Hurricanes Escape North Carolina

     The Miami Hurricanes avoided a scare as they got by the North Carolina Tar Heels 24-19 at Kenan Stadium on Saturday. The Hurricanes remain the only undefeated team in the ACC and on top of the Coastal Division.
     North Carolina(1-8, 0-6) was able to hold off the Hurricanes offense for almost the entire first half. Freeman Jones gave UNC a 3-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal at 4:57 of the first. He added a 45-yard field goal with 3:54 to go in the second quarter.
     Miami(7-0, 5-0) finally scored with 2:07 left in the second quarter and took the lead 7-6. Quarterback Malik Rosier connected a 51-yard touchdown pass to tight end Christopher Herndon IV up the middle on a third-down play.
     It would be different in the second half as the Hurricanes scored on the first play from scrimmage 17 seconds into the third quarter. Rosier rocketed the ball to wide receiver Jeff Thomas on the left hash marks to complete a 78-yard touchdown.
     The Canes had great field position as they blocked a punt and took over at the Carolina 13-yard line. Miami settled for a 21-yard field goal by Micheal Badgley at the 9:52 mark and extended their margin to 17-6.
     The Tar Heels answered back on their next drive at 7:59. Quarterback Nathan Elliott threw a lateral pass to wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams at the right hash marks and he released an 18-yard pass to wide receiver Beau Corrales in the front right side of the end zone.
     Linebacker Charles Perry, a Royal Palm Beach grad, would make an interception at the Carolina 44-yard line with 53 seconds to go in the third, however the Canes punted the ball at the start of the fourth quarter.
     The Hurricanes moved out to a 24-13 lead at 9:31 of the fourth. Rosier zipped a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Braxton Berrios in the front of the end zone.
     UNC stayed in the contest and closed the gap to five points 24-19 with 3:08 remaining. Elliott connected a nine-yard pass to Corrales on the right seam for the score. The Tar Heels then failed on the two-point conversion pass.