UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano threw for two touchdowns and the Huskies’ defense overwhelmed North Carolina with a 27-14 victory in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday in Boston.
Mel Brown ran for 96 yards and the Huskies (9-4) reached the nine-game winning streak for the third time in program history.
It was a tough day for the Tar Heels (6-7), who are in transition as they wait for Bill Belichick to take over as head coach. Freddie Kitchens served as interim coach on Saturday following the departure of Mack Brown at the end of the regular season.
North Carolina’s Chris Culliver returned the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and backup quarterback Michael Merdinger threw it 86 yards. Six of the team’s first ten games came in the final 11 minutes.
Fagnano finished 16-for-23 for 151 yards for the Huskies, who were limited to a field goal in the second half after blowing a 24-7 halftime lead.
North Carolina lost quarterback Jacolby Criswell to an apparent shoulder injury on the team’s second offensive series. The Tar Heels, who were without running back Omarion Hampton (who will enter the NFL draft), didn’t hold a touchdown until less than 30 seconds remained in the first half, followed by a timeout.
UConn’s first points came on Chris Freeman’s 32-yard field goal. Then, with 3:45 left in the quarter, Fagnano connected with Skyler Bell for a 38-yard touchdown.
The Huskies led 10-0 before Culliver’s comeback, the only problem for UConn in the first quarter.
50 seconds into the second quarter, Fagnano hit Alex Honig with a 4-yard touchdown pass.
The final touchdown of the first half came on running back Cam Edwards leaping into the end zone to complete a snap-and-2. That ended a 14-play drive that ate up nearly six minutes.
North Carolina, which lost its fifth straight football game, was given 1 rushing yard in the first half.
The Tar Heels drove 98 yards in eight plays to score on running back Caleb Hood’s 17-yard pass to John Copenhaver with 6:46 left in the game. Hood rushed for a team-high 78 yards.
Conn had gone 0-3 against Atlantic Coast Conference teams this season, but had no problem snapping the streak against the Tar Heels.
–Field Level Media
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