Syracuse vs. UNC: Orange stun Tar Heels 31-30 in overtime on a two-point conversion

Syracuse didn’t play for a tie. After North Carolina scored first in overtime, Steve Angeli hit Calvin Russell III for a 4-yard touchdown, then found him again on the two-point try. Replay upheld the call, and Syracuse beat North Carolina 31-30 on Saturday night, Oct. 24, before a sold-out crowd at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.

The win snapped Syracuse’s 11-game losing streak in ACC play. The Orange improved to 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the conference. North Carolina’s two-game winning streak ended as the Tar Heels fell to 4-3 and 2-2.

Syracuse vs. UNC final score

Key stats: - Steve Angeli (SU): 20 of 34, 256 yards, 2 TDs - Ahmad Miller (SU): 30 carries, 125 yards - Umari Hatcher (SU): 4 catches, 103 yards, 76-yard TD - Calvin Russell III (SU): 8 catches, 86 yards, the overtime TD and two-point catch - Billy Edwards Jr. (UNC): 27 of 44, 271 yards, 2 TDs - Jordan Shipp (UNC): 8 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD - Total yards: Syracuse 455, North Carolina 372

UNC controls early

Carolina opened its first conference home game of the season with an 83-yard touchdown drive, capped by Edwards’ 5-yard pass to Shipp. Rece Verhoff added a 27-yard field goal for a 10-0 first-quarter lead, UNC Athletics reported. Syracuse answered with a 16-play, 88-yard drive, and the teams traded field goals to make it 13-10 at halftime.

Demon June’s 25-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 pushed North Carolina’s lead to 20-10 midway through the third quarter.

Syracuse rallies in the fourth

Syracuse needed one play to get back in it. Angeli found Hatcher deep for a 76-yard touchdown with 11:01 to play. Verhoff’s 22-yard field goal made it 23-17, but the Orange answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive and a 3-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left. The two schools’ recaps credit different ball carriers on that score: UNC’s account names Miller, while Syracuse’s play-by-play credits Tylik Hill. The extra point missed, leaving it 23-23.

North Carolina drove into Syracuse territory, but Edwards was sacked on fourth-and-3 with 51 seconds left. Syracuse’s last regulation drive stalled, sending the game to overtime.

Overtime finish

Edwards hit June for a 3-yard touchdown on UNC’s overtime possession, and the extra point made it 30-23. Syracuse converted a third-and-11 with a 16-yard pass to Russell, then scored on fourth-and-goal from the 4. Coach Fran Brown went for the win, and Angeli hit Russell at the goal line. Syracuse Athletics noted that Brown is now 5-0 in overtime games.

The Orange’s rushing edge, 199 yards to 101, and four fourth-down conversions in seven tries proved crucial, UNC Athletics wrote. Syracuse has used five different quarterbacks in seven games this season, and Angeli was listed as questionable late in the week before starting.

“They made a couple more plays than we did today, and that was the difference in the game,” UNC coach Bill Belichick said.

“It’s good to coach against the best coach of all-time, just thankful for the opportunity today,” Brown said. “Our players fought on both sides of the ball.”

FAQ