UNC Football: Heels get first ACC win of season in Pittsburgh

North Carolina snapped its six-game losing streak on Thursday night with a 34-31 win over Pittsburgh thanks to a huge game from Anthony Ratliff-Williams.

Anthony Ratliff-Williams was recruited as a quarterback. With Carolina’s quarterback problems, you can’t help but think, “what if,” especially because he was actually a higher-ranked recruit than current starter Nathan Elliott. But after a game like Thursday, putting him behind center seems like putting a governor on a Ferrari.

Ratliff-Williams contributed over half the Tar Heels’ points in their 34-31 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers. The sophomore scored three touchdowns three different ways. On the other side, Darrin Hall scored all four Pitt touchdowns. Elliott completed 20-of-31 passes for 235 yards and a couple touchdowns in his first start in which he played every snap.

The Tar Heels got off to a quick start. Ratliff-Williams ran back the opening kickoff to give Carolina a 7-0 lead. Elliott found tight end Brandon Fritts for an 11-yard touchdown to put Carolina up 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The Panthers rallied back with two consecutive touchdown drives to take their first lead of the day. Ratliff-Williams put the Heels ahead for the second time with his arm instead of his legs. He hit Josh Cabrera all alone behind the defense for a 35-yard touchdown pass off a reverse.

Carolina needed Ratliff-Williams to give them back the lead one last time. His third and final touchdown was pedestrian by comparison. Elliott found him in the end zone from three yards out to put the Heels up 34-31.

The Carolina defense looked more like the ACC’s worst defense than the team that showed up against Miami. Carolina gave up over 400 yards, including 265 rushing. However, when a big stop was needed, they came through.  J.K. Britt punched out the ball at the 1-yard line late in the first half. Cayson Collins ran it all the way back into Pittsburgh territory to set up Freeman Jones‘ career-long 51-yard field goal to make it 24-17 at halftime. They also kept Pitt from crossing midfield on their final drive to preserve the lead and allow Jordon Brown a chance to ice the game.

What’s Next

North Carolina (2-8, 1-6 ACC) plays its home finale next Saturday against Western Carolina. The Catamounts are 7-3 playing in the Southern Conference of the FCS. Carolina fans are undoubtedly happy to not get shut out in ACC play, but probably not excited enough to fill Kenan Stadium next week for a game against a directional school.

Next: At Least It’s Basketball Season?

Pittsburgh (4-6, 2-4) made their bowl game aspirations much more difficult to fulfill. The Panthers need to beat one of the two best teams in the Coastal just to back into a bowl if their APR is up to snuff. To go to a bowl game the traditional way, Pittsburgh needs to beat Virginia Tech and Miami, which seems insurmountable when you can’t even beat the worst of the Coastal.