Eric Boggs 
Duke vs North Carolina
What a difference a week makes—or in this case, what a difference a half makes. After a dominant first half, the North Carolina Tar Heels collapsed in the second, as the Duke Blue Devils mounted a thrilling 21-0 comeback to secure a 21-20 victory, marking their first win over UNC since 2018.
Last week, Duke’s offense lit up the scoreboard with 45 points against Middle Tennessee, while North Carolina surrendered 70 to James Madison. Yet on Saturday, the Tar Heels’ defense initially looked unbreakable, holding the Blue Devils scoreless and forcing six first-half punts. But in the second half, Duke’s graduate running back Star Thomas ignited a comeback, helping the Blue Devils claw their way back to a one-point victory.
A Tale of Two Halves
The first half was all Tar Heels. UNC quarterback Jacolby Criswell commanded the offense, while junior running back Omarion Hampton powered the ground game. The Tar Heels capitalized early, with Criswell connecting on a 24-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Jones and Noah Burnette adding a 40-yard field goal to build a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
Criswell continued to find holes in Duke’s defense, extending the lead to 17-0 with a touchdown pass to tight end Bryson Nesbit in the second quarter. The Blue Devils had no answers on offense, struggling to gain any momentum. Duke junior kicker Todd Pelino missed a 47-yard field goal, leaving the team scoreless heading into halftime.
“We thought we had control of the game,” UNC head coach Mack Brown said. “But we didn’t capitalize in the second half.”
Duke’s Second-Half Surge
The halftime break proved pivotal for Duke, as head coach Manny Diaz delivered an inspiring message. “We talked about doing something legendary,” Diaz said. “We challenged our offensive and defensive lines to take over the game, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Star Thomas took those words to heart. After being shut down in the first half, Thomas exploded in the second, churning out 148 rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns. His 29-yard touchdown run in the third quarter finally put Duke on the board, cutting the deficit to 17-7 and breathing life into the home crowd at Wallace Wade Stadium.
The momentum shifted entirely in the fourth quarter. Duke’s defense ratcheted up the pressure, forcing UNC into multiple three-and-outs while the Blue Devils’ offense started to click. Thomas continued to be the driving force, breaking off several long runs to inch Duke closer. A 43-yard pass from quarterback Maalik Murphy to wideout Jordan Moore set up another Thomas touchdown, this time a 2-yard run, making it a one-possession game at 20-14.
Taking the Lead and Holding On
With the clock ticking down and Duke trailing by six, the Blue Devils orchestrated their final, game-winning drive. The ground game continued to punish UNC, with Thomas picking up crucial yards. Then, sophomore running back Peyton Jones broke free for a 20-yard touchdown, putting Duke ahead 21-20 with just under six minutes remaining.
UNC had one last chance to respond. Criswell led the Tar Heels to midfield, but Duke’s defense was relentless. On third down, safety Jaylen Stinson blitzed, hitting Criswell mid-throw. The ball wobbled into the air, and linebacker Tre Freeman came down with the game-sealing interception.
Aftermath and Looking Ahead
The 21-0 second-half run by Duke stunned UNC, leaving the Tar Heels unable to respond in the final minutes. Despite dominating the time of possession and leading 17-0 at halftime, UNC couldn’t overcome Duke’s second-half surge.
“We just didn’t execute,” Criswell said after the game. “They did what they needed to do to get the win, and we have to get better week by week.”
For Duke, the victory was monumental, moving them to 5-0 on the season and cementing their place as a force to be reckoned with in the ACC.
Next, the Blue Devils will head to Atlanta for their first ACC road game of the season against Georgia Tech, while UNC will look to regroup at Kenan Stadium against Pitt.
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