Saturday, December 28
Boston, Mass.
11:00 AM
North Carolina
6-7 , 3-5
14
vs
27
UConn
9-4 , 1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
UConn
10
14
3
0
27
North Carolina
7
0
0
7
14
Photo by: Erica Denhoff
Huskies Trip Tar Heels In Fenway Bowl, 27-14
December 28, 2024 | Football
BOSTON—UConn limited North Carolina to 206 total offensive yards and cruised past the Tar Heels, 27-14, in the 2024 Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Saturday at Fenway Park.
The Huskies outgained Carolina, 361-206, including 210-96 on the ground. UConn had 21 first downs to UNC's 10 and dominated time of possession, 35:11 to 24:49. The Tar Heels were 0 for 9 on third-down conversion attempts.
The Huskies won for the fifth time in six outings and finished their season 9-4. Carolina fell to 6-7 for its first losing campaign since 2021 and has dropped five consecutive bowl games.
Things went awry from the start for the Tar Heels, most notably losing starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell to injury in the first quarter. Members of the Carolina medical staff led Criswell to the locker room after he suffered an upper body injury while being tackled with 4:57 remaining in the first period. Criswell did not return to the game, and the UNC offense sputtered the rest of the way.
With backup Conner Harrell in the transfer portal and no longer part of the program, circumstances forced untested freshman Michael Merdinger into the game to replace Criswell. Making his first college appearance, Merdinger completed 9 of 12 passes for 86 yards with an interception. The Tar Heels utilized a wildcat offense with direct snaps to the running back late in the game.
UNC also played without star running back Omarion Hampton, who finished fourth in school history with 3,565 career rushing yards. Hampton opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Until late in the game, Carolina's lone touchdown came on a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by Chris Culliver in the first quarter.
The Huskies limited Carolina to 45 total yards of offense (including just one on the ground) and a single first down in the first half. UConn ran 43 offensive plays to UNC's 15, and rushing yards were 151 to 1 in the Huskies' favor in the opening 30 minutes.
In the second half, UConn ran the ball to speed up the game until the Tar Heels finally scored an offensive touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Caleb Hood to John Copenhaver with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter.
Interim head coach Freddie Kitchens led the Tar Heels in their final game before Bill Belichick takes over at the top of the program going forward.
Carolina's 45 total yards in the first half were its fewest in a half since recording 38 yards in the first half against Cal in 2018. Its 206 total yards were its fewest in a bowl game since going for 196 total yards in the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl. It was the fewest total yards in any game by the Tar Heels since recording 172 against Virginia Tech in 2017.
How It Happened
First Quarter
• On UConn's first play from scrimmage, Mel Brown scampered for 47 yards to the Carolina 28-yard line. The Tar Heel defense stiffened and held the Huskies to a 32-yard field goal.
• On UConn's first possession after Criswell left the game with his injury, the Huskies quickly sliced the UNC defense for 51 yards in two plays, making the score 10-0 with a 38-yard scoring strike from Joe Fagnano to Skyler Bell.
• The Tar Heels responded quickly when Culliver returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown with 3:24 left in the quarter.
Second Quarter
• In the first minute of the second period, Fagnano hit Alex Honig for a four-yard TD toss that capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive and made the score 17-7 Huskies.
• UConn made it 24-7 with 54 seconds left before halftime when Cam Edwards ran it in from two yards out to finish a methodical, 14-play drive.
Third Quarter
• UConn's Chris Freeman hit his second field goal of the day, this one from 24 yards out, topping off another long, 11-play drive that made the score 27-7.
Fourth Quarter
• Resorting to a wildcat offense with direct snaps to running back Caleb Hood, the Tar Heels eventually gained their 100th yard in the fourth quarter.
• UNC scored its first offensive touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Caleb Hood to John Copenhaver with 6:46 to go, making the score 27-14 UConn.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Huskies outgained Carolina, 361-206, including 210-96 on the ground. UConn had 21 first downs to UNC's 10 and dominated time of possession, 35:11 to 24:49. The Tar Heels were 0 for 9 on third-down conversion attempts.
The Huskies won for the fifth time in six outings and finished their season 9-4. Carolina fell to 6-7 for its first losing campaign since 2021 and has dropped five consecutive bowl games.
Things went awry from the start for the Tar Heels, most notably losing starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell to injury in the first quarter. Members of the Carolina medical staff led Criswell to the locker room after he suffered an upper body injury while being tackled with 4:57 remaining in the first period. Criswell did not return to the game, and the UNC offense sputtered the rest of the way.
With backup Conner Harrell in the transfer portal and no longer part of the program, circumstances forced untested freshman Michael Merdinger into the game to replace Criswell. Making his first college appearance, Merdinger completed 9 of 12 passes for 86 yards with an interception. The Tar Heels utilized a wildcat offense with direct snaps to the running back late in the game.
UNC also played without star running back Omarion Hampton, who finished fourth in school history with 3,565 career rushing yards. Hampton opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Until late in the game, Carolina's lone touchdown came on a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by Chris Culliver in the first quarter.
The Huskies limited Carolina to 45 total yards of offense (including just one on the ground) and a single first down in the first half. UConn ran 43 offensive plays to UNC's 15, and rushing yards were 151 to 1 in the Huskies' favor in the opening 30 minutes.
In the second half, UConn ran the ball to speed up the game until the Tar Heels finally scored an offensive touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Caleb Hood to John Copenhaver with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter.
Interim head coach Freddie Kitchens led the Tar Heels in their final game before Bill Belichick takes over at the top of the program going forward.
Carolina's 45 total yards in the first half were its fewest in a half since recording 38 yards in the first half against Cal in 2018. Its 206 total yards were its fewest in a bowl game since going for 196 total yards in the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl. It was the fewest total yards in any game by the Tar Heels since recording 172 against Virginia Tech in 2017.
How It Happened
First Quarter
• On UConn's first play from scrimmage, Mel Brown scampered for 47 yards to the Carolina 28-yard line. The Tar Heel defense stiffened and held the Huskies to a 32-yard field goal.
• On UConn's first possession after Criswell left the game with his injury, the Huskies quickly sliced the UNC defense for 51 yards in two plays, making the score 10-0 with a 38-yard scoring strike from Joe Fagnano to Skyler Bell.
• The Tar Heels responded quickly when Culliver returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown with 3:24 left in the quarter.
Second Quarter
• In the first minute of the second period, Fagnano hit Alex Honig for a four-yard TD toss that capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive and made the score 17-7 Huskies.
• UConn made it 24-7 with 54 seconds left before halftime when Cam Edwards ran it in from two yards out to finish a methodical, 14-play drive.
Third Quarter
• UConn's Chris Freeman hit his second field goal of the day, this one from 24 yards out, topping off another long, 11-play drive that made the score 27-7.
Fourth Quarter
• Resorting to a wildcat offense with direct snaps to running back Caleb Hood, the Tar Heels eventually gained their 100th yard in the fourth quarter.
• UNC scored its first offensive touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Caleb Hood to John Copenhaver with 6:46 to go, making the score 27-14 UConn.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
CON
UNC
Total Yards
361
206
Pass Yards
151
110
Rushing Yards
210
96
Penalty Yards
30
55
1st Downs
20
10
3rd Downs
8
0
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
34:50
25:10
1st Quarter
CON 3, UNC 0
CON - Freeman,Chris 32 yd field goal 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 04:14
CON 10, UNC 0
CON - Bell,Skyler 38 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 2 plays, 51 yards, TOP 00:31
CON 10, UNC 7
UNC - Culliver,Chris 95 yd kickoff return (Osada,Lucas kick)
2nd Quarter
CON 17, UNC 7
CON - Honig,Alex 4 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 11 plays, 79 yards, TOP 04:14
CON 24, UNC 7
CON - Edwards,Cam 2 yd run (Freeman,Chris kick), 14 plays, 56 yards, TOP 05:54
3rd Quarter
CON 27, UNC 7
CON - Freeman,Chris 24 yd field goal 11 plays, 40 yards, TOP 04:56
4th Quarter
CON 27, UNC 14
UNC - Copenhaver,John 17 yd pass from Hood,Caleb (Burnette,Noah kick) 8 plays, 96 yards, TOP 04:09
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
Tight End
/ FootballQuarterback
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Quarterback
/ FootballRunning Back
/ FootballQuarterback
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