University of North Carolina Athletics
Best Games Of 2014-15: No. 7
July 9, 2015 | Football
Once again this July, GoHeels.com will count down the top 25 wins of the school year. Check back around noon EDT each weekday for the latest update before the No. 1 win is revealed on July 17. To catch up on previous entries, click here.
No. 7: Carolina 45, No. 25 Duke 20 - Football, Nov. 20, 2014
Carolina carried a losing streak into its annual rivalry game with Duke for the first time in a quarter century this fall after dropping back-to-back contests by a combined five points in 2012 and 2013. What was once a foregone conclusion could no longer be taken for granted with the Blue Devils emerging as a threat in the ACC Coastal under David Cutcliffe.
The 2014 Tar Heels dropped four straight in the first half of the season but took some momentum to Durham for a rare Thursday night game at Wallace Wade. UNC was 5-5 and looking for bowl eligibity for the second straight year against a Duke squad that came in at 8-2 and very much still in the hunt for the division title.
What was poised to be a cagey, tightly contested game between two familiar foes quickly turned into a blowout and arguably the best performance from a Larry Fedora-coached Carolina team in three seasons.
After a quick three-and-out to open the game, Carolina bounced back to force a pair of Duke fumbles on consecutive possessions. When Tim Scott scooped up an Anthony Boone fumble and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown, the Tar Heels were up 14-0 after less than eight minutes and the rout was effectively on.
The Blue Devils pieced together a touchdown drive on the ensuing possession, but Carolina scored on its next two times with the ball to lead 28-7 at the half. Only a trio of lost fumbles prevented the score from being more one-sided.
M.J. Stewart intercepted Boone on the third play of the second half before T.J. Logan's 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down removed any doubt.
Logan's 116 rushing yards led UNC's ground game, which bullied its way to 315 net yards and three scores. Marquise Williams (98 yards on 21 carries) and Romar Morris (95 yards on 17 carries) just missed out on triple digits.
For Williams, it was another wildly productive night, this time on a national stage. The redshirt junior threw for two scores and ran for two more while finishing with 374 yards of total offense. Williams was responsible for 34 touchdowns in 2014 and the Duke win was one of five games that saw him account for at least four.
For Fedora and the Tar Heels, it was a complete performance that can provide hope for 2015 and beyond, despite the struggles in the season's final two games. An offense that rolled up almost 600 yards and an opportunistic defense that forced three turnovers against a top-25 team is what everyone associated with Carolina football hopes to see more of in the coming years.
Previous Entries
No. 8: No. 13 Carolina 4, No. 3 Illinois 3 (NCAA Round of 16) - Men's Tennis, May 14, 2015
No. 9: Carolina 2, No. 7 Clemson 1 (NCAA Round of 16): Men's Soccer, Nov. 30, 2014
No. 10: LeHardy Leads Carolina To ACC Title - Women's Cross Country, Oct. 31, 2014
No. 11: No. 6 Carolina 96, No. 18 Rutgers 93 (2 OT) - Women's Basketball, Dec. 4, 2014
No. 12: No. 8 Carolina 3, No. 3 Florida State 1 - Volleyball, Nov. 14, 2014
No. 13: No. 1 Carolina 2, No. 2 Connecticut 1 - Field Hockey, Sept. 28, 2014
No. 14: Carolina 7, No. 24 Notre Dame 3 (8 inn.) - Softball, April 26, 2015
No. 15: No. 17 Carolina 5, No. 21 Georgia Tech 3 - Baseball, March 20, 2015
No. 16: No. 9 Carolina 3, No. 18 Notre Dame 2 (2 OT) - Women's Soccer, Sept. 20, 2014
No. 17: No. 19 Carolina 71, No. 3 Virginia 67 (ACC Tournament) - Men's Basketball, March 14, 2015
No. 18: No. 16 Carolina 4, No. 9 Duke 3 (ACC Championship) - Men's Tennis, April 24, 2015
No. 19: No. 4 Carolina 17, No. 2 Syracuse 15 - Men's Lacrosse, April 11, 2015
No. 20: No. 2 Carolina 4, No. 12 Virginia 3 - Women's Tennis, April 10, 2015
No. 21: No. 14 Carolina 1, No. 7 Penn State 0 (2 OT) - Women's Soccer, Sept. 9, 2014
No. 22: No. 2 Carolina 12, No. 3 Duke 6 - Women's Lacrosse, April 17, 2015
No. 23: Carolina 15, No. 9 Georgia 9 - Softball, April 2, 2015
No. 24: Carolina 17, No. 12 Virginia 16 - Wrestling, Feb. 7, 2015
No. 25: Tar Heels Sweep Virginia in Charlottesville - Swimming and Diving, Jan. 24, 2015
