ACC Football: #18 UNC 48, Georgia Tech 20

Lexi Baird, Triangle Sports Network

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 18th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels made their homecoming football game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets a memorable one, scoring early and often to post a 48-20 win at Kenan Stadium on Saturday.

Both teams combined for over 1100 yards of offense in the air and on the ground as the Tar Heels (7-2, 5-1) went a perfect 5-of-5 in the red zone and outpaced the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 2-4), posting a 21-3 differential during the second half.

Carolina amassed a season-high 636 yards of total offense, including rushing for a season-high 283 yards while not turning the ball over for the third time this season.

Highlights: #18 UNC 48, Georgia Tech 20 (ACC Digital Network – TheACC.com)

North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw for 329 yards, completed 20-of-32 pass attempts including a touchdown pass to Bug Howard (6 catches, 120 yards), while on the ground he scored a keeper and handed off to Elijah Hood (12 rushes, 168 yards) who posted three touchdowns on the day.

Quarterback Justin Thomas (5-10) threw for 184 yards and rushed 15 times for another 82 yards while Dedrick Mills (19 rushes, 132 yards) and Clinton Lynch scored touchdowns in the loss for the Yellow Jackets.

North Carolina’s defense put together a solid effort led by linebacker Andre Smith’s 12 tackles and tackle for loss, in addition to eight-tackle performances from Cayson Collins and Nazair Jones.

The Tar Heels’ only major blemish on the day came on Lynch’s score when he completed an 83-yard pass-run play with Thomas in the first quarter, the longest play from scrimmage UNC has allowed this season.