June on a screen pass in the third quarter resulted in a 30-yard score, giving the Tar Heels their first lead of the game at 17-10. Lopez sealed the victory with another touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, a 12-yard strike to senior wide receiver Marcus Thorne, extending the lead to 27-10.

For Coach Belichick, who arrived in Chapel Hill this season following a legendary career in the NFL, the win was a testament to his team’s resilience. “Our guys showed tremendous character today,” Belichick told reporters in his post-game press conference. “Syracuse came out with a lot of energy, but we made the necessary adjustments, stuck to our game plan, and executed when it mattered most. This is a good first step for us in conference play.”

The Tar Heels’ defense was equally instrumental in the comeback, shutting down Syracuse after their initial burst. After allowing 10 points early, the UNC defensive unit held the Orange to just 87 total rushing yards for the game and forced two critical turnovers – an interception by senior safety Jalen Riley and a fumble recovery by defensive end Malik Evans. They also sacked the Syracuse quarterback four times, consistently applying pressure and stifling any attempts at a rally.

With this victory, North Carolina improves its season record to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play, re-igniting their aspirations for a strong conference run. Syracuse drops to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. The Tar Heels will look to build on this momentum next Saturday, October 14, when they travel to Miami to face the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM ET and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.