CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina nonetheless hasn’t gained a sport in opposition to a Energy 4 opponent underneath Invoice Belichick, however Saturday’s 17-16 time beyond regulation defeat in opposition to No. 16 Virginia confirmed the advance he has lengthy promised is lastly unfolding on the sphere.
The Tar Heels dominated Virginia on the line of scrimmage, racking up six sacks and largely eliminating the Cavaliers’ run sport, however a failed 2-point attempt in time beyond regulation proved the distinction.
“It is one factor for folks to say we’re getting higher,” North Carolina vast receiver Jordan Shipp mentioned, “however now we’re displaying it. That is a top-20 crew within the nation that went right down to the final play of the sport.”
Shipp wasn’t celebrating an ethical victory. Within the locker room after the sport, he mentioned he shed tears, realizing how a lot work this crew had put in and the way shut it had come to its first ACC win of the season.
But when the Heels weren’t celebratory, there was ample motive to really feel good.
North Carolina’s protection held Virginia to 259 yards and did not permit a second-half level. The offense managed 359 yards — a relative pittance, however nonetheless a season excessive — and for the second straight week, UNC had a shot to win with its last possession, which is a drastic enchancment after 4 early blowouts.
Maybe one other signal of North Carolina’s enchancment was Belichick’s postgame information convention, the place he was in classic kind.
What went into the choice to go for 2 within the first time beyond regulation?
“Simply attempting to win the sport,” he mentioned.
Who was QB Gio Lopez’s first goal earlier than rolling out on the two-point play?
“Whoever was open.”
How a lot did UNC want these previous two video games to indicate actual enchancment on the sphere?
“I can not put a share on it,” Belichick mentioned.
He was effusive within the crew’s must keep away from disaster close to the aim line. After a three-point loss at Cal and Saturday’s one-point defeat to Virginia, what stood out was the Heels’ three pink zone turnovers, together with two that have been inside inches of reaching the tip zone.
“We have to get rid of these, little question about it,” Belichick mentioned. “It is the No. 1 drawback.”
If the miscues stay a problem, UNC appears to be discovering an identification that it lacked earlier within the season.
Belichick had prompt the crew, which had 30 transfers after spring observe, was a piece in progress because it tried to be taught extra in regards to the personnel. Previously two weeks, receiver Kobe Paysour has emerged with 9 catches for 154 yards, freshman Madrid Tucker recorded eight catches for 41 yards in his first sport motion of the season, and on protection, Melkart Abou Jaoude, who had simply two sacks this season, sacked Virginia QB Chandler Morris 3 times.
“We have spent extra time with these guys, and all people’s bettering,” Belichick mentioned. “Some guys are getting extra taking part in time or are being utilized in completely different roles as we see methods for them to assist the crew be productive. It is evolving. A few of it’s the gamers bettering, and a few of it’s figuring out issues guys can do to assist us.”
But when there is a turning level for UNC, it’d’ve come in the course of the open date two weeks in the past. The Heels had simply been blown out in opposition to Clemson and quite a few information tales erupted — together with the cancellation of a deliberate documentary on the crew, rumors of dissatisfaction amongst gamers (together with a locker room combat) and studies that Belichick was angling to get out of his contract, a narrative he firmly denied.
All that adversity united the struggling Tar Heels, Shipp mentioned.
“I really feel prefer it helped us quite a bit,” Shipp mentioned. “It is all the time good to be underneath a highlight. I really feel like that is what introduced all people collectively. You see, generally, folks attempting to trash folks’s names on social media, and individuals are there to defend them. … You are purported to have your brother’s again, it doesn’t matter what’s happening. There’s numerous that happening on this constructing.”