North Carolina Tar Heels
19
North Carolina State Wolfpack
42
Final
RALEIGH – Dave Doeren and NC State extended their dominance over rival North Carolina. The Tar Heels sputtered to the finish of a disappointing first season under coach Bill Belichick.
Reserve quarterback Will Wilson had four rushing touchdowns, NC State scored on its four first-half drives and the Wolfpack earned a 42-20 victory Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium, its fifth consecutive win over North Carolina.
Doeren, who is expected to return for another season in Raleigh, improved to 9-4 all-time against the Tar Heels.
NC State (7-5) is headed to a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season. The Wolfpack continued their excellence in the rivalry, having won 14 of 19 since 2007 and 17 of 26 since 2000. The five straight wins in the rivalry are tied for the longest streak by NC State.
Belichick, who won six Super Bowl titles as head coach of the NFL’s New England Patriots, ended his first season in Chapel Hill at 4-8. Belichick’s hire brought unprecedented attention to the UNC program, which sold out its home schedule over the summer and attracted headlines throughout the year, but it didn’t translate into victories for a program that brought in 70 new players and never seemed to click.
Last season, in UNC coach Mack Brown’s last game, NC State scored 22 fourth-quarter points for a 35-30 win that secured bowl eligibility. No such heroics were needed in the traditional season finale between the rivals Saturday night.
The Wolfpack scored on the opening possession and never trailed. NC State had five scoring drives of at least 75 yards in the game. Starting quarterback CJ Bailey had two touchdown passes and reserve quarterback Will Wilson, the team’s short-yardage specialist, had three rushing scores in the game.
Bailey, who rushed for a season-high 65 yards, completed 21-of-30 passes for 201 yards. Wilson rushed 12 times for 54 yards, including a bruising 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter in which he was carried into the end zone.
NC State converted 6-of-12 third-down tries and all four of their fourth-down attempts.
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez left the game in the third quarter with an apparent left leg injury after defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland fell atop Lopez, whose leg was twisted awkwardly underneath him. It was the third game that Lopez left with an injury.
Max Johnson replaced him at quarterback. Lopez threw for 116 yards and Johnson had 54. Third-string Au’Tori Newkirk saw his action for the second time this season and threw a late touchdown pass. Receiver Jordan Shipp, who had the Tar Heels’ lone touchdown, had eight receptions for 90 yards.
UNC had 11 penalties for 129 yards that were accepted. In last week’s loss to rival Duke, the Tar Heels committed 12 penalties for 103 yards.
With no bowl game for the first time since 2018, the Tar Heels turn their attention to restocking their roster for Belichick’s second season. UNC has more than 35 incoming commitments ahead of the first day of the signing period Wednesday.
Scoring summary
First quarter
NCSU — Wesley Grimes 15 pass from CJ Bailey (Kanoah Vinesett kick), 10:10. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:50. Key play: QB Will Wilson rushed for four yards to convert a fourth-and-2; QB CJ Bailey scrambled for nine yards against a blitz to convert a third-and-9. NC State 7, UNC 0.
NCSU — Will Wilson 7 run (Vinesett kick), 3:26. Drive: 12 plays, 76 yards, 5:22. Key plays: NC State converted on two third downs to keep the drive alive. Bailey rushed for 22 yards on the first two plays of the drive. NC State 14, UNC 0.
Second quarter
UNC — Jordan Shipp 20 pass from Gio Lopez, 13:03. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 5:14. Key plays: Lopez connected with Shipp for nine yards on third-and-5 at the NC State 32 to extend the drive. NC State 14, UNC 7.
NCSU — Wilson 1 run (Vinesett kick), 7:12. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:51. Key plays: NC State faked a punt on fourth-and-1 from its own 34 and converted when Preston Douglas plunged ahead for two yards. NC State 21, UNC 7.
UNC — Verhoff 49 field goal, 1:49. Drive: 11 plays, 45 yards, 5:23. Key play: Lopez hit Shipp for 17 yards on third-and-14. Shipp drew a pass interference penalty later in the drive. NC State 21, UNC 10.
NCSU — Justin Joly 1 pass from Bailey (Vinesett kick), 0:18. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 1:31. Key play: Wilson rushed up the middle for three yards on fourth-and-1 from the UNC 43. NC State 28, UNC 10.
Third quarter
UNC – Verhoff 29 field goal, 3:16. Drive: 12 plays, 78 yards, 4:51. Key plays: Backup QB Max Johnson rushed for 18 yards on third-and-8 from the UNC 13. NC State 28, UNC 13.
Fourth quarter
NCSU — Wilson 15 rush (Vinesett kick), 14:52. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:24. Key play: Bailey completed a 10 yards pass to receiver Teddy Hoffman on third-and-4 from the NC State 31. NC State 35, UNC 13.
NCSU — Wilson 1 rush (Vinesett kick), 5:34. Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 6:42. Key play: Wilson converted another fourth-down try with a six-yard run. NC State 42, UNC 13.
UNC — Jordan Owens 4 pass from Au’Tori Newkirk (pass failed). Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 4:09. Key play: Newkirk rushed for 13 yards on third-and-4. NC State 42, UNC 19.
