Miami Gardens, FL (Sports Network) - Giovani Bernard rushed for 177 yards and a
pair of touchdowns, lifting the North Carolina Tar Heels to a 18-14 victory
over the Miami-Florida Hurricanes in an ACC showdown at Sun Life Stadium.
Bernard carried the ball 27 times on the afternoon and also added four catches
for 36 yards for UNC (5-2, 2-1 ACC), which has won four straight. Bryn Renner
completed 25-of-40 passes for 214 yards with an interception. It was the first
game all season he hasn't thrown a touchdown pass.
For Miami (4-3, 3-1), Stephen Morris was ineffective, completing just 12-of-26
passes for 155 yards with no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He was
replaced late in the game by Ryan Williams, who went 9-of-13 for 80 yards. Mike
James rushed for 96 yards and a score. The Hurricanes have now dropped back-to-
back games following a three-game winning streak.
UNC tallied the only score in the first quarter on a Bernard 10-yard touchdown
plunge.
With just over five minutes to play in the first half, Miami tied the score at
7-7 following a one-yard touchdown run from James.
The Tar Heels regained the lead less than three minutes later on another
Bernard scoring rush, this time from 17 yards out. The touchdown capped off a
10-play, 78-yard drive. After a successful two-point conversion, UNC led, 15-7.
Midway through the third quarter, Morris ran in a touchdown from five yards out
for the Hurricanes. They opted to kick the extra point rather than try to tie
the game with a two-point conversion, making the score 15-14 in favor of the
Tar Heels.
UNC gave itself a four-point cushion later in the third quarter after Casey
Barth connected on a 48-yard field goal.
The Hurricanes drove down to UNC's 26-yard line midway through the fourth
quarter, but Williams threw an incomplete pass on 4th-and-6 to end the threat.
After the Tar Heels failed to score on their ensuing drive, Miami was left with
under two minutes to mount a game-winning touchdown. Williams drove his team
down to the UNC 35-yard line but could not convert a desperation 4th-and-16 as
the Tar Heels held on for the win.
UNC managed to overcome 15 penalties that cost it 140 yards.
GAME NOTES:
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