North Carolina jumped all over Duke to take the Victory Bell in Chapel Hill
Marquise Williams connected with Ryan Switzer off of a flea flicker for an 89-yard touchdown on the first offensive play of the game for the North Carolina Tar Heels against the Duke Blue Devils. Williams and the Tar Heels never looked back and never took their foot off of the gas in the battle for the Victory Bell as Williams set offensive records galore for the Tar Heels. If there was ever a chance of Duke coming back, Williams and UNC put it to rest when they got the ball back with just 19 seconds left in the first half and still managed to score on a deep touchdown pass with one second remaining. The Heels took a 38-10 lead into the half.
Everything in this game was pure domination for the Heels, even after the half. The defense forced the dynamic Duke quarterback into three turnovers in the game, Williams continued to beat the Blue Devils with his arms and with deep passes, and Elijah Hood was able to move the ball on the ground for North Carolina. The Heels even sat some of their starters before the end of the third quarter. Even with 21 points in the second half for Duke, it was all UNC in Kenan Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Tar Heels picked up their eighth consecutive victory by a count of 66-31 and firmly put themselves in the driver’s seat in the ACC Coastal division with an emphatic win over their hated rivals.
Three stars
Marquise Williams undoubtedly deserves the biggest star of all. He became the first power 5 player since 2004 to throw for over 400 yards in a half, set the UNC record for total offense, and was just 72 yards shy of the ACC passing record. He finished the day with 494 yards and four touchdowns through the air to go with 30 yards and another touchdown running the ball.
Mack Hollins enjoyed Williams’ big day throwing the ball as he finished the game with five catches for 165 yards and a touchdown.
Elijah Hood only rushed for 69 yards on 17 carries in this game, but his three trips into the end zone certainly earned him a spot as one of the game’s three stars.
Highlights
This is how you start off a rivalry game on offense ... #UNCvsDUKE -> -> pic.twitter.com/tR8gRmOM2m
— Gerry Hamilton (@GHamilton_On3) November 7, 2015
And just like that, Marquise Williams breaks the school record for Total TD with his 80th of his career! #DUKEvsUNC https://t.co/p0vx2jtcSx
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 7, 2015
TD RB Elijah Hood. North Carolina 21, Duke 3 https://t.co/6TUSUF2z3W #NCAAFFr #TBP
— TBP College Football (@thebluepennant) November 7, 2015
Duke's Jela Duncan breaks one tackle and then out races the defense for a 52-yard touchdown to cut... -via @ESPN App https://t.co/zaApTv21Uj
— Colleen White (@yrwol7) November 7, 2015
Marquise Williams came to play in this rivalry game. He has 339 Pass Yds and 3 Total TDs already. #DUKEvsUNC https://t.co/nLfpASyZyY
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 7, 2015
59 points and counting for North Carolina. It's the 1st time since 2001 Tar Heels have scored 50 vs Duke. #DUKEvsUNC https://t.co/jfkfAy5XGB
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 7, 2015
Odds
The Tar Heels were only 7.5-point favorites in this game, a spread that they covered effortlessly. UNC also broke the 61-point over/under by themselves and the two teams combined to hit well over.
Next Week
There will be no rest for the Tar Heels as they will be home again next week to take on that always-dangerous Miami Hurricanes.
Duke’s schedule doesn’t let up either as the Blue Devils will take the short trip back to Durham to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers.