The North Carolina defense bent but did not break.
After UNC allowed Illinois to march easily into the red zone on the opening drive of Saturday’s game, the Illini looked poised to take an early lead. But the Tar Heel defense made a crucial stand.
Despite allowing three plays of over 10 yards on the opening drive, the Tar Heels came up big on fourth-and-one at their own 2-yard line, as they held Illinois out of the end zone.
The defense set the tone for the Tar Heels, and while players on offense and special teams broke school records on Saturday, the North Carolina defense was the real force behind UNC’s commanding 48-14 victory.
Sophomore safety Donnie Miles, who led the Tar Heels with 10 total tackles, said he and his fellow defenders focused on playing smart, fast and physical.
The combination of the three allowed UNC (2-1) to dominate an Illinois offense accustomed to scoring in bunches. The Illini (2-1) scored 96 total points in their first two games, but could only manage 14 points against the Tar Heels' stout defense.
Despite solid defensive play early, the UNC offense struggled to find the end zone on its first two drives, managing only a field goal. Again, the defense answered the call by providing a spark.
Sophomore cornerback M.J. Stewart pounced in front of Illinois junior quarterback Wes Lunt's pass to give the Tar Heels the field position they needed to eventually score a touchdown.
UNC’s offense would quickly find its way, feeding off of Stewart’s momentum-shifting play while the defense continued to put any hope of an Illini comeback to rest.
