CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In a dramatic conclusion to the South’s Oldest Rivalry, the No. 16 Virginia Cavaliers narrowly defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 17–16 in overtime at Kenan Stadium on Saturday. The game was a testament to resilience and strategy, with both teams showcasing determination throughout the contest.
First Half: Defensive Struggles and Strategic Moves
The game commenced with both teams exhibiting strong defensive plays. Virginia’s Will Bettridge opened the scoring with a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter. North Carolina responded in the second quarter with a 34-yard field goal by Rece Verhoff, tying the game at 3–3. Virginia regained the lead with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Morris to Trell Harris, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run by UNC’s Gio Lopez, bringing the score to 10–10 at halftime.
Overtime Drama: A Game of Inches
The second half saw both teams intensifying their efforts, but neither could break the deadlock, leading to overtime. In the overtime period, Virginia received the ball first and scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run by J’Mari Taylor. North Carolina answered with a touchdown of their own, a screen pass to Davion Gause. Opting for a two-point conversion to win the game, the Tar Heels’ Benjamin Hall was stopped just inches short of the goal line, sealing the Cavaliers’ victory.
Key Performers
- Virginia:
- Chandler Morris: 200 passing yards
- J’Mari Taylor: 69 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
- Jahmal Edrine: 75 receiving yards
- North Carolina:
- Gio Lopez: 208 passing yards
- Benjamin Hall: 50 rushing yards
- Jordan Shipp: 67 receiving yards
Implications
This victory improves Virginia’s record to 7–1 overall and 4–0 in ACC play, solidifying their position atop the conference standings. For North Carolina, the loss drops them to 2–5 overall and 0–3 in the ACC, continuing their search for their first conference win under head coach Bill Belichick.
Credit: SportBuzzHub.com | October 25, 2025
