| North Carolina Tar Heels | 18 |
 California Golden Bears |
21 |
| Final | |
North Carolina coach Bill Belichick remained steadfast this week that his team was making progress, even if the Tar Heels’ on-field results left much to be desired.
On Friday night, on the other side of the country, the Tar Heels finally showed signs of that progress and appeared on their way to a come-from-behind victory over California.
But a costly fumble into the end zone by receiver Nathan Leacock about a yard from scoring the go-ahead touchdown doomed UNC’s comeback attempt in a 21-18 loss to the Bears.
North Carolina, which fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, fell to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the ACC in Belichick’s first season. Cal improved to 5-2 and 2-1.
It was UNC’s best game of the season against a Power 4 conference opponent. The Tar Heels had been blown out in three previous games against teams from the Big 12 and ACC, outscored 120-33 in those three games and were uncompetitive by the second half of each game.
That was not the case Friday. California led 21-10 entering the fourth quarter, but the Tar Heels closed the gap to 21-18 with a touchdown and two-point conversion early in the final quarter.
And UNC drove deep into Cal territory when quarterback Gio Lopez connected with Leacock across the middle near the Cal end zone. About a yard before Leacock reached the goal line, Cal’s Brent Austin punched the ball out. Austin recovered it in the end zone for a touchback.
The Tar Heels got the ball back with five seconds left and couldn’t produce a miracle.
“We’re making a lot of progress, and the process will eventually produce the results that we want to produce, like they have everywhere else I’ve been,” Belichick said Monday. He won six Super Bowls as the head coach of the NFL’s New England Patriots. “I’m very confident in that.”
Wide receiver Kobe Paysour caught six passes for 101 yards, running back Benjamin Hall had 14 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Lopez completed 19-of-35 passes for 167 yards for the Tar Heels. Paysour entered the game with two catches for 18 yards on the season.
But UNC had those two big fumbles. The first came on UNC’s first play from scrimmage when freshman receiver Shanard Clower lost the ball as he was going to the ground after a seven-yard gain. Cal recovered at the UNC 25 and scored four plays later.
Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele scored the first touchdown on the ground, then added another passing in the first half. He finished with 209 yards passing. Receiver Jacob De Jesus had 13 receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown, while former NC State running back Kendrick Raphael had 81 rushing yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
The Tar Heels’ defense, playing without injured defensive back Thaddeus Dixon, held Cal to 294 yards of total offense. UNC played without linebacker Khmori House (illness) for much of the second half.
UNC’s offense had 287 yards and again struggled on third down, converting 5-of-14 chances. The Tar Heels were 1-of-8 in the first half.
Lopez, who missed UNC’s loss at Clemson on Oct. 4 with a leg injury, started and played the entire game. ESPN’s broadcast crew said throughout the game that they were told that backup Max Johnson could see action.
North Carolina hosts Virginia on Oct. 25 at Kenan Stadium. Kickoff is at noon.
Scoring summary
First quarter
Cal – Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele 3 run (Chase Meyer kick), 12:48. Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards, 1:50. Key play: Cam Sidney recovered a fumble by UNC’s Shanard Clower at the UNC 25. Cal 7, UNC 0.
UNC – Benjamin Hall 18 run (Rece Verhoff kick), 4:48. Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 1:15. Key play: Gio Lopez connected with Koby Paysour for a 37-yard gain off a swinging gate formation. Cal 7, UNC 7.
Cal – Jacob De Jesus 7 pass from Sagapolutele (Meyer kick), 0:42. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 4:08. Key play: Cal picked up a 4th-and-1 with a run up the middle at the UNC 26. UNC’s D’Antre Robinson was flagged for unnecessary roughness after the play, moving Cal to the UNC 12. Cal 14, UNC 7.
Second quarter
UNC – Verhoff 41 field goal, 6:14: Drive: 11 plays, 45 yards, 5:37. Key play: UNC converted on 4th-and-2 from the Cal 39 when Lopez found tight end Connor Cox for a 9-yard gain. Cal 14, UNC 10.
Third quarter
Cal – Kendrick Raphael 2 run (Meyer kick), 9:22. Drive: 11 play, 79 yards, 5:33. Key play: Cal converted on 4th-and-1 with a 15-yard catch and run from Jacob De Jesus; UNC cornerback Marcus Allen was flagged for pass interference in the end zone on a 3rd-and-9. Cal scored on the next play. Cal 21, UNC 10.
Fourth quarter
UNC – Davion Gause 4 run (Hall pass from Lopez), 12:14. Drive: 11 plays, 84 yards, 4:45. Key play: Lopez hit Kobe Paysour for 20 yards on 3rd-and-10 and then connected with Clower for 31 yards. Cal 21, UNC 18.
More UNC coverage:
Belichick says UNC is making progress. Struggling Tar Heels have chance to show it Friday.
New video shows extent of Jordon Hudson’s influence over Belichick’s media projects before UNC hire
Saudi Arabia hosted UNC’s Lombardi on preseason fundraising trip
Amid struggles, Belichick defends GM Lombardi, Tar Heels’ roster construction
Bill Belichick expresses confidence in UNC’s process, refutes claims he’s seeking exit
How the Belichick era devolved in just five games
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