EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick made his return to the Northeast and walked away with a win after back-to-back heartbreaking losses for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
Both teams entered the matchup 4-4 on the season, continuing the quest for bowl eligibility. Roughly 37,000 fans packed Rentschler Field for the reunion, braving classic New England weather.
The two basketball blue bloods kicked off in a 63-degree, cloudy sky, embracing the ominous skies that towered over the Rent.
The University of Connecticut received the ball after UNC won the coin toss, giving quarterback Kalieb Osborne and the Huskies a chance to strike first. Cyncir Bowers opened the game with a rush before he saw two straight targets hit his hands and fall incomplete.
North Carolina’s opening drive looked promising, gaining 23 yards before Tar Heels quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. aired one into double coverage and was intercepted by Hayden Pegg.
Connecticut responded the other way, sparking their own drive all the way to UNC’s 27-yard line. Jack O’Conner then attempted a 45-yard field goal that sailed wide left, keeping the teams scoreless. The lackluster kicking game continues for O’Conner, dropping his field goal percentage to 57.1 this season (4-for-7), including 1-for-4 from 40 to 49 yards.
UNC continued struggling on their second drive after the Huskies forced a three-and-out, leading to a 37-yard punt by Aeron Burrell. The sun glistened out from the clouds as UConn started their third drive from their own 27-yard line. A huge opening play from Osborne scrambling from the pocket and avoiding the sack before zipping a pass downfield to Ryder Treadway for a gain of 23 yards. The Huskies then tried the running game, utilizing Kenji Christian along with Osborne’s legs to gain every yard they could. The Huskies then attempted to punt, but a penalty on UNC brought them a fourth-and-three, and head coach Jason Candle kept his offense on the field.
Osborne stepped back and delivered one to the visitor’s sideline, but North Carolina’s Timir Hickman-Collins picked off the bobbled pass by Christian and took it back 70 yards for the game’s opening score. It was Osborne’s first thrown pick six of the season, but his memory had to be short, re-taking the field seconds later against the ACC program.
Osborne completed a quick 10-yard pass to JD Willoughby for the first down before the Tar Heel’s defense stood strong again, forcing the Huskies to punt for the second time. The punt rolled down the field, giving Tommy Warner a 55-yard punt, pushing UNC deep into their own territory. UConn’s defense then forced a three-and-out, putting the ball back in Osborne’s hands with under two minutes left in the opening quarter.
The Huskies completed their three-minute drive at the beginning of the second quarter, ending with an 18-yard receiving touchdown for Treadway. It was UConn’s first red zone appearance of the game, and they took advantage, knotting the game at seven apiece.
UNC took only three and a half minutes to respond, plowing down the field for 86 yards in seven plays. Benjamin Hall capped off the drive with a 39-yard rushing touchdown, cutting to the left and breaking tackles. The Huskies crafted a responding drive but were cut short when Osborne lunged for extra yards, putting the ball directly into Hickman-Collins’ lap. Outrage erupted amongst The Rent as fans were furious with the call claiming his knee was down, but the call was upheld, and Carolina took over at UConn’s 21-yard line.
Edwards Jr. wasted no time with the best field position of the game, slicing a pass to Jordan Shipp for the six-yard score.
“At times I didn’t feel like we were at our best, and we gave them some things and set them up in some short fields,” Candle said after the game.
UConn then assembled a one-minute drive going 75 yards in five plays. Osborne connected with Julian Allen for a gain of 33. The following play, Osborne avoided the sack and stepped up, firing a pass to Cam Abshire for the 24-yard touchdown. The Huskies were back within a score with six and a half remaining in the second quarter.
Belichick then did what he does best and drained the clock while marching down the field for a six-minute drive. The Tar Heels went 75 yards in 16 plays, ending with a play-fake and passing touchdown to Jelani Thurman. Carolina entered the locker room up 28-14.
The second half started with UNC in possession, but UConn’s defense again kept the ball out of their own territory and forced a 47-yard punt by Aeron Burrell. UConn then put together the team’s longest scoring drive of the season, going 93 yards in seven plays. Bowers ended the drive with an electric 13-yard rushing touchdown, and once again the Huskies were just down a score.
Rain took over the sky in East Hartford on the ensuing drive, with many fans leaving their seats to stand and watch under the covered areas of the Rent. The downpour didn’t slow down UNC, who answered with their one-and-only field goal of the game. Rece Verhoff knocked a 27-yard field goal through the uprights, stretching the Tar Heels’ lead to 10. UConn’s tenth drive drained the clock for the rest of the quarter after starting at their own seven-yard line following a holding penalty on kickoff. The Huskies brought the ball into UNC territory, but an incomplete pass to Willoughby on fourth-and-12 forced a turnover on downs.
UNC used this turnover to drain eight minutes before a 49-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide left. The Huskies had a chance to cut the lead to three with decent field positioning. The opening play of the drive, however, Peyton Seelmann blitzed Osborne untouched and picked up the sack and a loss of 10 for the Huskies. On a desperation pass on third-and-20, Osborne sent a deep ball that was intercepted by Jalon Thompson. The Tar Heels then punched in the final score of the game with three and a half left, securing the victory for the visitors.
It was a much-needed win for UNC, and Belichick was pleased with the performance he got from his players.
“Proud of our guys and the way they stepped up. Finished the game, and the turnovers were big for us,” said Belichick.
It is now make or break for the Huskies with only three weeks left to claim two more wins and secure a bowl game.
UConn is back in action at the Rent next Saturday against JMU. Kickoff is set for noon, and the game can be streamed on CBS.