Duke-UNC football game updates: Tar Heels win big over Blue Devils
North Carolina’s offense bulldozed over Duke all day Saturday, with running back Javonte Williams scoring four touchdowns as the Tar Heels whipped their rival Blue Devils 56-24 in ACC football at Wallace Wade Stadium.
UNC (5-2 overall and in the ACC) surpassed 500 yards of total offense for the fifth consecutive game, amassing 573 yards against Duke.
The Tar Heels won the Battle for the Victory Bell game for the second consecutive season after losing the previous three games against Duke.
Williams led the Tar Heels in rushing with 151 yards on 12 carries. The junior scored on runs covering 33, 32 and 4 yards while also catching a 2-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Sam Howell. All four of his scores came in the first half as the Tar Heels built a 42-10 halftime lead.
Howell completed 18 of 27 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns for UNC.
Michael Carter scored two touchdowns for the Tar Heels, catching a 22-yard scoring pass from Howell in the second quarter and adding a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Junior running back Mataeo Durant provided one of the few bright spots for Duke (2-6, 1-6 ACC) by rushing for 132 yards on 11 carries, including a 46-yard touchdown run.
(DeCock on Tar Heels victory: Showing Duke no mercy was confidence UNC defense needed for last-ditch ACC title effort)
Michael Carter TD: UNC 56, Duke 17
UNC running back Michael Carter scored his second touchdown of the day, this one on a 12-yard run with 13:08 to play in the game. Carter’s scoring run came one play after running back Javonte Williams broke free for a 37-yard run. Williams is the game’s leading rusher with 151 yards and he has scored four touchdowns.
End of third quarter: UNC 49, Duke 17
The Tar Heels remained in control as their rivalry game with Duke heads to the fourth quarter. Quarterback Sam Howell threw his third touchdown pass of the game in the third quarter, giving him 223 yards with 17 completions on 26 attempts.
Javonte Williams, who has scored four touchdowns, leads UNC in rushing with 110 yards on nine carries. He has rushed for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass.
Mataeo Durant, who scored on a 46-yard run for Duke in the third quarter, has 127 yards on 10 carries for the Blue Devils.
Duke tries different QB
Trailing by 32 points, Duke replaced starting quarterback Chase Brice with redshirt sophomore Gunnar Holmberg with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter. While UNC built a 49-17 lead, Brice completed 11 of 23 passes for 155 yards with one interception. He’s thrown 12 interceptions this season.
Mataeo Durant TD: UNC 49, Duke 17
Duke junior running back Mataeo Durant burst up the middle for a 46-yard touchdown run with 12:30 to play in the third quarter. Durant is a rare bright spot for the Blue Devils in a lopsided game. He’s rushed for 109 yards on eight carries.
Dazz Newsome TD: UNC 49, Duke 10
After a Duke turnover on the first play from scrimmage after halftime, Sam Howell tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dazz Newsome as the Tar Heels continued to pour it on against their rival. An already bad day got worse for Duke on the first play of the third quarter. Running back Deon Jackson absorbed a hit during a run that caused a fumble and left him with an injured right arm. UNC linebacker Chazz Surratt recovered to set up the easy scoring drive for the Tar Heels.
Halftime: UNC 42, Duke 10
The Tar Heels dominated Duke over the first two quarters, scoring touchdowns all six times they possessed the ball to build a lopsided halftime advantage.
Running back Javonte Williams has already scored four touchdowns, rushing for three and catching a Sam Howell pass for a fourth. Williams rushed for 91 yards on six first-half carries, with his scoring runs covering 33, 32 and 4 yards.
Howell completed 13 of 20 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. His scoring tosses were 22 yards to Michael Carter and 2 yards to Williams. Howell also rushed 3 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
UNC amassed 356 total yards.
Duke managed just 203 total yards in the first half as quarterback Chase Brice completed eight of 16 passes for 112 yards with one interception.
UNC is rolling toward its second consecutive win in the series with Duke after the Blue Devils had won the three previous meetings.
Javonte Williams TD: UNC 42, Duke 7
UNC junior running back Javonte Williams is on his way to one of the better individual performances in the UNC-Duke rivalry’s history. Williams’s 33-yard touchdown run with 1:55 left in the first half was his fourth touchdown of the game, helping the Tar Heels add to their huge lead. Williams rushed for 91 yards on six first-half carries, three going for touchdowns.
Javonte Williams TD: UNC 35, Duke 7
Duke simply cannot stop UNC’s offense. On a fourth-and-2 play, Javonte Williams ran to the middle of the line before bouncing outside and coasting for an easy 32-yard touchdown run with six minutes left until halftime. The Tar Heels scored five touchdowns on their first five possessions. In addition to scoring on a fourth-down play, UNC converted two earlier third-down plays on the 65-yard drive for its latest score.
Eli Pancol TD: UNC 28, Duke 7
Duke found a way to strike back, using wide receiver Eli Pancol on a reverse run that covered 22 yards for a touchdown with 9:32 to play in the first half. The play completed a 12-play, 75-yard drive to used 5:11 of the game clock. It’s the kind of drive Duke hoped to use throughout the game to keep UNC’s potent offense off the field.
UNC gave Duke a boost on the drive when the Tar Heels were flagged for an illegal hands to the face penalty on a third-down play that resulted in a sack.
Michael Carter TD: UNC 28, Duke 0
The Tar Heels continue to ring the Victory Bell in celebration as their lead has grown to four touchdowns. UNC running back Michael Carter caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Sam Howell and ran over Duke defensive back Michael Carter (no relation) at the goal line to reach the end zone with 14:43 to play in the second quarter.
End of first quarter: UNC 21, Duke 0
The Tar Heels dominated Duke over the game’s first 15 minutes, scoring touchdowns on all three possessions. Sam Howell completed 10 of 12 passes in the first quarter for 128 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score.
Duke has struggled throughout, recording just three first downs with quarterback Chase Brice throwing an interception on his final pass of the quarter.
Javonte Williams TD: UNC 21, Duke 0
UNC continues to pile up the points as Williams scored his second touchdown of the day, this one a 2-yard run with 2:06 left in the first quarter. The confident Tar Heels converted a fourth-and-2 play to keep the drive alive before Michael Carter’s 27-yard run to the Duke 6 set up the scoring play.
Sam Howell TD: UNC 14, Duke 0
Two possessions, two touchdowns for the Tar Heels after Sam Howell ran 3 yards for a score with 10:07 left in the first quarter. Howell set his touchdown up by completing a 51-yard pass to Emery Simmons to the Duke 3.
Javonte Williams TD: UNC 7, Duke 0
Two Duke penalties on the game’s opening kickoff set UNC up with a short field and the Tar Heels took advantage.
The kickoff went out of bounds for a penalty and the Blue Devils were called for personal foul, allowing UNC to start the game at the 50.
Less than three minutes later, Javonte Williams put the Tar Heels on top, catching a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal with 12:39 for a 7-0 UNC lead. Howell completed four of six passes on the drive for 43 yards.
Duke could add a defensive back
Blue Devils safety Leonard Johnson could return to play for Duke against UNC today. Johnson injured his ankle in Duke’s 31-20 loss at N.C. State on Oct. 17 and did not play in Duke’s next game, a 53-19 win over Charlotte on Oct. 31. Johnson is a game-time decision today for Duke.
HOW TO WATCH OR STREAM DUKE-UNC GAME
The Blue Devils and Tar Heels will kickoff at noon Saturday on ESPN2. The game is also available to stream via the ESPN app or WatchESPN.com with a valid cable/satellite subscription or ESPN+ subscription.
WHAT ARE THE BETTING ODDS FOR DUKE VS. UNC?
The Tar Heels opened as a 10-point favorite and the line has moved, as of Saturday morning, to -11.5 in favor of UNC. (Over/under set at 62 points.)
This story was originally published November 7, 2020 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Duke-UNC football game updates: Tar Heels win big over Blue Devils."