'Nothing is changing': UNC football's defense crumbles again in loss to Duke

DURHAM — Standing outside of Duke's practice facility about 100 yards away from Wallace Wade Stadium, Travis Shaw paced back and forth. 

The junior defensive lineman stood with his position coach Ted Monachino. With his hands out by his side, Shaw pleaded with the coach.

“Things were supposed to be different,” Shaw said. “I'm not blaming you, but Coach, nothing is changing.” 

North Carolina fell to Duke, 21-20, on Saturday. After holding the Blue Devils to 97 yards of total offense during the first half, the Tar Heels allowed their rival to more than triple that number in the second half with 297 yards. 

Exiting halftime with a 17-0 lead, UNC's dreamlike start quickly turned into a nightmare.

Led by Duke's running back Star Thomas, who recorded 30 carries for 166 yards, the Blue Devils scored three touchdowns across four drives in the second half to lead Duke to its first rivalry win over North Carolina since 2018. Following a 70-50 loss to James Madison last Saturday, the defense returned to its old ways once again. 

And as soon as the victory was secured, fireworks burst over Wallace Wade while Duke fans rushed the field. Amidst the chaos, Carolina Blue-clad players returned to their locker room in the practice facility with heads held low.

“I thought they tried,” head coach Mack Brown said. “We just didn't tackle well in the second half, so I don't know. I really can't answer it.”

Some players yelled. Others talked to their parents. Some just sat and stared. But the question remained the same for everyone: How did this happen? 

With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, North Carolina's previously stout defense started to crumble. 

Through a steady offensive attack of deep throws and handoffs to Thomas, quarterback Maalik Murphy capped off Duke's first touchdown-bearing drive with a throw to Thomas to the left. The running back dashed up the edge of the sideline, dodging and avoiding tackles from both junior defensive back Marcus Allen and sophomore defensive back Kaleb Cost. 

On the next drive, headlined by a 43-yard diving grab from wide receiver Jordan Moore, Duke advanced to UNC's 29-yard line. From there, the Blue Devils continued to run the ball, inching closer to the end zone until Thomas broke the plane. 

One possession game. 

“I thought at one point right before the half we had [Duke] on the run and they were out and they were tired,” Brown said. “Then, we left them off the hook in the third quarter.”

The final touchdown around the six minute mark of the fourth quarter was the quickest. It only took four plays.

After Thomas pushed the Blue Devils to UNC's 25-yard line, running back Peyton Jones found a wide-open gap in the middle. Senior defensive back Antavious “Stick” Lane missed the tackle, allowing Jones to run 20 yards into the left side of the end zone. 

And just like that, UNC's lead evaporated. After being held scoreless in the first half, the Blue Devils took their first lead of the game with 21 unanswered points.

“I wouldn't say anything went wrong,” graduate defensive lineman Jahvaree Ritzie said. “Duke's a pretty good team. We're a pretty good team. We just gotta put it all together.”

Ritzie added that the solution comes from fitting gaps — a fourth down stop later in the game is proof of what they are capable of, but there's been no long-term correction. 

Against JMU, the Tar Heels rarely succeeded in getting a stop. During the rivalry match up, North Carolina fell apart in the second half without warning.

There is promise, but no consistency. There are moments of substance, but it is never enough.

And until UNC puts it all together or Brown finds the answers, these similar post-game scenes will remain with Shaw's original frustration at the root of it all. 

When will something change?

@_emmahmoon

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