The 120 combined points are the second-most in a game in UNC history and the record for any game in Kenan Stadium. JMU’s 70 points tie the most ever allowed by Carolina in a game.
JMU scored touchdowns on five consecutive first-half drives and outscored Carolina, 42-7, to close the first half after UNC took a 14-11 lead late in the first quarter.
“We just didn’t communicate, I don’t know why,” said Tar Heel head coach Mack Brown. “I have no idea what happened. I sat there and watched it and listened to it. We had guys in the wrong place. The first drive was frustrating, we tried to do too much. I was frustrated at halftime, I thought we would come out and stop them… We did a little better in the second half.”
Both teams started strong and traded long scoring plays and the lead in a back-and-forth first quarter that included impressive touchdowns by both squads, a blocked punt, a successful onside kick and more.
Carolina fell behind, 11-0, in the opening five minutes but raced back to retake the lead shortly thereafter at 14-11. The Dukes seized momentum in the final four minutes of the first quarter with back-to-back touchdowns, leading 25-14 after the first 15 minutes. The teams combined for 444 offensive yards in the wild first quarter.
JMU dominated the second quarter, outscoring UNC, 28-7, to take a 53-21 halftime lead.
Carolina put together a better half offensively in the second half and outscored the Dukes, 29-17, after the break.
JMU improved to 4-0 with the victory, while Carolina took its first loss of the season and fell to 3-1.
Jacolby Criswell completed 28 of 48 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns, shattering his previous career high of 161 passing yards set last week against NC Central.
“He made some great throws in what was really his first start,” Brown said of Criswell. “He will keep getting better and better. He saw a ton of different looks. He was the one bright spot. He’s going to continue getting better.”
How It Happened
First Quarter
• JMU took the opening kickoff and took a 3-0 lead on a five-play, 44-yard drive to start the game. Noe Ruelas connected on a 50-yard field goal try for the early advantage.
• On Carolina’s ensuing drive, Criswell connected on a 42-yard pass to Christian Hamilton to move the ball to the JMU 33-yard line. Two plays later, Criswell hit Hamilton again to move inside the Dukes’ 10-yard line, only to see Hamilton lose a fumble and turn the ball over in the red zone.
• The Dukes made it 11-0 when Terrence Spence blocked a Tar Heel punt and Jayden Mines recovered it and ran it in from 14 yards out. JMU converted a two-point conversion try to make it 11-0 less than five minutes into the game at the 10:36 mark.
• Carolina replied by marching right down the field for a touchdown to make it 11-7 as Criswell connected with John Copenhaver for a 35-yard score midway through the first quarter.
• After the Tar Heel defense forced a punt, Omarion Hampton ran it in from 28 yards out to make the score 14-11 with 4:08 left in the first quarter.
• JMU roared back two plays later with a 69-yard scoring pass from Alonza Barnett III to Omarion Dollison, making the score 18-14 in favor of the Dukes after another two-point conversion.
• The Dukes recovered an onside kick on the following play, then drove in for another touchdown to make it 25-14, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
• The offensive fireworks continued in the second quarter.
• Criswell started strong in the second quarter, leading a six-play, 75-yard drive in under two minutes to make it 25-21 JMU with 14:33 left before halftime.
• The Dukes replied with an eight-play, 75-yard drive to up their lead to 32-21 when Barnett connected with Cam Ross for a six-yard TD.
• Taylor Thompson caught a 13-yard scoring pass from Barnett to up JMU’s lead to 39-21 with 8:45 left before halftime.
• JMU made it 46-21 with 7:14 left in the half on a 27-yard rush by Barnett.
• Terrence Spence intercepted Criswell and ran it back for a 33-yard touchdown with 56 seconds left in the second quarter, making the score 53-21.
Third Quarter
• UNC outscored JMU, 17-7, in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
• JMU scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to Carolina’s seven to preserve the victory.
Inside the Box Score
• After the loss, Carolina leads the all-time series with JMU, 3-1.
• Former Tar Heel George Pettaway, who transferred to JMU, ran 16 times for 87 yards on Saturday. Barnett led the Dukes with 99 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.
• JMU averaged 10.4 yards per offensive play and 6.8 yards per rushing attempt in the first half.
• Carolina is 73-9 under Brown when scoring 30-plus points and 48-2 when scoring 40 or more.
Up Next
Carolina will hit the road next Saturday Sept. 28 for a 4 p.m. date at Duke. ESPN2 will carry the game live.
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