The No. 1 Miami Hurricanes stayed unbeaten Saturday night, scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter to beat North Carolina at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Miami improved to 8-0 with the ACC win.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. scored three times, two of them on runs in the second half. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw two touchdown passes to Malachi Toney, the second of which came late in the game. Mensah finished 22 of 29 for 274 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
The lead changed hands several times. Miami led 24-21 entering the fourth quarter, but North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Demon June, and the Tar Heels led 28-24 with 11:46 left. Fletcher’s 2-yard run then put Miami back ahead.
Edwards threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns, but he lost a fumble. A strip sack by Marquise Lightfoot set up a Miami turnover, and the Hurricanes ran the ball to burn clock before Toney’s final touchdown. North Carolina tried an onside kick three times after penalties, and Miami recovered the last attempt.
Miami’s next test comes Saturday at No. 5 Notre Dame (7-1) in South Bend, Indiana. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
