10/31/2026 10:15:00
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10/31 22:14 CDT Fletcher's go-ahead score, Lightfoot's defensive play help No.
1 Miami rally past UNC 38-35
Fletcher's go-ahead score, Lightfoot's defensive play help No. 1 Miami rally
past UNC 38-35
By AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) --- Mark Fletcher Jr. punched in the go-ahead 2-yard
touchdown run on fourth down with 7:49 left and No. 1 Miami followed with a
critical takeaway on a struggle-filled Saturday night, helping the Hurricanes
finally shake free to beat North Carolina 38-35 and avoid a seismic upset.
Marquise Lightfoot and Justin Scott followed Fletcher's third score of the
night by teaming up for the Hurricanes' critical stop, with Lightfoot stripping
illy Edwards Jr. from behind as he tried to throw, with Scott recovering the
fumble with 5:33 left.
That became what turned into the deciding sequence for the Hurricanes (8-0, 6-0
Atlantic Coast Conference). Their high-powered offense followed by stretching
the lead, getting a terrific individual effort on Elija Lofton's leap over a
would-be tackler on a catch to move the chains and ultimately set up Darian
Mensah's 9-yard scoring strike to star receiver Malachi Toney to make it 38-28
with 2:33 left.
That ultimately helped send the Hurricanes through to next week's marquee road
matchup with No. 5 Notre Dame, though only after seeing their defense struggle
to get off the field the entire way against the Tar Heels (4-4, 2-3).
This one against the team led by NFL coaching icon Bill Belichick went to the
final minute, with Miami having to recover an onside kick --- coming after
North Carolina had a pair of recoveries negated by penalties --- before finally
being able to kneel it out.
North Carolina fell to 0-12 against No. 1-ranked teams.
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