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UNC and Charlotte slogged through a game that was as sloppy as the weather and wasn’t put away until the fourth quarter. The second half was a rock fight as the rain returned and UNC attempted to control the ball with the lead, which they generally did with success. The teams combined for a single field goal in the final 30 minutes as the Tar Heels head up I-85 with the win.
CHARLOTTE — North Carolina still has plenty of work, but may have found a budding running back star on its way to a decisive first victory in the Bill Belichick era. The Tar Heels ground out a 20–3 victory over Charlotte on Saturday before a Jerry Richardson Stadium record crowd of 19,223. With a 14-point halftime lead, UNC was content to lean on its rushing attack and burn clock to put away the victory.
Here are some images from Carolina’s victory Saturday night at Jerry Richardson Stadium over the Charlotte 49ers.
In his first game wearing the star, Javonte Williams wasted no time making his presence felt. The Dallas Cowboys signed Williams in March to a one-year, $3.5 million deal after four seasons in Denver, and the running back delivered both of the Cowboys’ touchdowns in Thursday night’s 24–20 road loss to the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Finding UNC’s season opener against TCU was simple — it aired on ESPN. Saturday’s matchup in Charlotte? That’s trickier. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., but the game won’t be on traditional TV. Instead, it’s streaming exclusively on ESPN+.
North Carolina released a depth chart for the first time this season. Although it is labeled “unofficial,” it shows Gio Lopez as the starting quarterback and no changes offensively but some shifts on the defensive line.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina’s quarterback situation is unclear after Monday night’s loss to TCU left plenty of questions.
CHAPEL HILL — Hubert Davis has experienced a full range of emotions as North Carolina’s head coach, and the inconsistency is putting scrutiny on him heading into season five.
North Carolina’s women’s basketball team already knew its nonconference schedule and, on Tuesday, the ACC announced the league schedule.
CHAPEL HILL — For one fleeting moment, North Carolina’s defense looked like it had found the answer. Late in the first half, with TCU threatening to stretch its lead, Kaleb Cost delivered the kind of play defenders dream about.
CHAPEL HILL — A year ago, Max Johnson lay on the field with a gruesome leg injury that ended his season soon after it began. On Monday night in Chapel Hill, he completed a journey few thought possible to add a positive note on a night that otherwise went horribly wrong for North Carolina in a 48–14 loss to TCU in Bill Belichick’s debut.
Here are some of the images from UNC’s 48–14 opening-game loss to TCU.
Words are hard to find for the egg that was laid in Kenan Stadium on Monday night for the debut of the most successful coach in NFL history. The 48–14 drubbing at the hands of Texas Christian was very bad, worse than the five-touchdown margin indicated.
CHAPEL HILL — All day before the game and for one drive, the thrill and the anticipation of the Belichick era hit a fever pitch. That excitement quickly gave way to frustration and disbelief.
Cut day in the NFL didn’t go well for several former UNC players, but many have made practice squads heading into Week 1. Eight other former Tar Heels are listed as starters or possible starters.
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