Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels are finally bringing the Victory Bell home! It’s been two years, but UNC just pulled off a wild 24-20 win over the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium, and honestly, this game was everything we expected from this rivalry, and then some. UNC went into this matchup as 2.5-point underdogs, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, but they straight-up defied the odds, especially after how Duke rallied back.
First Half Dominance and a Rivalry Reversal
This rivalry is always tight, with the two universities less than 10 miles apart. Duke had won the last two matchups, and the previous four were split evenly, all decided by a combined 13 points. So, we knew it was gonna be a nail-biter, but whoa, did it deliver! North Carolina came out firing in the first half, looking like they were going to run away with it. Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Jordan Shipp on a short pass for their first score, and then Demon June punched it in on a gutsy fourth-and-2 call. The Tar Heels were up 17-7 at halftime, with Duke’s only points coming from a defensive gem: Andrew Pellicciotta scooped up a UNC fumble and took it to the house. It felt like UNC was in control, but anyone who watches these two knows it’s never over.
Duke’s Surge, UNC’s Clutch Finish
The second half? Pure chaos, the kind that makes you scream at your screen! Duke flipped the script entirely, rattling off 20 unanswered points to snatch a 20-17 lead. Their defense was on fire, holding UNC to a punt and two turnovers on downs, including a massive 16-yard loss when the punter bobbled a snap. Duke added two field goals, and then Nate Sheppard caught a 7-yard touchdown pass, putting the Blue Devils ahead. It felt like the Bell was staying in Durham. But Belichick’s Tar Heels, man, they dug deep! When they needed it most, Jaylen McGill busted out a 24-yard rushing touchdown to put UNC back on top. That was huge, their first points since the 13:43 mark of the second quarter. Then, with just 14 seconds left, the defense sealed it with an interception of Walker Eget, stopping Duke’s comeback cold. Talk about a heart-stopper!
Billy Edwards Jr. was solid for UNC, going 15/25 for 191 yards and a touchdown with no picks. Jaylen McGill led the rushing with 75 yards and a score on 12 carries, while Demon June added 49 yards and another TD. Jordan Shipp was the top receiver with 7 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. For Duke, Walker Eget threw for 249 yards and a touchdown but that crucial late interception. Nate Sheppard was a workhorse, racking up 77 rushing yards and 98 receiving yards with a touchdown.
Looking at the ACC standings, UNC is now sitting at 2-1 in conference and 4-2 overall. Duke is 1-2 in conference, also 4-2 overall. UNC will try to keep this momentum rolling when they host Syracuse next Saturday, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Duke has a quick turnaround, hitting the road for a Friday night battle against Virginia at 7 p.m. ET. What a game, what a win for the Tar Heels!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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