North Carolina Tar Heels beat Virginia Tech Hokies 41-10 in ACC college football game
Coverage from UNC’s win over Virginia Tech
Live updates from game
North Carolina comes off its first loss of the season last week to face Virginia Tech in its ACC opener. The Tar Heels (3-1, 0-0 ACC) look to rebound defensively after giving up 576 yards in total offense to Notre Dame in their 45-32 loss.
The performance prompted a players-only meeting on defense to air out what’s wrong and how to fix it. The Hokies (2-2, 1-0) could provide a good opportunity today. They enter the game as the ACC’s 12th-ranked team in both total offense and scoring offense. News & Observer reporter C.L. Brown and photographer Robert Willett are at Kenan Stadium to chronicle the game.
Check back here for live updates.
Nesbit TD catch: UNC 41, Hokies 10, 3Q
Maye surpassed 300 yards passing for the game and threw his third touchdown of the game after finding tight end Bryson Nesbit for a 25-yard score over the middle.
Burnette FG: UNC 34, Hokies 10, 3Q
Burnette chipped in a 21-yard field goal. But the key play on the drive may be that Drake Maye didn’t suffer a serious injury. Maye tried jumping from the VT 7 to get into the end zone and was shoved in the air into a hard landing. He stayed down on the field before being able to run off on his own power. That play should put an end to Air Drake.
Maye TD run: UNC 31, Hokies 10, 3Q
Carolina capped off a 94-yard drive -- its longest of the season -- with a 2-yard touchdown run by Maye. Tight end Bryson Nesbit caught a 35-yard pass to set up the score.
Burnette FG: UNC 24, Hokies 10, 2Q
Maye directed a 48-yard drive to position Noah Burnette for a 44-yard field goal as the first half came to an end. Maye completed two passes for 18 and 16 yards and added a scramble for 14 yards to set up the field goal.
Wells TD run: Hokies 10, UNC 21, 2Q
Quarterback Grant Wells ran a draw for a 2-yard score. The play was set up when the Hokies converted a fourth-and-7 when Wells found DaWain Lofton for a seven-yard catch. The spot was reviewed and upheld setting the Hokies up with a first and goal.
Green TD catch: UNC 21, Hokies 3, 2Q
Linebacker Cedric Gray intercepted a Grant Wells pass to set up the Heels at the VT 16. On the next play, Maye connected with Antoine Green for a 16-yard score.
Maye TD run: UNC 14, Hokies 3, 2Q
Carolina converted a fourth-and-7 with a 24-yard reception by Josh Downs. Quarterback Drake Maye capped off the 85-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Morales TD catch: UNC 7, Hokies 3, 1Q
Tight end Kamari Morales caught a 3-yard touchdown pass completing a second fourth down conversion for UNC inside of the VT 10. The key play on the drive also involved a tight end when John Copenhaver hauled in a 29-yard pass.
Ross FG: Hokies 3, UNC 0, 1Q
Virginia Tech used a 34-yard completion from Grant Wells to Kaleb Smith to march into field goal range. Will Ross made good on a 34-yard attempt to give the Hokies the early lead.
Pregame reading
UNC defense hopes players-only meeting after loss to Notre Dame helps turn things around
Tar Heels finding success in calculated risks to keep high-powered offense on field
Following Sam Howell, Drake Maye on record setting pace for UNC football
- UNC vs Virginia Tech football first look: Odds, top story lines and players to watch
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How to watch or stream UNC vs Virginia Tech ACC college football game on Saturday
Tar Heels lose game and their cool, and one is more worrisome than the other
Three things we learned about UNC football in 45-32 loss to Notre Dame
This story was originally published October 1, 2022 at 3:00 PM with the headline "North Carolina Tar Heels beat Virginia Tech Hokies 41-10 in ACC college football game."