ACC Football: UNC 26, Virginia 13

Lexi Baird, Triangle Sports Network

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – An interception by Shakeel Rashad in the end zone helped the North Carolina Tar Heels claim their sixth consecutive win, a 26-13 decision over the Virginia Cavaliers at Kenan Stadium on Saturday.

Running back Elijah Hood rushed for two touchdowns on a career-high 21 carries for 101 yards to lead the offense, and the Tar Heels (6-1, 3-0) defense shut out the Cavaliers (2-5, 1-2) in the second half to preserve the win.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know I had that many carries,” Hood said smiling afterwards.

“I don’t know if that was in the game plan. I think that’s just how the game flows. Whichever way it goes, it’s how it goes.”

While quarterback Marquise Williams completed 21-of-26 passes for 226 yards, and ran 71 yards on 12 carries, an interception and a sack didn’t help North Carolina make the impact on the scoreboard it needed using its aerial game like it did last week in a 50-14 win over Wake Forest.

Instead, it was the work completed by Hood and T.J. Logan (3 carries, 26 yards) on the ground that earned the Tar Heels their touchdowns.

Placekicker Nick Weiler went 2-for-2 in converting field goals from 29 and 27 yards.

“Great effort by our team tonight,” North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora said.

“It was a sloppy game in a lot of different ways, especially with penalties and offensively shooting ourselves in the foot, but we did what we needed to do to win a Coastal Division game.”

Led by quarterback Matt Johns (17-30, 148 yards) and placekicker Ian Frye (2-2 FG, 35 and 26 yards), the Cavaliers led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter and were tied 13-13 with the Tar Heels at halftime.

North Carolina helped to contribute to Virginia’s ability to keep moving the chains throughout the game, taking 13 penalties and conceding 135 total yards as a result.

However, four interceptions and being sacked twice eventually impeded Johns from advancing the Cavaliers offense into the end zone.

It was Rashad’s career-tying 10 tackles to go along with his pick, as well as cornerback Malik Simmons’ first two career interceptions that helped North Carolina to earn the win in front of 52,000 in attendance.

Highlights – ACC Digital Network (TheACC.com)

“It was huge for those guys to get those turnovers in the fourth quarter,” UNC right guard Landon Turner said.

“It’s been something that has finally turned this whole team around.“

The Tar Heels are now tied for first place in the ACC Coastal Division with the Duke Blue Devils, and their next opponent, the Pittsburgh Panthers, and all three are undefeated in conference play.

“A win is a win,” Williams said.

“We’ve found ways to win football games and that’s all that matters.”

“We don’t have a whole lot of time to think about it,” Fedora concluded.

“We’ve gotta move on and get ready for Pitt.”