The University of North Carolina football team (3-4, ACC 0-3) suffered a 41-34 defeat against Georgia Tech (5-2, ACC 3-2) on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, marking the Tar Heels’ fourth consecutive loss this season. North Carolina has not defeated the Yellow Jackets since 2019.
As the game neared its conclusion, UNC’s defense failed to make a crucial stop that could have sent the game into overtime. The decisive moment came when Georgia Tech’s Jamal Haynes broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run with just 16 seconds left on the clock.
Junior running back Omarion Hampton played a pivotal role for UNC, rushing for 137 of the team’s total 201 rushing yards, though his efforts were insufficient to secure a victory.
“It’s like the games against Duke and Pittsburgh; we said they all come down to a play,” stated head coach Mack Brown. “There’s a fine line between winning and losing. This team has a lot on their shoulders, so we just need to keep improving.”
The game started with a promising drive for UNC, but graduate quarterback Jacolby Criswell was sacked while under pressure on third and ten. He fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Georgia Tech at the North Carolina 38-yard line.
On the following drive, the Yellow Jackets quickly moved toward the end zone, with running back Chad Alexander scoring a rushing touchdown with six minutes left in the first quarter.
With three and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter, Criswell launched a deep pass—his longest career completion—to graduate wide receiver J.J. Jones at the Georgia Tech 25-yard line. After a pass interference call and a rush by Hampton, the Tar Heels scored on a quarterback keep for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
In the early moments of the second quarter, UNC’s goal-line defense shone as they recorded pass break-ups in the end zone and tackles behind the line, forcing Georgia Tech to settle for a field goal and taking a 10-7 lead.
Just after the two-minute warning, Georgia Tech’s King found a hole in the defense and dashed 20 yards into the end zone, extending their lead to 17-7.