Bill Belichick, North Carolina lose badly against UCF

ORLANDO — UCF’s Tayven Jackson threw for 223 yards and scored a passing and rushing touchdown to guide UCF to a 34-9 victory over North Carolina.

The Knights were mostly methodical throughout the game, with three touchdown drives of longer than five minutes. But they scored a critical touchdown on a 64-second, six-play, 83-yard drive to close the second half when Jackson found Kylan Fox for an 18-yard score.

After forcing a punt to open the third quarter, the Knights scored on a short run from Myles Montgomery to take a 24-point lead and coasted to the finish, getting a rushing touchdown from Jaden Nixon on the team’s final drive with less than two minutes left.

The Bill Belichick-coached Tar Heels could not respond to the Knights’ long drives.

UNC quarterback Gio Lopez struggled with 11-for-14 passing and 87 yards. The Tar Heels tallied only 217 yards. The Knights had 366.

UCF forced two interceptions in the first half, picking off Lopez on a deflected pass at the line by Horace Lockett that was snagged by defensive end Nyjalik Kelly. They also got a second deflected pass when Jayden Bellamy tipped a pass to Braeden Marshall to stop a deep North Carolina drive.

Lopez left the game in the third quarter with an apparent right leg injury after he was tackled on a fourth-down conversion. Lopez left the field in a cart after an extended time in the medical tent.

Max Johnson took over, finishing the drive with a touchdown throw to Nathan Leacock late in the third quarter. He had 67 yards on 11-for-19 passing to go with his touchdown.

The Takeaway

North Carolina: The Tar Heels struggled in their second matchup with a Big 12 opponent after a 48-14 loss to TCU in Week One. They likely will need to switch to senior backup quarterback Max Johnson moving forward.

UCF: The Knights have firmly established their quarterback as Jackson took over for the second straight game and led UCF to a comfortable win.

Up Next

North Carolina has a bye week next week before opening ACC play at home against Clemson on Oct. 4.

UCF travels to Kansas next week to open Big 12 play.