At the half, the North Carolina football team trails Notre Dame 28-26, despite taking a quick 14-0 lead to open up the first seven minutes of the game.
Just a mere 92 seconds into the game, freshman running back Elijah Hood — who originally verbally committed to Notre Dame before flipping to North Carolina — came up with a six-yard touchdown run in a drive of three plays, 37 yards and 43 seconds. The Tar Heels went up 7-0.
Five minutes later, redshirt junior linebacker Jeff Schoettmer recorded his second pick six of the season, intercepting Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson’s pass and doubling UNC’s lead.
But after going down 14-0 the Irish went on a run that saw them amass 235 yards to UNC’s 15, and 21 unanswered points. Golson connected with Will Fuller on a 13 yard pass with 7:09 remaining in the first quarter and Cam McDaniel picked up a one yard run to open the second quarter. With 9:56 remaining in the second quarter, Notre Dame scored again, this time on a seven-yard run from Greg Bryant.
Marquise Williams has been the catalyst of the UNC offense, going 13-for-20 with 193 yards and a touchdown. In the second quarter alone, Williams picked up 125 yards.
With 4:16 remaining in the half, after Notre Dame was called for two pass interferences in the same drive, Williams ran for three yards to bring the Tar Heels within one. But UNC’s extra point attempt was blocked and the Irish held on 21-20.
Tarean Folston picked up a six-yard rushing touchdown with 2:25 left in the half after Notre Dame recovered a UNC fumble. Elijah Hood had picked up three yards, and the Irish picked it up for seven yards. Folston’s rush made the score 28-20, before UNC made it 28-26 when Williams connected with Quinshad Davis on a 20 yard pass to end the first half. UNC went for two, but Tommy Hibbard’s pass to Jack Tabb was incomplete, and the Irish went into the locker room leading 28-26.
With 19 career touchdown receptions, Davis is now two away from tying UNC's record, held by Hakeem Nicks.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
