CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Michael Carter rushed for a career-high 214 yards, Javonte Williams added another 169 on the ground, and No. 8 North Carolina rolled to a 56-45 ACC victory over No. 19 Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium.
The loss marked the first of the season for the Hokies, who fell to 2-1 overall, 2-1 in the ACC. North Carolina moved to 3-0 overall, 3-0 in league play.
North Carolina sprinted out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead thanks in part to two Williams touchdown runs and never looked back. Carter had two touchdown runs in the second half, including a 62-yarder that all but iced the game with 8:49 remaining.
The Tar Heels finished with 399 yards rushing on a day in which the Hokies played without both of their starting safeties (undisclosed reasons).
The Hokies were down 42-17 after Carter scored on a 16-yard run with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter, but Tech made a game of it, scoring touchdowns on three consecutive possessions. The Hokies cut the lead to 42-37 on a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hendon Hooker to receiver Tayvion Robinson with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. Tech went for two points to create a one-possession game, but Hooker's pass to James Mitchell was broken up, leaving the Hokies down by just five.
But North Carolina answered on its ensuing possession. The Tar Heels marched 75 yards in just six plays and scored on quarterback Sam Howell's 12-yard touchdown pass to Dazz Newsome. The extra point gave the Tar Heels a 49-37 lead with 12:37 remaining.
The Hokies punted on their next possession, and Carter then delivered the dagger. On the fourth play of the drive, he burst up the right sideline and scored to give the Tar Heels a 56-37 lead.
Tech finished with 495 yards of offense. Khalil Herbert again led the way, rushing for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Hooker completed 7 of 13 for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
GAME NOTES
• Tech last scored 30 points in three consecutive games to open a season in 2006.
• Tight end James Mitchell registered the first multi-touchdown game of his career, scoring on a 1-yard run in the second quarter and on a 26-yard reception in the fourth quarter. The run marked his first rushing touchdown of the season and the fifth of his career, and the reception marked his third of the season and the fifth of his career.
• For the fourth time in his career, Hooker rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass. The Hokies are 2-2 in those games.
• Hooker's 5-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter marked the seventh rushing touchdown of his career, and his two touchdown passes give him 15 for his career.
• Robinson's third-quarter receiving touchdown marked his second receiving touchdown of the season and the third of his career.
• Brian Johnson's 55-yard field goal in the third quarter is tied for the fifth-longest field goal in school history and is the longest field goal by Tech kicker since Cody Journell hit a 56-yarder in 2013 against BC.
• J.R. Walker made his first career start, getting the nod at the boundary safety spot in place of Keonta Jenkins (undisclosed reason).
UP NEXT
After two consecutive road games, the Hokies return to the Lane Stadium for their next game. Tech takes on Boston College on Saturday in a game that kicks off at 8 p.m. The game can be seen on the ACC Network.Gallery: (10-10-2020) 2020 FOOTBALL at NORTH CAROLINA
