The North Carolina Tar Heels, led by new quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., kicked off Bill Belichick’s second season with a gritty 15-10 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs in Ireland on a rainy Saturday. This win wasn’t just another game; it snapped TCU’s incredible streak of scoring at least 30 points in their last 10 season openers, the longest active FBS run. What a way to start, huh?
Belichick’s New Era Starts Strong
After a rough 4-8 college debut last year that began with a brutal 48-14 home loss to these very same Horned Frogs, 74-year-old Belichick, the guy with six Super Bowls, needed a different start. And he got it. Billy Edwards Jr., the transfer from Wisconsin, threw for 232 yards, completing 16 of 28 passes, and looked like a real gamer out there. Kicker Aeron Burrell tacked on two field goals, making sure those points counted. Last season, the Tar Heels never even had a halftime lead against a Power Four opponent, but against TCU, they pushed ahead 12-10 with just 1:49 left in the first half thanks to a safety. TCU punter John Hoyet Chance found himself in a nightmare when the snap sailed over his head, kicking the ball out of the end zone for those crucial two points. It was a complete turnaround from last year’s struggles, showing some real progress.
Defense Clamps Down, Offense Shows Promise
This Tar Heels defense was absolutely suffocating after TCU jumped out to a 10-3 lead on their first two drives. After that, the Horned Frogs couldn’t score another point. Can you believe it? TCU got stopped on fourth-and-short deep in Tar Heels territory on their last two drives, including new TCU quarterback Jaden Craig throwing an incompletion on fourth-and-2 from the 10-yard line, which effectively ended the game. Jeremy Payne rushed for 142 yards for TCU, but even he got stuffed on a fourth-and-1 from the 5-yard line earlier. Jaylen McGill grabbed the Tar Heels’ only touchdown, a 9-yard run in the first quarter, after they converted a fourth-and-7. With new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, North Carolina put up 10 points and 141 total yards in the first quarter alone, something they only did once last year and never with more yards. They finished with 322 total yards, a solid step forward.
What’s Next for the Tar Heels
Both teams have an open date now before their home openers on September 12. The Tar Heels will host East Tennessee State, while TCU plays Grambling State. This win against TCU is a massive confidence booster, especially after last season’s struggles against them. It feels like Bill Belichick’s second year is truly off to a different start. Let’s see if they can keep this momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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