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Without key starters, UNC football drops season finale, 27-14, to UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl

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Graduate student defensive back Alijah Huzzie (28) is tackled during UNC’s game against UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. UNC lost 27-14.

BOSTON — In its season finale, North Carolina (6-7, ACC 3-5) fell apart against the Connecticut Huskies (9-4), 27-14, at the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Saturday in Fenway Park

After graduate quarterback Jacolby Criswell left the game in the first quarter with an injury, UNC struggled to generate any momentum, only recording 45 yards of total offense in the first half. Although North Carolina strung together momentum in the second half on its way to 206 yard of offense, it was too little, too late. The Tar Heels allowed the Huskies to convert on eight of 16 third downs to storm down the field and accumulate 361 yards.

UNC played with a depleted roster on Saturday, missing key starters such as junior running back Omarion Hampton. 13 players have entered the transfer portal. 

"We didn't really catch any breaks today," interim head coach Freddie Kitchens said. 

On its first snap of the afternoon, UConn rushed for 47 yards, breaking tackles and navigating away from the UNC defense, to land at the 28-yard line. Despite the early defensive lapse, the Tar Heels strung together a series of stops to hold the Huskies to a 32-yard field goal at the 11-minute mark of the first quarter. 

During a scramble on second down with 16 yards to go, Criswell was pulled to the ground and was slow to get up, holding his left shoulder. The starter was then escorted off the field to the locker room with 4:57 to go in the first quarter.

"It was definitely a big shock," graduate tight end John Copenhaver said.

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Graduate student quarterback Jacolby Criswell (12) hangs his head as he walks off the field after being injured in the first quarter of UNC’s game against UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. UNC lost 27-14.

First-year quarterback Michael Merdinger — who has not seen the field this season and entered the transfer portal on Thursday — stepped in to replace Criswell.

On third and nine, Merdinger's first throw bounced off the fingertips of junior wide receiver Kobe Paysour, forcing the Tar Heels to punt.

In its next drive, UConn only took two plays to break into the end zone, sealed by a 38-yard pass to wide receiver Skyler Bell. However, on the kickoff return, UNC found the endzone with sophomore wide receiver Chris Culliver running for 95 yards. By the end of the first quarter, the Tar Heels trailed, 10-7

Opening the second quarter, Connecticut ended its 4:14 minute, 79-yard drive with another touchdown to increase its lead to 17-7. Then, the Huskies pushed further ahead, 24-7, on a fourth down conversion with less than a minute left in the half.

North Carolina went three-and-out on its first two possessions of the second quarter, plagued by penalties and the offensive line's inability to create gaps for efficient runs.

After finally earning a new set of downs for the first time since Criswell left the game, Merdinger faced pressure with 15 seconds on the clock and threw an interception at the 30-yard line, effectively stomping out the offensive momentum. 

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First-year quarterback Michael Merdinger (17) looks for a pass during UNC’s game against UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Merdinger replaced graduate student quarterback Jacolby Criswell (12) after Criswell was injured in the first quarter. UNC lost 27-14.

The Tar Heels recorded only 32 yards of total offense in the second quarter and committed six penalties for a loss of 40 yards. 

To open up the second half, North Carolina managed to earn a first down at its own 37-yard line, but quickly turned it over on downs to give UConn the ball back at the 46. Despite allowing the Huskies to storm down to the six-yard line, the Tar Heels held them to a 24-yard field goal. Connecticut led 27-7 with less than eight minutes to go in the third quarter. 

With 11 minutes to go, senior running back Caleb Hood took five direct snaps for North Carolina in the place of Merdinger, earning the Tar Heels four consecutive first downs and bringing them to the 32-yard line. Then, following two quick flick passes by Hood to graduate running back Darwin Barlow, UNC was finally in the red zone. 

At the 17, Hood stepped out of the pocket to launch a dot to Copenhaver, marking North Carolina's first touchdown by the offense all afternoon. The Tar Heels trailed 27-14 with seven minutes remaining.

"I thought our guys kept fighting all the way to the very end," Kitchens said. "We just sort of ran out of time there at the end."

Despite a flash of energy, UNC did not score again, concluding North Carolina's 2024 season with a losing record. The Tar Heels have not won a bowl game since 2019.

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@carolinewills03

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com


Caroline Wills

Caroline Wills is the 2024-25 sports editor. Previously, she served as a senior writer on the sports desk, primarily covering women's tennis, field hockey, and women's basketball.