MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. — At halftime in South Florida, the North Carolina football team trails Miami, 30-6.
The Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2 ACC) have dominated the Tar Heels (4-4, 2-2) in nearly every phase of the game after two quarters of play.
After UNC ran just six plays on its first drive and punted, Miami put together a 13-play, 84-yard touchdown drive, clocking in at 7:10. The drive ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Miami junior running back Duke Johnson on 4th down and 1.
In the first half, Johnson carried the ball 17 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and is now second all-time in career rushing yards in Miami program history.
Johnson's 90-yard touchdown run with about three minutes left in the second quarter is the longest run the UNC defense has surrendered in program history. Johnson broke former Georgia Tech tailback Jonathan Dwyer's record-setting 85-yard run against the Tar Heels in 2008.
Miami also beat the Tar Heels through the air in the first half. True freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya has completed 8-of-13 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Kaaya found tight end Clive Walford for a 14-yard touchdown at the 5:17 mark of the second quarter, and again for another 14-yard touchdown just 26 seconds before the half.
UNC's lone touchdown came on a 39-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown from true freshman linebacker Cayson Collins after sophomore defensive end Mikey Bart got to Kaaya and forced the fumble.
The touchdown was timely, coming on the possession after a snap to UNC punter Tommy Hibbard sailed over his head and out of bounds at the back of the end zone for a Miami safety. Though Collins got UNC on the scoreboard, kicker Nick Weiler missed the ensuing extra point.
The Tar Heel offense has struggled all afternoon with just 57 total yards, including 21 rushing yards. Starting redshirt junior quarterback Marquise Williams has completed just 10-of-16 passes for 36 yards with one interception, bringing into question whether coach Larry Fedora will give backup Mitch Trubisky some snaps in the second half.
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