Miami Survives UNC Upset Bid With Late Fumble Force
Darian Mensah and Mark Fletcher Jr. led No. 1 Miami to a 38-35 win over North Carolina, preserving the Hurricanes' perfect record before a trip to Notre Dame.
By Tessa Cooper ·
Mark Fletcher Jr. punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out on fourth down with 7:49 remaining, giving the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes a 35-35 tie against North Carolina. That score set up a defensive sequence that would decide the game in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
The Hurricanes (8-0, 6-0 ACC) had spent much of the night struggling to stop the Tar Heels (4-4, 2-3 ACC). North Carolina’s offense moved the chains consistently, allowing quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to throw for a season-high 341 yards and four touchdowns. The Tar Heels held a 28-24 lead until Fletcher’s late surge erased the deficit.
Marquise Lightfoot forced the decisive turnover on the next possession. As Edwards attempted a pass, Lightfoot stripped the ball from behind. Justin Scott recovered the fumble with 5:33 left on the clock.
Lightfoot described the moment as a matter of timing. “He decided to take a second decision, bat the ball, hold the ball a little longer,” Lightfoot said. “so I was able to get there.”
Miami’s offense capitalized on the turnover to build a 38-28 lead. Elija Lofton made a contested catch to move the chains, setting up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Darian Mensah to Malachi Toney with 2:33 remaining. Mensah had thrown two touchdowns earlier in the game, while Fletcher accounted for three scoring plays.
North Carolina coach Bill Belichick’s team played to the final minute. The Tar Heels had two onside kick recoveries negated by penalties before Miami recovered the third attempt. Miami then kneed the ball out to end the game.
Fletcher tied the program’s career rushing touchdown mark with his two ground scores. He noted that the team knew UNC would challenge them. “We knew they were wheels-up for the challenge,” Fletcher said.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal said the defense had soft spots. “I didn’t think we swarmed to the ball like we had been,” Cristobal said. “We were very sporadic in the way we tackled. And then sometimes we just got beat in man coverage, that simple.”
North Carolina fell to 0-12 against No. 1-ranked teams. Edwards called the effort competitive but acknowledged the result. “This isn’t the business for moral victories,” Edwards said.
The Hurricanes prepare to face No. 5 Notre Dame next Saturday. The two teams played last year in a contest that decided a College Football Playoff spot.
