The hits just keep coming for the North Carolina Tar Heels’ football program.
With the Tar Heels on a three-game losing streak entering Saturday’s home game against Georgia Tech, UNC tried to exercise their demons of the past with the Yellow Jackets and fell behind early again. But in the end, they had a chance to win it and fell short again, causing heartbreak in Kenan.
Jamal Haynes’ 68-yard run with 16 seconds left in the game was another crushing blow for Mack Brown’s team as it gave the Yellow Jackets a 41-34 win over the Tar Heels. After UNC marched down the field with the chance to take the lead, they settled for a field goal from Noah Burnette with 44 seconds left. It came a play after it appeared as if Jacoby Criswell threw a beauty of a pass to John Copenhaver who dropped it in the end zone.
With Georgia Tech missing Haynes King due to an injury in the game, the Yellow Jackets were content with running the ball in that final minute. And then Haynes broke free again for the big score.
It was the second big run of the day for Georgia Tech in the final seconds of a half. After UNC got a field goal with under a minute left in the first half to cut it to 17-14, the Yellow Jackets went 63 yards in 31 seconds including Haynes rushing for 37 on first down. That set them up with a field goal for a 20-14 lead at the break.
UNC was behind all second half but played well in the final two quarters of the game.
They outscored the Yellow Jackets 10-7 in the third and then 10-7 in the fourth until that long touchdown run. The game really should have gone into overtime but instead, the fans were left stunned.
Georgia Tech piled up 371 rushing yards on the game, including 170 from Haynes. North Carolina was led by Omarion Hampton who had 137 yards on 18 carries.
UNC heads into the bye week searching for answers with a 3-4 record. They will travel to Charlottesville to play Virginia on October 26th.
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