Chapel Hill, N.C. — Syracuse found a way to overcome a late-game setback and deliver a dramatic finish Saturday night, defeating North Carolina 31-30 in overtime to earn its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season.
Calvin Russell III proved to be the difference-maker, catching a four-yard touchdown pass in overtime before securing the game-winning two-point conversion reception. Russell finished with eight catches for 86 yards, delivering when Syracuse needed him most.
The Orange (3-4, 1-4 ACC) rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half, overcoming an inconsistent offensive performance and a missed extra point late in regulation. North Carolina (4-3, 2-2) had an opportunity to close out the game but could not finish the job.
The Tar Heels struck first, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter. Quarterback Billy Edwards started efficiently, completing his first 11 passes for 99 yards and connecting with Jordan Shipp on a five-yard touchdown pass.
Syracuse responded with a two-yard touchdown run by Ahmad Miller, trimming North Carolina’s advantage to 10-7 and giving the Orange a chance to settle into the contest.
North Carolina continued to apply pressure after halftime. Demon June broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 early in the third quarter, giving the Tar Heels a 20-10 lead. It was North Carolina’s longest rushing touchdown of the season and appeared to put the home team in control.
Syracuse, however, refused to go away.
Quarterback Steve Angeli, making his first start for the Orange since a September loss to Pittsburgh, helped spark the comeback. Angeli completed 20 of 34 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, providing stability for an offense dealing with injuries to Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson.
With 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, Angeli connected with Umari Hatcher on a 76-yard touchdown reception. The explosive play cut North Carolina’s lead to 20-17 and gave Syracuse renewed momentum.
Hatcher finished with four receptions for 103 yards, leading the Orange in receiving yards.
North Carolina answered by moving deep into Syracuse territory, reaching the four-yard line before settling for a 22-yard field goal by Rece Verhoff. The kick extended the Tar Heels’ lead to 23-17, but Syracuse continued to push.
Miller, who led the Orange with 125 rushing yards on 30 carries, helped keep the offense moving. Tylik Hill eventually found the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run with 1:54 remaining, putting Syracuse in position to take the lead.
The extra point, however, was missed by Shay Barker, leaving the score tied at 23-23. Neither team could break the deadlock before regulation ended, sending the contest into overtime.
North Carolina struck first in the extra period when June caught a three-yard touchdown pass, putting the Tar Heels ahead 30-23 and placing the pressure squarely on Syracuse.
The Orange responded with a touchdown of their own, as Russell hauled in a four-yard pass to bring Syracuse within one point. Rather than settle for an extra point and extend the game, Syracuse went for the two-point conversion.
Russell came through again, catching the decisive pass to complete the comeback and give the Orange a thrilling 31-30 victory.
For Syracuse head coach Fran Brown, the win carried significance beyond the final score. The Orange had been searching for their first conference victory, and the overtime finish provided a much-needed breakthrough.
“I’m just happy for them, my wife and my children,” Brown said. “Syracuse, the city and the alums, we’ve all been waiting for this.”
North Carolina coach Bill Belichick acknowledged that the difference came down to execution in critical moments.
“They made a couple more plays than we did today, and that was the difference in the game,” Belichick said.
Edwards finished with a season-high 271 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 27 of 44 attempts. Shipp led the Tar Heels with eight receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown, while McGill paced the ground game with 62 rushing yards on 12 carries. June added 53 yards on nine attempts.
Angeli also expressed confidence in his recovery after receiving a PRP injection earlier in the month, saying he felt much closer to his normal self. He became the fifth quarterback to appear in a game for Syracuse this season, making his performance in the comeback particularly important.
The Takeaway
Syracuse showed resilience by overcoming a double-digit deficit and recovering from a missed extra point to secure a much-needed ACC win. The Orange found their offensive spark in the second half, with Angeli, Miller and Hatcher helping set the stage for Russell’s overtime heroics.
For North Carolina, the defeat was a missed opportunity to improve its position in the conference and move closer to bowl eligibility. The Tar Heels had the lead late but could not make enough plays to finish off the Orange.
Up Next:
- Syracuse: Hosts No. 23 SMU next Saturday.
- North Carolina: Hosts No. 1 Miami next Saturday.
