CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Devontez “Tez” Walker kept receiving a step on defenders, snagging catches and breaking loose to the stop zone for No. 12 North Carolina.
“His existence is a video game changer,” mentor Mack Brown mentioned.
Walker caught 3 of Drake Maye’s four touchdown passes and UNC took more than right after halftime to defeat No. 25 Miami 41-31 on Saturday night, extending what has been the program’s best start off in 26 many years.
Walker had 132 yards on his 6 catches in his 1st start for the Tar Heels (6-, 3- Atlantic Coast Convention), with that get started owning been delayed after a extensive eligibility fight with the NCAA.
The Kent State transfer didn’t perform the very first four online games when the NCAA wouldn’t grant a waiver for quick eligibility, citing more durable limits on athletes regarded as two-time transfers, prior to unexpectedly reversing by itself previous 7 days.
Walker had 6 catches for 43 yards in a last-minute rush of preparation to get on the area past 7 days towards Syracuse. This time, he experienced a total week of exercise to be completely built-in into the offense, then confirmed his means as a recreation-breaking downfield threat for the Tar Heels’ star passer.
“I was able to have a entire week to get ready … (obtaining) some of that chemistry back again we experienced in the spring,” Walker stated.
Omarion Hampton scored two small TDs — 1 on the ground, one particular via the air — to go with 197 yards dashing for the Tar Heels, which include a 60-yarder with UNC functioning on the clock in the fourth quarter with a two-landing lead. Maye threw for 273 yards and overcame early strain from Miami’s defensive front.
The Tar Heels trailed 17-14 at the crack after a penalty-stuffed fifty percent, but ran off 24 straight details in the 3rd quarter to drive in advance for superior.
Tyler Van Dyke threw for 391 yards and four touchdowns for the Hurricanes (4-2, -2), with two of people scores going to Xavier Restrepo. Jacolby George and Brashard Smith also experienced TD catches for Miami.
But a week just after a crushing previous-2nd loss to Georgia Tech, Miami struggled terribly in the third quarter, both equally in going the ball and slowing down the Tar Heels. Miami managed just 32 yards in the 3rd, which provided Miami getting rid of a fumble on a reduced snap and Van Dyke throwing an interception.
“That tilted the momentum,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal claimed. “We observed ourselves hoping to capture that momentum again, and hardly ever did.”
Walker got free on a deep route around the middle for an 18-garden touchdown grab in the initial quarter. He struck once again on Maye’s completely placed deep ball — flying over the outstretched arm of Jaden Davis — that strike Walker in stride for a 56-garden TD in the opening minutes of the 3rd.
Walker’s third came when Maye strike him for a 34-yarder that experienced him slicing via the center of the Miami protection and breaking into the crystal clear for a 28-17 direct.
“We ended up 4- devoid of him,” Brown claimed. “Obviously we have a prospect to be much far better with him.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Miami: The Georgia Tech loss was a disaster, from a late playcalling miscalculation that Cristobal took the blame for to offering up the previous-2nd touchdown. The Hurricanes talked this week about displaying the ability to bounce again, and they did that through a to start with fifty percent that experienced them building UNC’s significant-powered offense performing for yards even though dropping a fumble at the purpose line with a likelihood for an early landing. But the recreation received away in the third quarter, and they used the fourth quarter mostly chasing their own unbelievable comeback.
“We’ve bought to be improved, honestly,” Van Dyke stated, introducing: “Too many crucial cases, turnovers, building faults — we have got to repair all that things.”
UNC: The Tar Heels are off to their finest start out given that successful the initial eight games in 1997, which was the ultimate 12 months of Brown’s initially coaching tenure at UNC prior to leaving for Texas. Previous week’s blowout of Syracuse was a comprehensive-sport performance, whilst this one particular confirmed off the likely of an offense that has lastly has Walker fully built-in to go with Hampton’s capacity to have the load on the ground.
“It’s nice to have him out there,” Maye claimed with a grin.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
UNC created its circumstance for leading-10 consideration in Sunday’s upcoming AP Major 25 release, while Miami seems probable to fall out following hardly keeping in the poll this 7 days.
PENALTY Issue
The biggest concern in this one for Brown was straightforward: 14 penalties for 147 yards.
“We didn’t participate in perfectly sufficient for us to commence going for walks all around with our upper body caught out,” he mentioned. “You just can’t have that a lot of penalties.”
UP Next
Miami: The Hurricanes host Clemson following Saturday.
UNC: The Tar Heels wrap a three-match league homestand by versus Virginia following Saturday.
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