UNC-Miami live updates: Will the Tar Heels bounce back from last week’s loss?
North Carolina welcomes Miami into Kenan Stadium for an ACC football matchup in Chapel Hill. The game features the two teams that were picked to finish first and second in the league’s Coastal Division standings. It’s a long way from the preseason. The Tar Heels (3-3, 2-3 ACC) are trying to keep their record from falling under .500. The Hurricanes (2-3, 0-1) are functioning now with the knowledge that starting quarterback D’Eriq King can’t come back and save them. King is due to have season-ending shoulder surgery. UNC coach Mack Brown will square off with his former defensive coordinator at Texas. Miami coach Manny Diaz, who calls the defensive plays for the Canes, served as Brown’s DC from 2011-13 at Texas. Carolina is a 7.5-point favorite when the game kicks off today at 3:30 p.m. News & Observer UNC beat writer C.L. Brown is in Chapel Hill for all the action. Check back here for updates during the game.
*Live updates for this game have ended. For final results, and instant analysis, click here.
Knighton TD run. Miami 42, UNC 45. 4Q
Jaylan Knighton capped off a 12-play, 97-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. It was the longest scoring drive Carolina has allowed this season. The Canes made a two-point conversion on a Tyler Van Dyke pass to pull within a field goal.
Howell TD run. UNC 45, Miami 34. 4Q
Sam Howell bounced off three Miami defenders for an 11-yard touchdown run. It tied him for a program career record with Marquise Williams, who also accounted for 99 touchdowns.
Knighton TD catch. UNC 38, Miami 34. 3Q
Running back Jaylan Knighton took a flat pass and with one juke shook UNC cornerback Kyler McMichael. Knighton raced 60 yards for a score.
Borregales FG. UNC 38, Miami 27. 3Q
Andy Borregales made a 42-yard field goal after a false start penalty on Charleston Rambo stalled out the Canes’ drive at the UNC 25.
Howell TD run. UNC 38, Miami 24. 3Q
Quarterback Sam Howell is creeping up to an 100-yard game on the ground after a 30-yard touchdown run. Miami’s James Williams had a chance to make the tackle but tried to deliver a hit that would knock him down instead of wrapping him up in his arms. Howell just bounced off Williams and ran the rest of the way untouched.
Brown TD run. UNC 31, Miami 24. 3Q
The Canes scored on their opening drive of the second half thanks in part to a crucial fourth down conversion. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke scrambled for an 11-yard gain with UNC defenders dropped back in coverage on a fourth-and-10 from the UNC 29. Running back Cody Brown scored on a 3-yard run. Brown replaced starting running back Cam’Ron Harris, who is ruled out for the rest of the game with a lower body injury that happened on his 22-yard run to start the third quarter.
Atkins FG. UNC 31, Miami 17. 2Q
Grayson Atkins connected from 48 yards as time expired in the first half thanks to Cam’Ron Kelly’s interception. Carolina gained minus-3 yards on the drive, but benefited from a personal foul penalty when Miami’s Zach McLeod brought his full body weight down on quarterback Sam Howell.
Kelly interception.
UNC strong safety Cam’Ron Kelly got his second interception of the season when Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke tried to hit Keyshawn Smith across the middle of the field. Kelly’s pick set up the Heels at the Miami 42 with 55 seconds left in the half.
Atkins missed FG.
Sam Howell got dropped for a 10-yard sack, which made Grayson Atkins’ field goal attempt a 52-yarder. Atkins, who has made a career-long of 55 while at Furman, missed it wide right.
Knighton TD run. Miami 17, UNC 28. 2Q
Miami running back Jaylan Knighton capped off a 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The Canes’ took advantage of two pass interference penalties called on UNC cornerback Tony Grimes during the drive.
Chandler TD run. UNC 28, Miami 10. 2Q
Ty Chandler got his second touchdown run of the first half, this time a four-yard score. His run was set up after Miami’s James Williams received a personal foul penalty when he ran into UNC kicker Grayson Atkins on a 29-yard field goal attempt on fourth-and-11 from the Miami 12.
Gray interception.
UNC linebacker Cedric Gray was on the receiving end of a pass tipped by cornerback Tony Grimes and recorded his first career interception. Gray’s 12-yard return set the Heels up at the Miami 21.
Copenhaver TD. UNC 21, Miami 10. 2Q
John Copenhaver caught a 2-yard touchdown pass to cap off an 81-yard scoring drive for the Tar Heels. It was the first career touchdown for Copenhaver, a freshman from Roswell, Ga., on just his second catch this season.
Borregales FG. Miami 10, UNC 14. 1Q
UNC helped the Canes move the ball totaling 40 yards in penalties. Miami’s drive stalled after Tomon Fox sacked Tyler Van Dyke for a nine-yard loss on third down. It set up Andy Borregales’ 44-yard field goal for Miami.
Downs TD catch. UNC 14, Miami 7. 1Q
Receiver Josh Downs caught a 10-yard slant and ran the rest of the way untouched for a 45-yard score to put the Tar Heels back ahead. It marked the eighth straight game Downs has had a receiving touchdown and the 32 consecutive game quarterback Sam Howell has thrown a touchdown pass.
Harvey interception TD. Miami 7, UNC 7. 1Q
Defensive end Jahfari Harvey tipped a flat pass from quarterback Sam Howell intended for running back Ty Chandler, then intercepted it and ran 33 yards for a touchdown to even the score.
Chandler TD run. UNC 7, Miami 0. 1Q
UNC running back Ty Chandler broke one tackle at the line of scrimmage and ran 51 yards untouched for a score on the game’s opening drive.
UNC injury update
Cornerback Storm Duck and running back Caleb Hood both are out for today’s game with lower body injuries. Defensive tackle Kristian Varner is out with an upper body injury.
This story was originally published October 16, 2021 at 2:30 PM with the headline "UNC-Miami live updates: Will the Tar Heels bounce back from last week’s loss?."