Miami vs North Carolina Halftime: No. 1 Hurricanes Lead 17-14 in a Fight at Kenan Stadium
Top-ranked Miami took a 17-14 halftime lead at North Carolina on Jake Weinberg's 25-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the half - after the Tar Heels twice answered Hurricanes touchdowns, the second time on Jelani Thurman's second scoring catch.
CHAPEL HILL - The nation's No. 1 team has a game on its hands. Miami leads North Carolina 17-14 at halftime at Kenan Stadium, in a Halloween-night ACC clash that has swung back and forth since the Tar Heels found their footing in the second quarter.
Miami struck first, Darian Mensah finding Malachi Toney for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter. North Carolina answered early in the second, Billy Edwards Jr. hitting Jelani Thurman for an 8-yard score to tie it 7-7 - and after Mensah responded with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Mark Fletcher Jr. at the end of a 9-play, 75-yard drive, Edwards and Thurman connected again, Thurman's second touchdown tying the game 14-14 with 1:56 left in the half, celebrated with a Halloween-appropriate 'Thriller' dance.
Miami's last word of the half was nearly more. The Hurricanes drove 68 yards in nine plays, but the Tar Heels held in the red zone - a pass breakup by defensive back Javion Butts forced the kick - and Jake Weinberg's 25-yard field goal with 22 seconds left sent Miami to the locker room up three. The halftime numbers show how close it is: Miami outgained North Carolina 228 yards to 185, Mensah threw for 153 yards to Edwards' 152, and the Hurricanes led 13-11 in first downs. The second half decides whether Miami's perfect season survives its hardest road test of the year.
